America Has Pressured Israel Before—and Can Do It Again

foreignpolicy ^ | 03/29/2024 | Alia Brahim

[ChicagoConservative27]

On March 25, the United States took the highly unusual step of abstaining in a vote at the U.N. Security Council that called for a cease-fire in Gaza after six months of a relentless Israeli military campaign. However, immediately and controversially, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. made sure to deem the resolution “nonbinding.” Other Biden administration officials have also taken pains to “talk down” the significance of the vote.

The curious imbalance in the U.S.-Israel relationship has come into focus in recent weeks as the Biden administration slowly sharpens its criticism of Israel—and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains defiant. Israel continues to restrict aid trucks carrying water, food, and medicine to the 70 percent of Gazans facing a catastrophic, man-made famine.

Despite representing the world’s preeminent military power, on whom Israel depends for weapons, funds, and diplomatic cover, U.S. President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have resorted to performative workarounds, airdropping aid and building a floating pier off the shores of Gaza.

But there is an alternative. Rather than undertaking symbolic half-measures, the Biden administration could draw upon vast U.S. leverage and take its cue from a Republican Party predecessor: former President George H.W. Bush. In 1991, Bush Sr. and his secretary of state, James A. Baker III, made it clear that if Israel wanted to receive an aid package of $10 billion in loan guarantees, it had to stop using U.S. money to build Israeli settlements on Palestinian land.

[ChicagoConservative27]

I don't remember Bush 41 doing this

[marron]

There are forces determined to see Hamas live to fight another day.

[Liaison]

Another of our betters writing drivel. The equivalency between a domesitic building program and existential threat he is comparing is BS. Israel is in a not give a damn mode if they don’t get support . Take the money and military aid, yes, but life or death of a nation does not compare to building a few more compounds in the West Bank.

[Samurai_Jack]

if in any given situation there is a ‘right thing’ to do. The biden whitehouse will do precisely the opposite.

That appears to be the rule.

[nwrep]

Biden needs to come out strongly in favor of Palestine. He will win in a landslide. This half-hearted dalliance with both sides is ill-advised.

[PIF]

America abandoned Afghan, now working on abandoning Ukraine and Israel.

Who’s next? Taiwan? Soon America will be friendless and alone. China, Russia, Iran ascendant. America declines.

[arthurus]

Obiden will not desert is favorite ally.

[one guy in new jersey]

If Bibi thinks taking Rafah could win the war or shorten it, he should probably take Rafah.

[SaveFerris]

(Alia Brahim)

🤔🤔🤔

[SaveFerris]

Bush 41 administration opposed Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem

Around the time of “Americans will henceforth pledge their allegiance to the sacred principles of the United Nations charter”

[Paal Gulli]

My gut instinct is that Bebe is willing to fall on his sword over this.

News broke in December that Netanyahu had been funneling billions in aid to Gaza through Qatar (who are no friends to Israel) in the hope that it would content Hamas and motivate them to keep a lid on things in Gaza. Instead, Hamas was siphoning off aid to equip itself for the October 7th attacks.

The moral of this story is, hand-feeding savages is a very bad idea (if you value your fingers).

Now it's clear Hamas is determined only ever be part of the problem, so they've got to go.

And Bebe knows he presided over the single deadliest day for the Jews since the Holocaust. The only way he can atone for that is to exterminate Hamas.

Ex-Ter-Min-Ate.

Every man-jack of them.

And if some (ostensibly) innocent faux-Palestinians get caught in the crossfire, ...

... Bebe's heart bleeds for you.

[faithhopecharity]

Supporting the Fakestinian terrorists keeps the weapons industry alive, well, and PROSPERING.
And the snake department Nazis super happy

WashDC needs a complete and thorough washing

Where is Hercules when we need him!????
(Aegean Stables)

[Salman]

Policy wonks think they have the authority to order Israel to commit suicide.

[Fledermaus]

Clearly a Jew hating writer.

[cgbg]

The writer neglected to mention JFK.

He declared nuclear non-proliferation as a national goal and refused to let Israel get the atomic bomb.

Then they conspired with the CIA to assassinate him.

Oops.

[Jumper]

Nothing will save Hamas in Israel, Gaza or the W. Bank. They are unwilling to coexist thus they are terrorists and will die or leave.

[ridesthemiles]

There are also forces that want to see the END of HAMAS.