Article Summary –
Tensions between the White House and Israel are increasing due to the war in Gaza’s humanitarian disaster and Israeli PM Netanyahu’s resistance to a change in U.S. policy. Despite the Biden administration’s criticism of Israeli’s operations in the Gaza Strip which have caused over 30,000 Palestinian deaths, the U.S. continues to provide military aid to Israel. Biden’s call for an independent Palestinian state and the rift between Netanyahu and U.S. ally Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s war cabinet, exacerbate the tension.
US-Israel Relations Under Strain Amid Gaza Conflict and Approaching Elections
US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s tensions are becoming more evident as the Gaza conflict escalates into a worsening humanitarian crisis. Netanyahu is resisting calls from the Biden administration for a change in course, despite Biden’s vocal support for Israel’s objectives of defeating Hamas and rescuing hostages taken during a violent attack in southern Israel.
Israel’s persistent aerial bombardment and expanding ground invasion, coupled with the curtailment of Gaza’s water and power supplies, have claimed over 30,000 Palestinian lives and pushed more than 500,000 people into famine, according to Gaza’s health ministry and the United Nations. Despite this, the Biden administration has not suggested reducing the military aid provided to Israel.
Biden has emphasized the need for an independent Palestinian state, a proposition Netanyahu vehemently opposes. Major ideological differences, such as this, are putting the ‘special relationship’ between the US and Israel under unprecedented strain.
With the US General Election looming and promising a rematch between Biden and former President Donald Trump, Biden is facing a domestic challenge over his support for Israel’s war in Gaza. This could jeopardize his chances of winning crucial votes, especially from young liberals and Muslim and Arab Americans. In contrast, Netanyahu insists that a cease-fire would undermine the Israeli Defense Force’s momentum, reportedly using strong rhetoric to hold onto power as his approval ratings decline to a record low.
Academics like Nimrod Novik, a fellow at the Israel Policy Forum, suggest that Netanyahu is resisting Biden’s strategy, which includes potential Saudi normalization and regional integration. Instead, he is focusing on securing and energizing his hardline base. Conversely, Yonatan Freeman, an international relations and media lecturer at Israel’s Hebrew University, argues that the historically close relationship between the two nations will override the relationships between individual administrations and leaders.
However, the strained relationship between Biden and Netanyahu, coupled with the potentially significant impact of their foreign policies on the upcoming election, puts the future of this ‘special relationship’ under a cloud of uncertainty.
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