Rebouking Relations between the U.S. and Israel over the Gaza Conflict: A Time-Dependent Dialogue Between Israel and the United States
Relations between us and Israel are strained over Gaza which is not the first time Israel’s operations have been criticized by the White House.
The year was before the moon. Israel, Britain and France had just invaded Egyptian territory in a bid to take over the Suez Canal, which Egypt had decided to nationalize.
President Eisenhower ended the brief conflict. Israel resisted a United Nations resolution that asked for it to pull its troops from the Gaza Strip.
“Repeated, but so far unsuccessful, efforts have been made to bring about a voluntary withdrawal by Israel,” Eisenhower said in a nationally televised speech. The government of Israel, despite the UN action, were still unwilling to withdraw.
The current moment includes this contradiction. Biden is proposing $14 billion in military assistance to Israel — which is already the leading U.S. recipient of such aid. The president is telling his country what to not do in Gaza while condemning Israel’s military operations.
“They agreed that they share the objective to see Hamas defeated in Rafah. The U.S side has concerns about various courses of action in Rafah. The Israeli side agreed to take these concerns into account and to have follow up discussions with the U.S.
“I do see a very, very real risk for the state of Israel and its long-term interests,” said Jeremy Ben-Ami, the head of J Street, a Washington group that describes itself as pro-Israel, pro-peace and pro-democracy.
During his many years in power, Netanyahu has aligned himself with Republicans in the U.S. He’s also waged very public battles with the past three Democratic presidents: Bill Clinton, over peace negotiations with the Palestinians; Barack Obama, over a nuclear deal with Iran; and now Biden, over the war in Gaza.
One of Israel’s strongest supporters, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, recently took the provocative step of calling for Netanyahu to be replaced.
U.S.-Israeli relations have rebounded from past disagreements. Robert Satloff believes that this will happen again.
“I expect that out of the current difficulty, with the passage of time, there will be renewed commitment to strengthen this relationship again,” he said.
The Battle of Gaza: An Israel’s Most Secure and Coldest Afterglow after the Oct. 7 Attack – The Call for Emergency Assistance
The assault on Gaza has nearly frozen Israel’s fractious political system. Once-ferocious debates have largely been put on hold. It is important for Mr Netanyahu’s critics to avoid being painted as traitors, during a time when huge banners proclaim “Together We will Win”. All of the country seemed to be behind the war for months. In service of keeping the war going, and unencumbered by any real opposition, Mr. Netanyahu also steered his country into a head-on collision with its most significant backer, the United States, putting his short-term political considerations ahead of the country’s long-term interests.
My mother and father went through the Holocaust. My father’s family fought for Israel’s independence,” said Ben-Ami. It is a different experience for a young person born in the 21st century. It’s unsurprising that college campuses and senior citizen centers have different conversations, but it’s not a surprise.
James Baker, the Secretary of State told the Committee that it would take good faith and affirmative effort from our friends in Israel. Everybody over there should know that the telephone number is 1-202-456-1414. Call us when you’re serious about peace.
In the weeks following Hamas’s gruesome Oct. 7 incursion, Mr. Netanyahu’s political future looked bleak. After more than 15 years in power, the prime minister boasted of being Israel’s most secure. The legacy was shattered by Hamas. The man who said he was Mr Security, had a role in the deaths of more than 40 people on that day. Even as military and intelligence leaders have since stepped up to take the blame, Mr. Netanyahu has pointedly refused to acknowledge his own culpability.
A poll published in January found that only 15 percent of Israelis wanted him to remain in office after the war. And, in another recent poll, by Israel’s Channel 13, most Israelis said they did not trust Mr. Netanyahu’s handling of the war. His support for his party has cratered as well.