During a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet in Israel, U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his firm support for Israel, stating, "I don't believe you have to be a Jew to be a Zionist, and I am a Zionist."
While undisclosed at the time, an informed U.S. official has revealed that the politicians and generals present at the gathering in a Tel Aviv hotel responded with approval, even as Israel conducted airstrikes on Gaza in retaliation for a devastating attack by Palestinian Hamas militants and with the possibility of a ground invasion.
This unreported episode highlights how Biden's decades-long role as one of the leading "Friends of Israel" in American politics is guiding him through a pivotal moment in his presidency.
Moreover, it underscores the complex challenge he faces in balancing unwavering support for Israel with the goal of urging Netanyahu to prevent the escalation of civilian casualties and humanitarian crises in Gaza. This dilemma also complicates further efforts to release American hostages.
"Biden's connection to Israel is deeply ingrained in his political DNA," said Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East negotiator who served under six secretaries of state in both Democratic and Republican administrations. "Whether he likes it or not, he's in the midst of a crisis he'll have to manage."
An interview with a dozen current and former aides, lawmakers, and analysts by Reuters reveals that Biden's current embrace of Netanyahu could provide the U.S. with leverage to encourage a moderated Israeli response in Gaza.
Despite tensions in some of their previous meetings, during their private session with aides, the two leaders displayed no visible discord, as reported by a second U.S. official familiar with the talks.
However, Biden did present challenging inquiries to Netanyahu regarding the impending offensive, asking, "Have you thought through what comes the day after and the day after that?" U.S. and regional sources express doubt that Israel, which is committed to destroying Hamas, has formulated a clear endgame strategy.
Nevertheless, Biden's alignment with the right-wing Israeli leader poses potential issues with some progressives within his Democratic Party as he prepares for reelection in 2024. It also contributes to a growing international outcry against Israel's tactics and places some responsibility on the U.S.
Furthermore, many Palestinians and individuals in the Arab world view Biden as overly partial to Israel to act as an unbiased peace broker.
Biden attributes his pro-Israel perspective, at least in part, to his father, who asserted after World War II and the Nazi Holocaust that the establishment of Israel as a Jewish homeland in 1948 was unquestionably just.
Additionally, Biden's recognition of the historical persecution of Jews and a recent surge in anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. might help explain his deep concern regarding Hamas atrocities committed in the October 7 attack on Israel.
Entering national politics in 1973, Biden spent the following five decades formulating his policy positions—offering unwavering support for Israel's security coupled with backing for the advancement of Palestinian statehood—as he served as a U.S. senator, vice president under Barack Obama, and eventually president.
His political career was characterized by his active involvement in the Israeli-Arab conflict, including a well-known encounter with Prime Minister Golda Meir in 1973 on the eve of the Yom Kippur War. Meir told the young senator that Israel's secret weapon was "we have no place else to go."
Over the course of his 36-year tenure in the Senate, Biden received the most substantial total of donations in history from pro-Israeli groups, amounting to $4.2 million, according to data from Open Secrets.
As vice president, Biden often mediated between Obama and Netanyahu during their contentious relationship.
Biden and Netanyahu, though they profess to be long-time friends, experienced strains in their relationship recently, notably when the White House echoed the concerns of Israeli opponents of Netanyahu's proposal to limit the powers of Israel's Supreme Court.
Now, the two leaders find themselves in an uneasy alliance that could be put to the test by an Israeli ground offensive.
While most Republicans have rallied behind Israel's actions, Biden faces dissent from some progressive Democrats who advocate for Israeli restraint and a ceasefire.
However, experts suggest that Biden could make gains among independent voters who share his pro-Israel sentiment.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll published on Monday revealed that U.S. public sympathy for Israel remains robust, with Republican support for Israel reaching 54%, while Democrats registered 37%. Younger Americans, however, displayed less support for Israel compared to their older counterparts.
In addition, Biden, who is grappling with low approval ratings, is expected to be cautious about running afoul of the major U.S. pro-Israel lobby, AIPAC, which exerts significant influence in U.S. elections.
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