A sense of apprehension has been growing among several Israeli officials about potential moves U.S. President Joe Biden could make before leaving office that may not align with Israel’s interests—particularly concerning the ongoing Gaza conflict and other regional issues.
A senior advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Yedioth Ahronoth that Netanyahu had been hoping for a Trump victory, seeing it as a preferable outcome for Israel. He suggested that the Democratic administration had sought to undermine Netanyahu, positioning Trump as the more reliable ally for Israel.
What Are Israel’s Concerns?
The Israeli publication noted that, until Trump’s inauguration on January 20, Biden retains full authority, which has led Israel to consider that Biden may use his remaining time in office to take a firmer stance with Netanyahu. Reports have pointed to ongoing tensions between Biden and Netanyahu over the Gaza war, with the U.S. issuing warnings about potential impacts on military cooperation and possible sanctions against hardline Israeli settlers.
Israeli officials are especially wary of Biden repeating what former President Barack Obama did in his final days in office, when he refrained from vetoing a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements on December 23, 2016. According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Netanyahu fears a similar scenario with Biden, as it could open Israel to potential legal challenges in international courts like The Hague.
Biden’s Possible Last Moves
According to the report, Israeli officials suspect Biden may use his last months to intensify pressure on Netanyahu for concessions regarding the Gaza conflict, particularly concerning the release of hostages and securing an agreement for a peaceful resolution. Among the concessions might be a request for Israeli forces to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor, a border zone between Gaza and Egypt.
The analysis also suggests Biden could push for an agreement between Israel and Lebanon, a deal Netanyahu may welcome more than efforts to end the Gaza conflict under perceived unfavorable terms.
Trump’s Potential Approach
The analysis points out that Trump would likely aim to end conflicts in both Lebanon and Gaza, a scenario that would likely prompt Netanyahu to coordinate closely with Trump to achieve an outcome that does not require Israel to make significant compromises.
