The Washington Post has reported from a high-ranking US official an acknowledgment of a growing chorus of complaints and criticisms from friends of the country and from around the globe, as well as domestically, due to the deteriorating situation in Gaza.
In a report titled “Biden’s Support for Israel May Come at a Cost to US Foreign Policy,” Karen DeYoung, the Washington Post’s senior national security correspondent, stated that the US’s partners and allies are increasingly frustrated by Washington’s failure to use enough influence to protect the lives of Palestinians.
The report detailed that President Joe Biden’s stance on the war in Gaza, despite recognizing Israeli excesses and pressuring for the protection of civilians, could come at a price to the president’s standing both domestically and internationally.
It highlighted that it is not only foreign partners urging the Biden administration to do more, but also some officials within the White House and the State Department have voiced their objections due to the repercussions on US leadership.
According to the newspaper, the senior official said the message is becoming clearer, with Washington “hearing complaints and criticisms, not just from friends, but from all over the world. Not just internationally but also domestically.” This is happening as conditions worsen with Gaza under fierce aerial and ground attacks from Israel, an increasing civilian casualty count, and the transformation of the region into rubble.
The official spoke of the isolation the US is facing in international forums regarding Gaza, saying, “The most apparent isolation is in international venues like the United Nations, where the US has been nearly alone in opposing Security Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.”
The official pointed out that many countries wish to support the US stance but are inhibited by public opinion against it, noting that Washington feels the pressure and has informed the Netanyahu government that this pressure is not beneficial for Israeli interests.
Escalation of Disagreement
This comes after US President Joe Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week that Israel was beginning to lose international support due to its indiscriminate bombing of Gaza, expressing concerns that Washington may lose its “moral leadership” in the world because of its support for Israel.
Political analysts and experts believe Biden’s recent statements about Israel losing international support and the need for a change in the Netanyahu government reflect a major shift in the US’s stance on the Israeli war on Gaza and may signal the beginning of significant compromises.
Biden’s statements came after a call with Netanyahu last Monday, which appears to have broadened the gap between their stances on the war and the future of the Palestinian issue, with each making conflicting remarks.
While the American president stated that “the very existence of the Jews is literally at stake,” according to his words, Netanyahu countered by saying that the only person suitable to lead the Israeli government currently is someone who can resist American pressure.
In a conversation with Democratic donors in Washington last week, Biden criticized the hardline Israeli government, saying that “Netanyahu needs to change his approach.”
Biden added, “I think he has to change, and the current government in Israel is making it difficult for him to move,” describing Netanyahu’s government as “the most extreme government in Israel’s history.”
Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that Biden’s statements represent the most significant change in the United States’ language regarding Israel since the Hamas operation on October 7th. The paper added that the split between Israel and the United States is bursting into the public eye following Biden’s remarks.
