World News: Biden, Netanyahu, and Conflict Drift

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Category: World News - Europe

Published on Saturday, 16 December 2023 15:43

Written by Olivier Longhi

President Joe Biden delivered strong words to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with his warning of the risk of losing international support in his fight against Hamas, which essentially provided an opening for an honorable exit for Israel.

By warning Benjamin Netanyahu of the risk of losing international support in his fight against Hamas, Joe Biden is providing an opening an honorable way out for Israel. But carnally linked to the conflict, the Israeli Prime Minister knows his fate sealed in the event of a drift of the conflict.

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By claiming that Israel was gradually losing international support in its war against Hamas through its indiscriminate bombing of civilians and fighters alike, Joe Biden threw a stone into the pond. Certain that his words would be heard by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the President of the United States hopes that the Jewish State will end up channeling and probably easing its military intervention as soon as possible, and for good reason: The United States is among the few supporters of Israel.

However, this conflict, which began after 7 October, appears to be a form of headlong rush on the part of Benjamin Netanyahu, whose Cabinet, whose composition, challenged by the White House, which considers it far too harsh and warmongering, is nevertheless pushing to accentuate the offensive. But the Israeli prime minister also knows that an interruption of the offensive or the acceptance of a two-state solution - Israel and Palestine - would spell the end of his political career.

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Collateral Damage

For having intrinsically linked his political destiny to that of Israel and this conflict in particular, Benjamin Netanyahu, out of hubris, has certainly crossed the boundary that separates career from destiny.

Like Creon who exposed Polynices' body to the sun of Thebes, Benjamin Netanyahu has linked his mark in history to that of the eradication of Hamas, even at the cost of civilian casualties, seen as collateral damage, in a conflict perceived as vital by the Israeli Prime Minister. And the question arises: is it after all?

In the eyes of Benjamin Netanyahu, certainly. But from a long-term perspective, the bombs that have driven thousands of Gazans onto the roads are a pretext in the coming years for Palestinian youth to continue the fight against Israel. There is little doubt that Hamas will disappear, hunted down by the IDF, but the resentment born of an Israeli offensive will not be extinguished the day after the fighting stops.

The only solution that is necessary today is, of course, to opt for a two-state solution, but if this is acclaimed by the international community, Israel under the thumb of Benjamin Netanyahu does not seem to be open to this option for the reasons cited. Eradicating Hamas and placing the Gaza Strip under Israeli authority, a wish of Benjamin Netanyahu, which boils down to a de facto annexation of the territory, would light the fuse for a conflagration of the region.

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Endless Discord

Fragile Lebanon, already hostage to Hezbollah, Jordan, anxious to preserve its independence, and above all Saudi Arabia, reluctant to bear the consequences of the conflict on oil prices, could nevertheless take up the cause of the dismembered and overwhelmed Palestine.

And in this hypothesis, it would be difficult for the United States to continue to support Israeli policy as the destabilization of the region would be catastrophic. In the end, it simply appears that the ball is in the Hebrew court. To continue the conflict at all costs is to sow the seeds of endless discord; Stopping the fight in petto would mean the end of Benjamin Netanyahu's political career, including in the event of annexation of the Gaza Strip.

By playing on the principle of Israel's security, Benjamin Netanyahu has deliberately failed to think about the security of the Gazans. A risky game that will undoubtedly backfire, but Joe Biden's words open an honorable way out in the form of a warning. Will he hear it?

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Bio: Olivier Longhi has extensive experience in European history. A seasoned journalist with fifteen years of experience, he is currently professor of history and geography in the Toulouse region of France. He has held a variety of publishing positions, including Head of Agency and Chief of Publishing. A journalist, recognized blogger, editor, and editorial project manager, he has trained and managed editorial teams, worked as a journalist for various local radio stations, a press and publishing consultant, and a communications consultant.