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First, US President Joe Biden (80) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (74) warmly embraced each other at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. However, the disagreements now seem to cloud the friendship. Because when it comes to the offensive in the Gaza Strip, Israel is not listening to the concerned voice from Washington.
Benjamin Netanyahu plans to occupy the Gaza Strip despite US warnings. He has announced that he will take overall responsibility for the security of the Palestinian territory for an “indefinite period” after the war.
Israel occupied the Gaza Strip in 1967 after the Six-Day War and withdrew in 2005. This week the Israeli army advanced on the capital Gaza. Their goal: to eliminate the Hamas terrorists who massacred about 1,400 people in the October 7 attack on Israel and free the kidnapped hostages.
The US does not want reoccupation
The Americans are watching the military advance with concern. As a sign of support for Israel and as a threat to the enemy, they have sent aircraft carriers and fighter jets into the area. But in telephone conversations with Netanyahu, US President Joe Biden (80) demanded that Israel carry out its military actions in accordance with international humanitarian law. According to Palestinian health authorities, more than 10,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip so far, including many civilians.
At the G7 summit on Wednesday in Tokyo, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (61) said what is needed for “lasting peace and security”: “No reoccupation of the Gaza Strip after the end of the conflict, no attempted blockade or siege on the Gaza Strip, not a reduction in the size of the Gaza area.”
American Muslims threaten Biden
The US government fears that the Israeli offensive could lead to a conflagration throughout the region. The militias in Lebanon, Yemen and Syria have already positioned themselves and attacked Israel several times.
But the democratic American government is also concerned with something else: Biden’s re-election. In an open letter, the National Council of Muslim Democrats threatened to deny the president his votes if he did not enforce a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. There are about 3.5 million Muslims in the US, whose votes could be decisive, especially in swing states contested by Democrats and Republicans.
No automatic participation right
Bruce Riedel (70), Middle East expert at think tank Brookings in Washington, explains the declining influence of the US in the Washington Post: ‘We have an Israeli government that does not listen to the outside world, and an Israeli prime minister whose support is strong. The population has plummeted and is desperately trying to find a way to stay in office by playing the tough guy.”
Claudia Brühwiler (41), US expert at the University of St. Gallen, thinks it will be difficult to dissuade Netanyahu from his position. “Because Israel is fighting this war alone – and the US has no interest in changing that.”
However, Brühwiler puts the US influence so far into perspective. The Americans in particular would not be able to influence settlement policy. The US has also failed to prevent Israel from becoming a nuclear power.
“The two countries have had a special relationship for 75 years,” Brühlwiler continued. “But Israeli leaders do not always pursue national interests in the interests of the United States.” The US supports Israel with $3.8 billion annually. But this does not mean that there is automatically a right to participation.
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
