That is the second instalment in a two-part sequence about how the administration of President Joe Biden developed its unequivocal help for Israel. To learn half one, click on right here.
Washington, DC – “It’s the worth of waging a struggle.”
These had been Joe Biden’s phrases in late October, when america president was requested about civilian casualties in war-stricken Gaza.
Hundreds of Palestinians had already been killed in Israel’s bombardment of the besieged enclave and United Nations officers had been urging a direct ceasefire amid a deepening humanitarian disaster.
But, as a substitute of calling on Israel to point out extra restraint, Biden – a dedicated supporter of Israel – as a substitute solid doubt on the Gaza loss of life toll. “I’ve no notion that the Palestinians are telling the reality about how many individuals are killed,” he mentioned on October 25.
The change was simply one in every of many episodes because the struggle started on October 7 that observers say laid naked an unparalleled degree of US diplomatic and army help for Israel.
The 2 international locations have loved sturdy ties for many years below each Democratic and Republican presidents, and the US sends Israel a minimum of $3.8bn in army assist annually.
However anger over US overseas coverage has reached a peak amid the Gaza struggle because the Biden administration pushes for elevated arms gross sales and assist to Israel, regardless of critical human rights considerations over its army marketing campaign.
Greater than 26,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, with UN consultants warning of the potential for famine and genocide.
So what explains Biden’s present stance? Al Jazeera interviewed greater than a dozen consultants, rights advocates and former US officers in regards to the many components that underpin Biden’s present-day actions and his “unwavering” backing of Israel.
“I don’t suppose there’s a brief reply to the query, ‘Why does Israel proceed to take pleasure in exceptionalism in US overseas coverage?’” mentioned Raed Jarrar, the advocacy director at Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), a suppose tank in Washington, DC.
“There may be an all-of-the-above type of reply.”
On this second instalment of a two-part sequence, we study how historical past, home politics and US technique within the Center East affect the Biden administration’s insurance policies. Partly one, we discover Biden’s private {and professional} ties to Israel and the way his Gaza struggle coverage might have an effect on his political future.
“It is extremely deeply entrenched,” Jarrar mentioned of US-Israel ties.
Israel, he mentioned, has essentially constructed “a really well-oiled machine” – one that may stand up to home and worldwide stress even amid the bloodshed in Gaza.
