The growing tensions between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu over the ongoing conflict in Gaza were evident in a recent phone call between the two leaders. In a readout of the call, President Biden expressed his concerns about the situation in Rafah and the lack of a plan to ensure the safety of civilians. This exchange reflects the administration's increasing willingness to expose the rifts between the United States and Israel, which has been a cause of agitation within the White House.
While President Biden has stated his strong support for Israel, there is a growing sentiment among his aides that he does not need to be closely aligned with Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is unpopular not only among Democrats but also within Israel. The administration is concerned that this close association may be a liability for the president in swing states. Moreover, keeping all differences between the two leaders behind closed doors has not been an effective strategy in influencing Israeli positions and behavior.
President Biden's recent comments, such as describing Israel's campaign in Gaza as 'over the top' and expressing wariness about the ground operation in Rafah, indicate a shift in how he expresses himself. Still, there is uncertainty about whether Prime Minister Netanyahu is truly hearing and taking into account these messages. The concern among senior officials is that this may just be another episode where polite concerns are expressed but do not lead to meaningful changes in Israeli military actions.
The situation in Rafah is particularly concerning as it marks yet another episode of displacement for the residents of Gaza. This ongoing nightmare of displacement adds to the urgency of finding a solution to the conflict and preventing further civilian casualties.
In an attempt to exert leverage over Israel, the United States Senate moved closer to passing a bill that would provide additional military aid to Israel. However, some experts argue that Israeli actions are more influenced by U.S. actions rather than rhetoric. The Biden administration has already flooded the country with weaponry since October 7th. While some U.S. officials defend this as necessary, critics argue that unless leverage is exerted through measures like threatening to withhold aid, Israeli behavior will not be influenced.
At present, the focus of the Biden administration's debate is whether to increase or decrease rhetoric concerning the conflict. However, they are not seriously considering pulling aid or reducing military assistance to Israel. The question arises as to whether diplomatic efforts need to prioritize actions that have a more tangible impact on Israeli behavior rather than relying solely on rhetorical pressure.
As tensions continue to rise between the United States and Israel, the future of their relationship becomes increasingly uncertain. It remains to be seen whether diplomatic efforts will successfully address the concerns surrounding the conflict in Gaza and bring about a change in Israeli actions.
