Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ratcheted up his public spat with President Biden over the ongoing conflict in Gaza, boldly accusing the U.S. President of holding back arms deliveries. This move, analysts suggest, appears strategically designed to potentially embarrass the Biden administration ahead of the U.S. elections.
The disagreement exploded into the public eye last week when Netanyahu claimed in a video that he had a conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding the “inconceivable” action of the U.S. withholding arms during Blinken’s visit to Israel.
Predictably, Blinken and other Biden administration officials quickly refuted this claim, reproaching Netanyahu for stirring up unnecessary conflict. But Netanyahu, never one to back down, has doubled down on his stance, fueling speculation that he might be hoping for a return to power for Donald Trump, who is likely to face Biden in the next presidential election. Analysts like Laura Blumenfeld, a senior fellow at Johns Hopkins University, suggest Netanyahu’s actions are aimed at currying favor with Republicans by undermining Biden, anticipating a possible Trump re-election.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert hasn’t minced words, lambasting Netanyahu’s approach as a reckless provocation that jeopardizes the U.S.-Israel relationship. He accused Netanyahu of attempting to sabotage Biden’s re-election campaign through his public criticisms.
It’s no secret that Netanyahu and Trump shared a notably cozy relationship during Trump’s presidency, highlighted by the U.S. embassy’s controversial move to Jerusalem and the establishment of the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations. Despite a past fallout over Netanyahu acknowledging Biden’s 2020 election victory, figures like Ehud Yaari of The Washington Institute indicate Netanyahu believes this “special relationship” with Trump can be resurrected.
In a stark contrast, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, also from Netanyahu’s Likud party, has shown a willingness to cooperate with the Biden administration, underscoring a significant division in approach within Israeli leadership.
This rift surfaces as Biden has voiced dissatisfaction with the ongoing war in Gaza and concerns about a potential escalation of conflict with Hezbollah, which has been involved in skirmishes supporting the Palestinian cause. The dispute also exposes deeper divisions within U.S. political circles regarding Netanyahu’s handling of the war, with calls from various quarters, including some Democrats, for a more measured approach to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza and suggestions for a Palestinian Authority-led governance post-conflict.
The Biden administration insists that its support for Israel remains unwavering, though the pace of arms transfers might have slowed due to bureaucratic processes rather than a deliberate withholding of support.
Netanyahu’s provocative stance has undeniably injected a new layer of tension into U.S.-Israel relations. As this drama unfolds, one can’t help but wonder: Is Netanyahu’s gambit a strategic masterstroke or a reckless maneuver that risks alienating a crucial ally? The coming months will reveal whether this high-stakes political chess game will pay off for Netanyahu or if it will merely serve to complicate an already fraught geopolitical landscape.
