A few months ago, President Biden seemed so fed up with how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ignored his calls for restraint in Gaza that he finally spoke up, the "New York Times" reported.
Biden was asked in March whether his calls for Israel not to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah constituted a "red line” meaning that the invasion would have serious consequences.
"Yes, it is a red line”, confirmed Biden, "but I will never abandon Israel.”
Where all this will lead seems unclear even to Biden. In April, he called Netanyahu and again seemed to draw a line that was at least pale red. Biden called for an immediate cease-fire and, according to a White House statement, "clarified that Israel must formulate and implement a series of concrete, tangible and substantial measures to stop harming civilians, end of humanitarian suffering and to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers."
The statement read: "United States policy toward Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel's actions in implementing these measures."
In May, Biden again drew a "red line”. "If Israel enters Rafah, I will not deliver weapons” used against the towns, he told CNN.
All of this seemed to indicate Biden's belated desire to stand up to Netanyahu and avert a humanitarian catastrophe in Rafah. After facing numerous calls to do more for Gazans — even from his own wife — Biden appeared determined to condition military support for Israel in ways that would force it to provide humanitarian aid to the affected areas, prevent the invasion of Rafah, to stop the supply of weapons that victimize humanitarian workers and to move towards a ceasefire, writes the "New York Times".
Shortly after that difficult phone call in April, Biden again allowed Netanyahu to rub feet with the American president.
The Israeli army invaded Rafah
Eventually Israel invaded Rafah. Food supplies to the residents of southern Gaza have been reduced to a minimum. At least 15 more aid workers were killed in Gaza. Israel continues with reckless bombings like the one that destroyed a tent camp in Rafah, killing dozens of people, notes the "New York Times".
So now that all his bright and pale red lines have been broken, what does Biden plan to do next? The administration is pushing for an $18 billion sale of F-15 fighter jets to Israel. Doing so would send a terrible signal that ignoring Biden will not have consequences, the newspaper commented.
"Biden is showing Netanyahu once again that he will wag his finger but not follow through on his threat," said Jeremy Condick, a former administration official and president of the International Refugee Organization.
This war began when Israel was subjected to a horrific terrorist attack and had every right to strike at "Hamas", but not to raze entire neighborhoods to the ground or starve civilians, notes the "New York Times" . Biden supported Netanyahu and defended him at the United Nations, even when a panel of the world organization found Israel responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Biden seems to have believed from the start that he could better influence Netanyahu and curb his impulses by supporting him. And to some extent this approach worked: Israel did not invade Lebanon last fall as it had intended, and its invasion of Rafah appeared more measured than its incursions into other Gaza cities. According to aid workers, this has increased the amount of food entering northern Gaza.
Staying in power without security
But most importantly, Biden's policy on Gaza has helped Netanyahu stay in power without advancing Israel's long-term security interests. The war nullified all of Biden's arguments that the United States supports a "rules-based international order," thereby undermining its position in Ukraine, notes the New York Times.
Meanwhile, in an incredible display of ingratitude to the president who has been his lifeline, Netanyahu has recorded a video in English criticizing the Biden administration for its lack of support, and is now preparing to address the US Congress, bypassing the White House.
Following another attack by Netanyahu on the Biden administration a few days ago, the White House said it found the prime minister's remarks "deeply disappointing". This certainly helped Netanyahu draw some conclusions.
"How much more evidence does Biden need that Netanyahu is not an ally of the United States?", asks the author of an article in the Israeli newspaper "Aaretz". It says in plain text that Netanyahu simply deceived the American president.
And if Biden proves that his "red lines" in Gaza are useless, why should Russia, China or Iran listen to him? If he is so cowardly that he cannot face even an ally dependent on American weapons, what reason do we have to believe that he will stand up to an adversary?, writes the "New York Times".
The paradox is that Biden has generally pursued a successful foreign policy, particularly in building an alliance in Asia to reduce the risk of war with China. Now, however, he is mired in a standoff in the Middle East that could get worse. The war in Gaza threatens to drag on until the end of this year, and Israel talks of an attack on "Hezbollah" in Lebanon in the coming weeks. This would trigger a separate war that could be even more catastrophic. Biden is trying to prevent a war in Lebanon, but the way he shows his weakness for Netanyahu is limiting his influence, the newspaper notes.
Netanyahu's speech to Congress could cause long-term damage
The invitation extended last month by congressional leaders from both parties to the Israeli prime minister to speak at a joint session of Congress is now approaching, the Washington Post notes. With this speech, scheduled for July 24, Congress is giving Netanyahu a platform to meddle in US politics, as he has done before. And as Democrats -- who are now considering whether to boycott the address -- clearly understand, the consequences could be significant. If Netanyahu uses his speech to undermine the Biden administration's diplomatic efforts and attack his own Democratic critics, it could further politicize US-Israel relations, damaging them in the long run.
The White House is worried about Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming address to a joint session of Congress, believing the Israeli prime minister may use the forum to criticize President Joe Biden for not supporting enough retaliation against "Hamas" in Gaza, notes "Politico".
Next month's speech could create a diplomatically complex and politically dangerous spectacle for a president running for re-election. Fears among West Wing aides have grown in recent days after Netanyahu made a series of public statements - including one in a video address delivered in English - accusing the administration of withholding more military aid than has been publicly disclosed.
A senior official remarked in Washington: "No one knows what he is going to say.
ts - and that he would prefer Donald Trump back in the White House. And the war has created a political dilemma for Biden, who has been criticized by Republicans for not supporting Israel enough, but has also been attacked by some in his own party for failing to protect Palestinian civilians.
The White House has not yet extended an invitation to Netanyahu to meet with Biden when he comes to Washington for his planned speech on July 24…
In the realm of diplomacy, there are always more problems than solutions, and US policy and Netanyahu's unscrupulous behavior make it even more difficult. But after eight months of unrelenting terror in the Middle East, Biden must admit that his Gaza policy is a moral, practical and political failure that has helped no one but Netanyahu, notes the "New York Times".