Joe Biden is about to cut the legs right out from under Israel, or at least he is going to try to.
Reports surfaced on Monday night that Biden plans to go to the UN Security Council to get them to force Israel to declare a temporary cease-fire with Hamas.
Talking Points…
- Netanyahu refuses to accept Palestinian State or Hamas cease-fire
- Biden makes his move
- Analysis
Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu has been adamant from the start of this conflict that he would not stop until he removes Hamas entirely from the Gaza Strip. Just last week, Netanyahu stated:
"There is no solution besides total victory. If Hamas survives in Gaza, it's only a matter of time until the next massacre."
This week, Netanyahu rejected pressure to declare a Palestinian State, and his move was backed with a unanimous vote by lawmakers. After a reported call with Biden, where Biden was allegedly pressuring Netanyahu on the subject, the Israeli PM responded:
"Israel categorically rejects international dictates regarding a permanent settlement with the Palestinians.
"Israel will continue to oppose unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state."
Behind closed doors, it has been reported by more than one outlet that Biden has been extremely critical of Netanyahu, and he cannot believe that Netanyahu is standing firm on this. Since Netanyahu is refusing Biden's demands, Biden is now reportedly going to go behind his back to the UN Security Council to get them to pressure Israel to call for another temporary cease-fire. The administration has reportedly written a draft for a resolution to be presented to the Security Council on this matter.
Benny Gantz, an Israeli security cabinet member and leader of the opposition party, showed no signs of letting up, stating:
"The world must know and Hamas leaders must know if our hostages are not home by Ramadan, the fighting will continue and expand to Rafah."
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also commented, stating:
"Hamas is left with marginal [forces] in the central camps and with the Rafah Brigade, and what stands between them and a complete collapse as a military system is a decision by the IDF."
Gallant has also pushed back on calls for the invasion of Rafah to be halted, insisting that Israel will attack Rafah to continue to dismantle Hamas.
The United States State Department is still holding firm that a Rafah invasion should not take place until a plan has been presented to ensure the safety of its residents. It stated:
"We have also been clear that a full-scale Israel military operation in Rafah should not proceed until there is a credible and executable plan for ensuring the safety of and support for the more than 1 million people sheltering there.
"The best way to achieve an enduring end to the crisis in Gaza that provides lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike, is our strong commitment to the creation of a Palestinian state. As such, the United States continues to support the two-state solution and to oppose policies that endanger its viability or contradict our mutual interests and values."
This is a huge break between the United States and Israel, as it seems clear that Netanyahu will not permit the United States to call the shots on this war. Biden's leverage is aid, but Israel has other partners that seem willing to continue to help. This is Israel's war, and it should fight this war how it sees fit as long as no war crimes are being committed. The reality of war is that innocents will die; it is just a matter of minimizing that to take out the enemy.
It seems to me that the United States wants Israel to ensure there are zero civilian casualties, and that is just not realistic in any scenario. I expect Netanyahu to continue to push back and bide his time in the hopes that Republicans take back the White House, where he will get far less resistance in his quest to end the terror threat of Hamas once and for all.
