During a press conference just before his departure to the United States, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reassured onlookers that the strong alliance between Israel and the United States will remain intact, regardless of the result of the forthcoming US presidential election. The trip, marking Mr. Netanyahu’s first visit after his historic sixth term as Prime Minister, was somewhat eclipsed by the news of President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek a second term.
While in the US, Netanyahu indicated that he plans to thank Mr. Biden for his extensive support of Israel during his political career. The discussions are set to cover several topics including the liberation of Israeli captives in Gaza, defeating the Palestinian fundamentalist group Hamas, and confronting Iran’s regional proxies.
The planned meeting with President Biden, however, depends on the president’s success at recovering from the Covid-19 virus. In the meantime, Mr. Netanyahu is set to address the US Congress on Wednesday.
As he set out for his journey, Netanyahu confirmed to journalists his intent to communicate to all his friends on both sides of the political divide in the US. He underscored Israel’s vital role as a trusted ally for the US in the Middle East, regardless of who the next president will be.
Regarding the tumultuous geopolitics of the region, Netanyahu emphasized the joint strength of both nations by adding, “It’s crucial, in these war-ravaged times of uncertainty, that our enemies understand that Israel and America are united today, tomorrow and always”. The statement seems intended to solidify bipartisan support critical to Israel.
Relations with Washington have been cold due to the clash over Israel’s actions in the Gaza conflict which began on October 7th, instigated by Hamas. Hence, this visit offers an opportunity for Netanyahu to attempt to restore ties with the US to their former state.
In his anticipated Congress speech, Netanyahu will most likely concentrate on synchronising the Israeli and US strategy in the volatile Middle Eastern environment, where an escalation of the Gaza conflict could lead to a broader regional war. The tone of the upcoming address is projected to be less combative compared to Netanyahu’s 2015 Congress speech, whereby he openly criticised then-President Barack Obama’s pursuit for an Iranian nuclear deal.
The recent American push for reignited talks over a political settlement with Palestine, coupled with a looming threat to cut off arms supplies, has intensified the sense in Israel that relations with Washington have weakened under Netanyahu’s leadership. Civil unrest within Israel, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, has only added to his troubles.
In spite of these challenges, Netanyahu maintains supportive sentiments, both within his nation and with the United States, according to Yonatan Freeman, an expert in global affairs at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University.
The rare honour of an invitation for Mr Netanyahu to address both houses of U.S Congress, orchestrated by the Republican majority, comes amidst accusations of Biden’s insufficient support for Israel.
While there’s no immediate indication that he would meet with Republican Presidentially hopeful Donald Trump, their close association during Trump’s tenure has since been strained by Trump’s critique of Netanyahu and calls for a swift end to the Gaza conflict.
Despite an expected warm reception in Congress, the surge of protests across American universities indicates a potential frosty reception outside the realms of governmental Washington.
Planned protests at the US Capitol against Israel’s actions in Gaza and Washington’s support of it are expected to draw an extensive crowd, although there are no known security threats.
The international isolation of Israel due to its measures in Gaza, which according to Gaza health authorities have resulted in nearly 39,000 Palestinian deaths, increased settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, and Palestinian attacks by Israeli settlers continues to escalate.
Washington dismissed the judgement by the International Court of Justice stating that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal. However, it came on the heels of similar developments, such as the International Criminal Court prosecutor seeking an arrest warrant against Netanyahu.
In Israel, Netanyahu encounters escalating demands for a resolution that would suspend the ongoing conflict in Gaza and negotiate the freedom of 120 hostages still seized by Hamas, a Palestinian extremist faction.
Netanyahu’s refusal to conduct a probe into security lapses leading up to the October 7th assault, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and over 250 abductions into Gaza, is facing criticism. Public opinion polls indicate that the majority of Israelis regard him as accountable and support his removal if elections were to take place.
In the upcoming journey, Noa Argamani, who was freed by Israeli forces from captivity last month, will join Netanyahu. However, this has sparked criticism from families of other hostages, who argue that Netanyahu hasn’t adequately taken actions to liberate their family members. This information has been sourced from Reuters and is protected under their copyright of 2024. All rights reserved to Thomson Reuters.