Staff Reports
President Joe Biden is facing scrutiny for his mishandling of America’s relationship with Israel during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. This isn’t the first time America has faced trouble in the Middle East, but Biden’s handling of the situation has people thinking back to how former President Barack Obama dealt with a similar crisis. Let’s take a look at how these two presidents differ when it comes to relations with Israel.
Obama vs. Biden: How the presidents handled quarreling with Netanyahu https://t.co/LGpblr7S8O https://t.co/LGpblr7S8O
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) April 1, 2024
Obama, known for his cautious approach, had to deal with a tumultuous Israeli-Palestinian conflict in 2014. This conflict saw Israel launching a military operation into Gaza in response to Hamas kidnapping and torturing three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank. Despite the intensity of the situation, the Obama administration defended Israel’s right to retaliate while also urging both sides to deescalate to avoid civilian casualties.
It’s no secret that Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a strained relationship from the get-go. Obama pushed Netanyahu to freeze housing construction on the West Bank in hopes of a peace agreement, but Biden was sent to smooth things over when tensions flared. Even when Biden visited Israel as vice president, Netanyahu made moves that contradicted the administration’s stances, but Biden remained a steadfast supporter of Israel’s security.
On the other hand, Biden’s approach to Israel has been nothing short of disastrous. He has been criticized for his lackluster response to the Israel-Hamas conflict and faced backlash from within his own party for not doing enough to secure a ceasefire. This weak stance is a far cry from his long-standing support of Israel during his years in the Senate, but it seems he’s now pandering to the vocal anti-Israel faction within the Democratic Party.
It’s clear that Biden’s “decadeslong hug” for Israel has turned into an awkward and distant pat on the back. While Obama maintained a delicate balance of defending Israel’s right to defend itself and urging for deescalation, Biden has stumbled in his handling of the crisis. As the conflict rages on, it’s becoming increasingly evident that Biden’s approach to Israel has fallen short of the mark. What’s next for America’s relationship with Israel under Biden’s leadership? Only time will tell.
