Biden can – and should – press Israel to plan for what comes after this war

‘As long as Netanyahu and his allies hold power, they must be held fully accountable for their actions counter to US interests.’ Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Israel’s far-right prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced on Thursday that he told the White House he will not accept a Palestinian state after the war, nor cede security control of any territory west of the Jordan River. “The prime minister needs to be capable of saying no to our friends,” Netanyahu added, pointedly.

Yet that sentiment cuts both ways. The US, Israel’s staunchest and most important ally, has repeatedly attempted to discuss “day-after” scenarios with Israel and potential paths toward a two-state solution that include both a future Palestinian state and considerations for Israel’s security, only to be rebuffed.