In a striking departure from US policy, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has launched a seven-front war against Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terror groups, ignoring appeals for de-escalation from the Biden-Harris administration.
When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the United States in July, he intended to convey support for the country's embattled ally. However, Vice President Kamala Harris, who should have presided at the joint session of Congress alongside Netanyahu, skipped the event and met with him privately instead. This public snub sent a clear message to Netanyahu that the US administration was not fully supportive of Israel.
Undeterred, Netanyahu returned to Israel and embarked on a strategy that clashed with the Biden-Harris agenda. Israel launched a devastating offensive in Gaza, effectively obliterating Hamas as an organized fighting force. The country also neutralized senior commanders and military leaders of Hezbollah, Iran's proxy in Lebanon, including Hassan Nasrallah, the organization's top leader. The assassinations of Fuad Shukr and Mohammed Deif, senior commanders in Hezbollah and Hamas, respectively, further weakened those organizations.
Netanyahu Snubs Biden and Harris, Prosecutes Israel's Interests on Own Terms
Amid the attacks on terror leaders, hundreds of Hezbollah terrorists were killed in a beeper and walkie-talkie attack that astonished the world. Israel has not claimed responsibility for this attack. Hezbollah's tunnel network has been targeted by Israeli special forces, in preparation for ground operations to secure northern Israel from ongoing attacks.
Despite US-enforced delays that hindered Israel's efforts in Gaza, the country successfully evacuated over a million Palestinians without significant loss of innocent life. Simultaneously, Israel hammered Iran's proxies in Lebanon and Yemen, including the Houthis. The Biden-Harris administration's appeal for a cease-fire was rejected by Hamas, prompting Israel to continue its offensive.
Netanyahu Snubs Biden and Harris, Prosecutes Israel's Interests on Own Terms
Netanyahu's defiance of the US administration's de-escalation agenda was further evident by his alliance with Gideon Saar's "New Hope" party. This move strengthened his governing coalition. The Israeli leader appears to have concluded that the US is not fully committed to Israel's security and that he would not risk potential anti-Israel policies from Harris if she were to become president.
Correlation does not imply causation, but the events following Netanyahu's visit to the US suggest that Israel is pursuing its own interests independently of the Biden-Harris administration. This could have significant implications for US policy in the Middle East in the lead-up to the presidential election.
Netanyahu Snubs Biden and Harris, Prosecutes Israel's Interests on Own Terms
Despite the Biden-Harris administration's intention to influence Israel's actions, Netanyahu has demonstrated that Israel will prioritize its own security and not bow to pressure from the US. The Israeli leader's defiance underscores the growing divergence in US-Israel relations and the challenges facing the Biden-Harris administration as it seeks to maintain a stable and secure Middle East.
