Senior fellow Aaron David Miller and Middle East analyst Michael Wahid Hanna discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, addressing the role of diplomacy and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The podcast also mentions President Biden's visit to Israel and the cancellation of meetings with key leaders.
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Quick takeaways
President Biden's objectives in his trip to Israel include showing support to the Israeli people and advocating for a stable humanitarian corridor for displaced Palestinians in Gaza.
The cancellation of meetings with leaders of Egypt, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority hampers US involvement in the Palestinian issue and strains relationships with Arab partners, while growing condemnation of the war may limit Israel's military offensive and increase the risk for President Biden.
Deep dives
President Biden's Objectives in Israel
President Biden's three objectives in his trip to Israel are: 1) Demonstrating support and hope for the traumatized people of Israel. 2) Urging the establishment of a stable and predictable humanitarian corridor to assist displaced Palestinians in Gaza. 3) Pressing Israeli leaders to clarify their objectives, means, and potential complications of a ground campaign.
Cancellation of Meetings with Arab Leaders
Meetings between President Biden and the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority were canceled after the bombing of a hospital in Gaza City. This is unfortunate as it hampers deeper US involvement in the Palestinian issue and the importance of maintaining relationships with these Arab partners.
Regional Mood and Risks for President Biden
The regional mood has shifted with growing condemnation of the war and concerns about its trajectory. This may constrain Israel's freedom of operation and military offensive. President Biden faces the risk of being associated with the war's consequences and the strain on relations between the United States and regional powers. The focus now is on creating a functioning humanitarian corridor through the Rafa border crossing.
It’s been 11 days since Hamas attacked Israel, killing civilians and taking hostages. Israel’s retaliation has killed hundreds of Palestinians and created a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment Aaron David Miller and Middle East analyst Michael Wahid Hanna explain what role diplomacy will play in the coming days.
This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh and Amanda Lewellyn with help from Jon Ehrens, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Tien Nguyen and Avishay Artsy, engineered by David Herman and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King.