The USA is Israel’s most important ally. But relations between Biden and Netanyahu are strained. Now Israel’s head of government is coming. What consequences will Biden’s withdrawal have for him – and Gaza?
Amid the turmoil surrounding US President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race for another term, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is travelling to the United States today for an official visit. It is still “too early” to say what consequences Biden’s decision could have for Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip, the Washington Post quoted a source in Netanyahu’s office as saying. According to Israeli media reports, a meeting with Biden scheduled for Tuesday will take place as planned.
Biden and Netanyahu last met in person last fall in Tel Aviv, shortly after the massacre by the Islamist Hamas on October 7 in Israel, which triggered the Gaza war. According to media reports, the planned talks with Biden will focus primarily on efforts to achieve a ceasefire and the release of hostages in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners. Shortly before his departure, Netanyahu decided to send a delegation to Qatar on Thursday.
Hostage negotiations to continue
The slow-moving indirect negotiations with Hamas, in which Qatar, the US and Egypt are mediating, are to continue there. According to analysts, the changing political winds in Washington could strengthen Netanyahu at a crucial time in the negotiations, wrote the Washington Post. US officials have admitted that US President Biden’s recently increasing domestic political problems coincided with a hardening of Netanyahu’s position.
For example, Netanyahu recently made new demands after Hamas had shown more flexibility – such as the need for Israeli troops to remain at strategic locations in the Gaza Strip for a longer period. This is why the talks have not made any progress recently. The US negotiators feared that Netanyahu’s new demands would cause the talks to fail, according to the US newspaper. It was initially unclear whether Netanyahu had now given his new delegation a more generous negotiating mandate.
Protests before Netanyahu’s departure
On the eve of his departure for the USA, hundreds of Israelis demonstrated in front of Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. The participants in the rally called on Netanyahu not to travel until he has signed an agreement to release the 120 hostages, reported the news portal “haaretz.com”. The nephew of one of the hostages said: “Most citizens know that Netanyahu only makes decisions based on his personal interests.” They would recognize that he is sabotaging the indirect hostage talks.
Netanyahu governs in a coalition with ultra-religious and far-right parties that reject concessions to Hamas and threaten to break up the government coalition. According to polls, Netanyahu would not have a good chance in early elections. His strained relationship with Biden had deteriorated significantly in recent months as Israel faced numerous requests from the White House to increase humanitarian aid in Gaza and do more to protect the civilian population.
In May, the US government stopped a shipment of heavy bombs out of concern that they could be used in populated areas. Critics accuse Netanyahu of dragging out the war for his own political gain – an accusation he denies. Netanyahu insists that Israel must fight until Hamas is completely destroyed – a goal that is doubted even within its own military. “Anyone who thinks we can eliminate Hamas is mistaken,” army spokesman Daniel Hagari said last month.
Netanyahu to give speech to US Congress
While leading figures in Israel, including President Izchak Herzog and Defense Minister Joav Galant, publicly thanked Biden for his support of Israel, Netanyahu initially made no reaction to Biden’s withdrawal, the Times of Israel noted. On Wednesday, he plans to give a speech to both houses of the US Congress on Israel’s military action in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu has long been criticized for allying himself with Republicans under Donald Trump, the Washington Post wrote.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force has again attacked positions of the militia in southern Lebanon following shelling by the pro-Iranian Hezbollah. The Israeli army announced in the evening that a rocket launching facility had been bombed. In addition, an observation post and “terror infrastructure” of Hezbollah had been attacked. No further details were given. The information could not be independently verified. Hezbollah is said to have previously attacked northern Israel with rockets and drones.
Israel and the Lebanese Shiite militia have been fighting almost daily since the start of the Gaza war. Recently, the intensity of the fighting has increased significantly. There have been deaths on both sides. Hezbollah says it is acting out of solidarity with the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It has long been feared that the conflict could escalate.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
