As soon as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu arrived in the U.S. for his visit, protesters stormed the Capitol Hill building. The demonstrators called for an end to arms supplies to Israel and a ceasefire in Gaza. According to global media reports, U.S. President Joe Biden is scheduled to meet with the Israeli Prime Minister, while former President Donald Trump is expected to meet with him the following day. Meanwhile, the United Nations has welcomed the agreement, brokered by China, to resolve disputes among Palestinian factions.
The timing of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to the U.S. is crucial, particularly as the U.S. presidential election campaign is underway. The meeting with President Biden is likely to be a mere formality, as Biden is already out of the presidential race. The real objective is the meeting with Donald Trump, a strong presidential contender whose potential victory could secure substantial U.S. support for Israel. For decades, Israel has been a challenging ally for the U.S.
The Israeli military campaign in Gaza has exposed long-standing issues between the two nations. The significance of the U.S.-Israel relationship has long been a key policy issue for both Democratic and Republican politicians in Washington.
Over the past decades, power has shifted between the two major U.S. political parties, but one thing has remained constant: the “American commitment to Israel.” Leaders of both parties have maintained the belief that no ally or partner is closer to the U.S. than Israel, and that Israel’s security is non-negotiable. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, since 1948, Israel has received nearly $300 billion from the U.S., mostly for military purposes, despite Israel’s population being only 9.5 million.
In response to Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the U.S. sent weapons to Israel, deployed its naval fleet to the region, and vetoed ceasefire resolutions at the United Nations Security Council. President Biden even set aside his differences with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that he “fully understands the Israeli perspective on the Gaza conflict.” Over recent decades, Israel’s political stance has increasingly shifted to the right.
Religious extremists have gained more political power in Israel, largely during Netanyahu’s various terms. Israeli efforts to normalize the occupation of Palestinian territories and complete control over Gaza have led to conflicts with the U.S. Democratic Party. Criticism from the American administration has increased following the deaths of forty thousand civilians in Gaza. The U.S. position is now clear: it desires broad freedom, opportunities, and democracy for both Israelis and Palestinians. However, Israel’s expansion of its occupation of Palestinian territories undermines Biden’s administration’s vision. The bombs falling on Palestinians today are American-made, and the planes dropping them are mostly American as well. The largest bombs in the world are also supplied to Israel by the U.S. While the U.S. recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in a heartbeat, it delays recognizing the Palestinian state it has promised, claiming that the “right time” has not yet arrived. This “right time” seems to coincide with the completion of settlement expansion and the total eradication of Palestinians, rendering the need for a Palestinian state obsolete. The situation is changing as new powers in the world and the region are challenging the American system.
The U.S. and Israel do not want unity among Muslim countries and organizations, so they obstruct it. By scaring Bahrain and the UAE about Iran, they have led these countries to recognize Israel. The soft war between Saudi Arabia and Iran has created a rift, with embassies in each other’s countries closing. These were ideal conditions for the U.S. and Israel. However, reports from Beijing indicate that Saudi Arabia and Iran have been negotiating in China, and a recent announcement of an agreement between the two countries has weakened the American and European camps.
Former U.S. President Trump wanted Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel as soon as possible, and the Biden administration shared this desire. However, China’s diplomacy has thwarted these wishes. With Saudi and Iranian embassies now reopened and relations progressing, China has recently reported that on July 23, representatives from 14 Palestinian groups signed the “Beijing Declaration on Ending Division and Strengthening Palestinian National Unity” after reconciliation talks in Beijing. This represents a significant shift of power.
Previously, negotiations were conducted under U.S. oversight in American-centric centers. Now, these talks have taken place without the U.S., in a major Eastern city. China’s diplomatic approach is subtle, often surprising people with the results. The signing of this agreement by 14 major Palestinian groups will make direct Israeli control over Gaza impossible. Palestinians will now present themselves as one nation and one people. Israel’s strategy has been to kill Palestinians while claiming to act against Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Currently, the U.S. is concerned that it cannot prevent the expansion of Saudi-Chinese relations. Saudis view themselves as living in a changing world and may see China as a more reliable partner for a stable global future. The U.S. hopes to mitigate Saudi-Chinese relations through a Gaza ceasefire agreement and increase Saudi reliance on American security arrangements. However, it is unlikely that Saudi Arabia will align with the American camp or accept the U.S. as the only reliable, sustainable long-term partner. While the U.S. may complicate security relations, Saudi Arabia will continue to pursue relations with China.
The U.S.’s control over its European allies is also weakening, as evidenced by Spain, Ireland, and Norway’s symbolic decision to recognize Palestine. This reflects solidarity with Palestinians and a growing rift with Israel.
The U.S. is attempting to divide the world based on its competition with China. It views the Middle East as a critical market and seeks regional instability to secure Arab oil, while China does not have a contemporary history of deep alliances or ceasefires in the Middle East. Most countries do not want to choose between the U.S. and China. China maintains relations with all parties, pursuing its objectives in Western Asia and globally without confronting the U.S. China’s successful mediation of a critical reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran reflects this approach.
Fearing China, the U.S. is creating instability in various regions to strengthen its global grip. To maintain control over Europe, the U.S. extends the Ukraine conflict by supplying arms to Ukraine, while in the Middle East, it maintains control and pursues its global agenda by turning Gaza into a battlefield and engaging in the mass killing of Palestinians. The world should express solidarity with the Palestinian people and urge Israel to end the destruction of Gaza and the brutal violence that has claimed nearly 40,000 innocent Palestinian lives over the past ten months.