Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for The New York Times, discusses President Biden's efforts to influence Israel's conduct in the ongoing conflict with Hamas. Topics include Biden's shifting stance towards Israel, tensions with Netanyahu, public pressure on Israel, and the complexities of the US-Israel relationship.
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Quick takeaways
The Biden administration is using private discussions, diplomatic pressure, and socratic questioning to influence Israel's conduct and prevent excessive civilian casualties during the conflict in Gaza.
President Biden's unwavering support for Israel has shifted to growing skepticism and open disapproval of Israel's tactics, emphasizing the importance of protecting Palestinian civilians and addressing the potential harm to Israel's international standing.
Deep dives
Change in US Support for Israel
In the past eight weeks, public support for Israel from President Biden and his cabinet has shifted, with growing skepticism of Israel's approach and open disapproval of its tactics. The Biden administration emphasizes the importance of protecting Palestinian civilians and expresses frustration over the high level of civilian casualties. This change in tone represents the need to address the excessive civilian suffering and the potential harm to Israel's international standing.
President Biden's Initial Support for Israel
At the start of the conflict, President Biden demonstrated unwavering support for Israel, emphasizing that the United States stands with Israel and expressing empathy for the trauma and pain experienced by Israelis. He personally connected with the Israeli project, drawing on his generation's familiarity with the history of the Holocaust and his long-standing support for Israel.
US Efforts to Influence Israel's Conduct
The Biden administration uses private discussions, socratic questioning, and diplomatic pressure to influence Israel's conduct during the conflict. They seek to prevent the expansion of the war beyond Gaza, encourage a more targeted approach to avoid excessive civilian casualties, and provide guidance on handling post-war governance in Gaza. The US also plays a role in brokering a hostage exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas.
US Leverage and Constraints
The US possesses significant influence over Israel, including being its main supplier of military equipment. However, the Biden administration balances its support for Israel's objective of defeating Hamas with concerns about civilian deaths and potential damage to Israel's international standing. While President Biden refrains from publicly applying significant pressure, his administration reinforces messages behind the scenes, using various tools and diplomatic tactics. The ultimate decision to exert greater pressure on Israel may depend on factors such as the increasing public and international pressure and the assessment of progress in achieving objectives.
As the cease-fire in Gaza has ended and the fierce fighting there has resumed, the United States has issued sharper warnings to Israel’s leaders that they have a responsibility to avoid civilian casualties.
Peter Baker, The Times’s chief White House correspondent, discusses the public and private ways in which President Biden is trying to influence Israel’s conduct.
Guest: Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for The New York Times.