Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to be acting recklessly in the knowledge that the U.S. military will step in to save Israel from the consequences of his own conduct, even though the United States and Israel do not have a mutual defense treaty.
This is the “moral hazard” created by Biden’s unprecedented, if understandable, decision to use U.S. military forces for the first time to defend Israel.
More frustrating — is Netanyahu’s ambivalent attitude toward cease-fire negotiations with Hamas. Israeli generals are demanding a pause in the fighting, which has exhausted their forces and is producing diminishing returns.
A cease-fire in Gaza would also greatly diminish the risk of a regional conflagration. Both Hamas and Israel had tentatively agreed on a peace plan announced by Biden that would begin with a six-week cease-fire; the release of elderly, wounded and female Israeli hostages in Gaza; and an Israeli military withdrawal from populated areas of the Gaza Strip.
But final agreement remains maddeningly elusive, and, according to Israeli documents leaked to the New York Times, part of the problem is that Netanyahu has revised Israel’s negotiating position, undoing concessions that he had seemingly agreed to in May.
The Biden administration is also said to be unhappy with the Israeli prime minister for dragging his feet on a cease-fire, assassinating Haniyeh and continuing to inflict heavy civilian casualties in Gaza.
Yet Biden, who has spent a lifetime as a devoted supporter of Israel, doesn’t hold Netanyahu accountable.
.Here are the top political news stories for today.
@VotingLilyLibertarian2yrs2Y
There is no rational explanation for our continued support of Israel. Netanyahu is actively making the region more dangerous. He has ensured a new generation of terrorists will rise up, which the Israeli right wing needs to justify their own continued militaristic existence.
Israel did not put boots on the ground in Iraq, nor in Afghanistan. They aren't helping Ukraine, quite the opposite they're helping Russia.
No one can offer a coherent explanation for what the United States gets out of this "alliance". Seems to be a one way street where my tax dollars go to fanning the flames of regional violence while I get...nothing?
@HarmoniousDeerSocialist2yrs2Y
A lot of this mess can be traced back to congress; bought and paid for with Aipac dollars. They don't work for us any more.
@Mellow1972Libertarian2yrs2Y
Iran knows Israel is self destructing. That's why they dont need to retaliate.
@FondP0l1cyRepublican2yrs2Y
Israel is not only provoking war, it is doing it illegally. Israel, not Iran, is doing the illegal assassinations, bombings, genocide, land grabs, apartheid, torture with US approval and backing. The land grab in the West Bank going on today is both brutal and illegal under international law but who is going to stop it? Blinken, by saying “it’s not helpful”? Netanyahu wants nothing more than to force the US into a war and dopey Biden will follow where he’s led. It’s dreadful.
@C4mpaignSparrowVeteran2yrs2Y
Netanyahu really seems to have one reason alone for doing all this, that is to save his neck. Like his good friend DJ, he only really cares about not spending his life in the legal messes that he has created for himself.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
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