World
October 9, 2024 10:20
washington - The strained relationship between U.S. President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is affecting the ties between Israel and the United States.
When Israel commemorated the Hamas massacre from a year ago on Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden phoned the ally. However, the call did not go to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Instead, Biden contacted President Isaac Herzog to express his support. The Israeli Prime Minister was deliberately ignored.
The incident, as reported by various media outlets, is emblematic of the frosty relationship between the two leaders. Biden and Netanyahu are said to have had no direct contact for fifty days amid significant international tensions. Disagreement over the ongoing Israeli ground war in Gaza was the cause of the icy relations. The attack on Hezbollah in Lebanon has further strained the situation.
Following the 'phone spat,' Netanyahu retaliated immediately. He prohibited his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant from traveling to the U.S. for discussions at the Pentagon on Tuesday. This trip was scheduled in preparation for an imminent Israeli retaliation following Iran's massive missile attack. The Israeli Prime Minister, with the travel ban on his minister, is reportedly seeking to compel the White House to contact him first.
It's no longer cordial between Biden and Bibi, as Netanyahu is nicknamed. While the U.S. publicly stands alongside Israel since the Hamas massacre, behind the scenes, the leaders are at odds. In a new book by American journalist Bob Woodward titled 'War,' details emerge on how the American President treats the Israeli Prime Minister. Biden allegedly referred to him in private as 'a jerk,' 'a damn villain,' and 'a dirty liar.'
The relationship soured around Israel's ground assault on Rafah in the Gaza Strip, where the last stronghold of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas was located. The U.S. was concerned about a humanitarian catastrophe. 'What's your strategy, man?' Biden reportedly shouted at the Prime Minister in April when Netanyahu shared the invasion plan with the Americans. 'Bibi, you have no strategy.'
Biden was also angered by the liquidation of a Hezbollah commander in Lebanon in July. 'Bibi, what the fuck,' Biden allegedly yelled at the Prime Minister. Netanyahu reportedly responded that Israel saw an opportunity and seized it. 'The harder you hit them, the more successful you are in negotiations,' said the Israeli leader.
This approach contradicts the American approach in the powder keg that is the Middle East. Following the Iranian attack on Israel in April, the White House advocated restraint. Within hours, Biden publicly stated that the U.S. would not militarily retaliate against the unprecedented attack. Behind closed doors, he reportedly also tried to persuade Netanyahu not to respond. Biden told the Israelis that they had 'won' since the massive attack with hundreds of drones and rockets, with American assistance, had been repelled. 'I know he's going to do something, but the way to limit him is by saying he shouldn't do anything,' Biden allegedly told his advisers.
This behind-the-scenes glimpse comes at a pivotal moment. Iran has once again attacked Israel, this time with faster ballistic missiles. It raises questions about the American Iran policy, which seems to be dictated by domestic concerns. With the upcoming presidential elections, the White House does not want to be dragged into a broader war. The Democrats also need to be cautious of their electoral left flank, which has been grumbling for a year over U.S. support for the Israeli military operation.
It's evident that the sour personal relationship between Bibi and Biden has weakened the U.S.' grip on the ally. A year ago, the American President and Secretary of State Antony Blinken stood in solidarity at Israeli cabinet meetings. Netanyahu seems to be going his own way now. The fact that a ceasefire in Gaza continues to elude despite U.S. efforts underscores this.
The big question now is what Israel's retaliation against Iran will entail. Biden has stated that he is not in favor of an attack on nuclear facilities. The ayatollahs in Tehran are growling and threatening further escalation. The U.S. has significantly enhanced its military capacity in the region as a precaution. A Strike Group, a fleet unit around the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, is sailing in the Gulf of Oman. A second one around the aircraft carrier Harry Truman is steaming towards the Mediterranean Sea.
In this crisis, much attention is also on Vice President Kamala Harris. In an interview with the TV program '60 Minutes' on Monday, she delivered one of her renowned word salads when asked about her Middle East policy. Netanyahu and Harris also had a rocky start. The Prime Minister was reportedly furious that Harris, after their meeting in July when she had just been crowned as the new Democratic presidential candidate, publicly criticized the Jewish state regarding the Gaza operation. Nothing of the sort had been evident during the meeting.
This led to a jab from the Israeli ambassador in Washington about Harris: 'She wants to act tough in public, but behind closed doors, she wasn't.' It's a concerning observation about a potential commander-in-chief.