American and Israeli leaders are engaging in political window dressings - opinion

• Published date: 27 March 2024
• Author: DAVID JABLINOWITZ
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

White House officials insist that they were taken aback by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement that he was calling off a trip to Washington by a delegation headed by National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, after the US refused to thwart a UN Security Council resolution which called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza

The Biden administration is familiar with the players in Netanyahu's circle. Hanegbi and Dermer, the latter in particular, are the prime minister's people. US officials acknowledge that with this decision to call off the trip, Netanyahu was "putting his foot down," feeling increasing heat personally from the administration over how he is running Israel's affairs.

"Minister Benny Gantz was here earlier this month, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is here now, [and] the defense establishments are in constant contact," a White House aide argued. "Calling off the Hanegbi-Dermer delegation is political window dressing by the prime minister."

In response to the question of whether the administration was also acting politically – by supporting Israel but looking over its shoulder amid the president's re-election campaign to make sure it didn't alienate its electorate too much – a White House aide insisted: "Israel has no better friend than the Biden administration, in general – and regarding Gaza, in particular."

On the one hand, the aide seemed to be charging that Netanyahu was not sufficiently appreciating the administration's obstacle course in navigating its policy regarding Gaza, and that calling off the visit to Washington by his delegation only exacerbated the public impression "that the two countries are not on the same side." On the other hand, the aide reiterated that "on the ground, our cooperation is not affected."

Biden on Netanyahu's governance

In a recent MSNBC interview, President Joe Biden charged that Netanyahu was doing more harm than good; he has also publicly questioned Israel's plans for a Rafah operation. However, a White House aide insisted that the president's endgame remains "the defeat of Hamas." Yet, regarding Hanegbi and Dermer staying home, instead of visiting Washington at least right now, administration officials seem fine with holding high-profile contacts in the US capital with high-level Israeli officials who themselves have tense relations with Netanyahu.

The president and his people are aware of domestic issues in Israel, including the resistance by Gallant and...