Fatshimetrie: Critical Situation in Washington for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent trip to Washington took an unexpected and crucial turn, as his arrival was preceded by the shocking announcement of US President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race. This unprecedented turn of events threatens to overshadow the busy schedule of meetings with senior US officials and the much-anticipated speech to Congress. However, the importance of Netanyahu’s visit cannot be underestimated, especially with regard to the ceasefire negotiations aimed at transforming a framework agreement into a final deal in the Gaza Strip.
Senior US officials say that an agreement is within reach, but its realization hinges on a key question: Does Netanyahu really want a ceasefire agreement?
According to Israeli media, politicians and Tel Aviv residents, the answer seems negative. Netanyahu appears to have more to gain from prolonging the war than from ending it, allowing him to delay responsibility for the failures that preceded the recent events. Moreover, the prospect of early elections no longer seems necessary given the steadfastness displayed in wartime. His party’s chances in the next election have even improved in recent months. Moreover, his right-wing coalition partners in power have threatened to withdraw if Netanyahu reaches a deal to end the war.
Even President Biden has suggested that Netanyahu is prolonging the war in order to hold on to power.
There are signs that Netanyahu is throwing last-minute obstacles in the way of a deal. He has flouted a key Israeli concession on unrestricted Palestinian access to northern Gaza, which was included in the latest ceasefire proposal. He is now insisting that Israel retain control of the Philadelphia Corridor, a 14-km strip that serves as a buffer zone between Egypt and Gaza. Moreover, his public speeches have undermined confidence in Israel’s commitment to a deal to end the war.
Yet Netanyahu and his negotiating team are actively engaged in talks, trading proposals with Hamas and bringing the two sides closer together than ever before. A growing segment of the Israeli public, led by the hostages’ families, is demanding that the government reach a deal. Netanyahu’s allies insist that he is sincere in his desire to reach a deal to free the hostages—the right deal, one that would allow Israel to resume fighting in Gaza..
This tension will be inevitable now that Netanyahu has arrived in Washington, where he has often sought to strengthen Israel’s position in the United States as well as his own political position at home.
Although Netanyahu seeks to highlight the support he still has in Washington (a standing ovation from the majority of members of Congress should suffice), his visit will also represent an opportunity for American officials and lawmakers to to push, persuade and coerce him into reaching an agreement, whether publicly or privately.
Among those who will be eager to make the case is the US president, who will meet Netanyahu in person for the first time this week since his visit to Israel last October, marked by wartime support.
The warmth and sympathy that permeated this visit last October risks being replaced by a much colder atmosphere.
Biden has been increasingly critical of Israel’s war in Gaza, where more than 39,000 Palestinians have been killed according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Netanyahu has resisted American pressure, often publicly defying the White House.
Although he has maintained strong support for Israel, Biden became the first president since Ronald Reagan to suspend sending some munitions to Israel, halting deliveries of 2,000-pound bombs in May due to concerns about casualties civilians in Gaza.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, has not only resisted U.S. calls to limit military operations in Gaza, but he has used his defiance of White House calls for restraint to strengthen his political position in Israel – notably in a speech just days before his trip to the United States where he touted his refusal to give in to Biden’s pressure to end the war and abandon a planned offensive in Rafah.
Biden’s decision to withdraw from the presidential race just two days before his meeting with Netanyahu will undoubtedly further alter the dynamic between the two men – exactly how remains to be seen.
Netanyahu will be the first foreign leader to speak with the now effectively outgoing president – although he still has six months left in office to continue guiding US foreign policy.
In this tense and uncertain atmosphere, the outcome of negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza will require astute diplomacy, strong political will and a keen sense of compromise on the part of all parties involved. The stakes are high, both for Israel and the Palestinians, as they await an outcome ending months of deadly conflict.