We all know how difficult the U.S. politics are when it comes to The Israel/ Palestine conflict, and how much worse they are now after October 7, 2023. Some might characterize it as a “no win” situation for Biden.
Show support for Israel without any significant reservations about how they are conducting their war against HAMAS in Gaza or how they mis-treat Palestinians in the West Bank and you are immediately labeled by some on the left as supporting Apartheid and Genocide.
However, show empathy and support for the Palestinians and their cause, and AIPAC and most Republicans immediately label you as supporters of the HAMAS terrorists and accuse you of being Antisemitic.
But it shouldn’t be this way. The Middle East has never been, and shouldn’t be a black or white, you’re either with us or against us situation. But that is how HAMAS and the far right Netanyahu government want to portray it. Each side now openly advocates a “River to the Sea” policy which seeks to completely drive the other’s people from the land in between.
Biden seems caught in this political dilemma. In the short term, he hopes that behind the scenes diplomacy can quietly convince HAMAS to release the hostages and convince the far-right Netanyahu government to accept a ceasefire to both save the hostages and allow humanitarian aid to reach the trapped Palestinian civilians. In the long term, he hopes that diplomacy can work to have both Israelis and Palestinians accept a two state solution. I have to commend Biden for his patience and persistence at trying to achieve these goals with the least amount of political consequences. But, frankly there are no obvious signs that this quiet diplomatic strategy is working.
It should be obvious by now that Netanyahu is not going to budge due to the political and legal situation he is in. He has publicly thumbed his nose at Biden (or to be more blunt, given Biden the middle finger) with regard to a ceasefire and any change in military operations that would reduce civilian casualties. He has also publicly given Biden the other middle finger with regard to acceptance of any two state solution. Netanyahu thinks he can get away with this tail wagging the dog relationship without any consequences since he believes that he holds the winning hand in that AIPAC and the Republicans have Biden politically pinned down and afraid to say or do anything that might seem anti-Israel. Biden needs to call Netanyahu’s bluff and stop taking his shit. Frankly, who the hell does Netanyahu think he is, continuing to bite the hand that feeds his country and expects that we will just continue to feed them no matter how much biting of our hand he does.
Well, I’ve rambled on long enough. Time to get down to the speech I think Biden needs to give. It is a speech that not only strongly condemns HAMAS, but also criticizes the far right Netanyahu government for its disregard for Palestinian civilians and its “River to the Sea” policy. It is a speech not to HAMAS or to the Netanyahu government, but one directed at both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, many of whom would appreciate hearing words of peaceful coexistence from an American President. Finally, it is a speech that firmly supports the end of HAMAS rule in Palestine and makes clear to the Israeli people that while we will continue to provide defensive support to protect them (eg., iron dome), we can’t support an Israeli government that is taking actions that are not in the best interests of their people. Yes, it is not good for one country to mess around with the politics of another, we don’t like it when Russia does it to us. But I think is a case where it is worthwhile to apply “let the ends justify the means” philosophy, especially since the “ends” are preventing further massive casualties among the Palestinians and proving real long term peace and security for the Israelis.
Anyway, here’s the speech I hope Biden will soon find the political courage to make:
My fellow Americans. I come before you tonight to put forth a message of hope and peace. A message intended not only for your ears, but for the ears of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, and for peoples around the world who hope for peace in the Middle East.
For the Palestinian people, violence against Israel the kind of which perpetuated by HAMAS on October 7 is not and never will be a path to self-governance and an establishment of a free, autonomous Palestinian State. It is a path only to continued violence, suffering and death for both Palestinians and Israelis, as born out by the decades of destruction inflicted on this Region by both sides. It has left the Palestinian people increasingly farther away from their worthy goal of an autonomous State of their own. Now I am fully aware that the unwanted control by Israel and the recent devastating losses you have suffered leaves you with feelings of hopelessness, anger and rage. While it’s human nature to have such feelings under the current situation I also know that such feelings breed a desire to strike back violently leading to a path of increased support for and recruitment into terrorist groups like HAMAS and others.
While you have every right to be angry, I urge you to stop and think. Is the path of continued violent terrorism a path that leads to an autonomous Palestine or one that simply leads to more death and destruction as the past has shown? I say this to you today because there is another path that you can choose. A path that leads away from violence and heartbreak, and towards peace and a Palestinian state. This path entails abandoning HAMAS and the other terrorists groups and embracing a new government committed to a peaceful coexistence with Israel. Choose this path and I promise you today that the United States will provide immediate humanitarian assistance and long term aid to both rebuild Gaza and help improve conditions in the West Bank. Furthermore, the United States will exercise its influence in negotiations to provide for a peaceful two state solution which has been our consistent policy goal over several administrations.
For the Israeli people, support for the hard line politicians in your government who advocate for a settlement policy designed to drive out Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank with the goal being the establishment of a “river to the sea” Jewish State, is not a path towards peace in the Region. It is a path that creates the appearance if not the reality of an unfair Apartheid state and will only perpetuate an increasingly violent conflict. A path that will foment continued terrorism in the region and continued insecurity for the people of Israel. It is an inhumane path that the United States cannot in good conscience continue to support.
Now I have said in the past that the United States will always provide Israel with the defensive weapons and aid it needs to defend its people. My position on this has not and will not change. However, while we share Israel’s goal of removing HAMAS from power, we cannot support the type of offensive war being conducted in Gaza by the current far right Israeli government. We have repeatedly asked your current government to change its offensive tactics which have and continue to result in the indiscriminate killing of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinian civilians. So while the United States will continue to provide the defensive weapons Israel needs to protect its citizens such as iron dome, and many of the offensive weapons needed to go after HAMAS, we will no longer supply offensive weapons like high impact bombs and other such weapons that have resulted in the indiscriminate killing of thousands of civilians in Gaza. We hope that this action will save civilian lives, while still allowing Israel to conduct a more targeted war aimed at removing HAMAS from power.
Lastly, let me speak directly to the Israeli people about your long term peace and security. I believe such peace and security lies at the end of a path to a two state solution. The peace and security you seek cannot be achieved by an Apartheid state or a river to the sea singular Jewish state, as being advocated by those controlling the current Israeli government. So, when the opportunity arises, I would encourage you to support Israeli politicians who support a two state solution and the peaceful coexistence of the Jewish and Palestinian peoples.
Thank you.
Now this is not exactly the speech I would expect Biden to make, but I hope you get the jist. But he will need to say something similar at the State of the Union coming up in March in order to shore up his left flank.
As I write this it looks like we are close to a deal that will provide a ceasefire of some length, return at least some of the hostages and allow vital humanitarian aid into Gaza. No matter how you slice it this will be a win for Biden and his team. Besides being a political win at home, it will do more to ratchet down the tension throughout the region than any number of bombs dropped on the Hoothes or Iranian backed militia. But most importantly, it will build good will for Biden among the Israeli and Palestinian peoples which he should use as an opportunity to give a speech like the one above, to get both peoples to at least recognize there is a pathway to resolve this conflict that doesn’t involve violence, destruction and the killing of thousands.
UPDATE- Breaking Good News: Biden starting to head in the right direction-
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday [Feb. 1] issued an executive order that targets Israeli settlers in the West Bank who have been accused of attacking Palestinians and Israeli peace activists in the occupied territory, imposing financial sanctions and visa bans in an initial round against four individuals.
Granted it’s a small step in the right direction, but an important shot across Netanyahu’s bow. A shot to make him aware that he just can’t continue to thumb his nose at Biden and the United States.
You can read the Full AP story here. Hopefully, Biden will continue to up the ante on Netanyahu until he sees the light and ends this march towards Genocide.