SPOILER ALERT: I think that the United States and Israel are different countries. Although there is some overlap our national interests are different than Israel’s national interests and that situation will persist. We ignore that at our peril.
The editors of the Washington Post have some thoughts on keeping the United States and Israel “on the same page”:
As the war in Gaza grinds on into its sixth month, cracks are showing in the once unequivocally united front between Israel and the United States. Meantime, hunger threatens Gaza’s civilians, who, through displacement, disease and death, have already paid a horrible price.
If Israel and the United States do not resolve their differences and agree on a viable approach to Gaza’s next phase, including on how to alleviate Gazans’ suffering and to sideline Hamas, only Hamas itself might emerge as anything like a victor, after starting this war by massacring Israelis on Oct. 7. Such a result could threaten not only Israel’s stability but also the region as a whole.
I think that the editors are conflating the Biden Administration’s political problems with a program for Israel. IMO the Biden Administration is viewing the war in Gaza primarily through the prism of domestic electoral politics. The Biden campaign faces an unenviable conundrum. As they see it they need to retain the support of Jewish voters and Muslim voters and those camps are drifting apart, pulling them in opposite directions. If Michigan and Minnesota are “must win” states for President Biden, the statements of the Biden White House WRT the war in Gaza make perfect sense.
I continue to have no idea of what Israel’s actual objectives are in the war. If their intention were to eliminate Hamas while minimizing civilian casualties, I believe they’ve made some serious mistakes. If their intention were to exterminate the population of Gaza, they would certainly have herded the civilian population into a tiny corner of the territory as they’ve done but they’re proceeding with a very light hand. That sounds conflicted to me.
I also think there’s a lot of fantasizing going on from all sides. Fantasizing about an Israel that does not, in fact, exist. Fantasizing that Gazans who voted to make Hamas their government have no responsibility for the repercussions of that choice. Fantasizing about the viability of a “two-state solution”. Who would govern the Palestinian state? Hamas? Fatah?
Yup, every 4 years the Gaza’s re-elect Hamas.
I think you are omitting that there are political considerations in Israel also. As long as the war keeps going Netanyahu gets to stay in power. The more he portrays himself as the one getting revenge the more likely he stays in power when it’s done. Anyway, it’s pretty clear by now that Israel doesnt know how to find all of Hamas so there is no good ending. Expect Israel to just declare victory when they have killed enough to feel like they have had revenge. A new pseudo-government will likely be created that will really be run by Israel. They will establish a much wider security zone around Gaza, taken out fo Gaza territory. The embargo will be even tighter than before and Palestinians will be “encouraged” to leave.
Steve
The situation is more like that in typical Arab countries: one man, one vote, one time. However, the Gazans haven’t rebelled against Hamas and the most recent polling information (as previously posted) shows its approval rating high.
Is it Netanyahu’s interest to have a quick end to the war or have it prolonged past November? Make it go past November
Is it in Hamas (or more critically, its leadership) interest to have a “ceasefire” or have the war prolonged past November? Make it go past November
Is it in Hezbollah, Houthis or Iran’s interest to have a quick end to the war or have it prolonged past November? Make it go past November
Sometimes the objective is to simply fight until circumstances tilt in your favor more.
While I understand the often repeated point in the media about Michigan and Muslim voters; aren’t there significant Jewish voters in Michigan, and Pennsylvania as well?
I know Jewish voters are most famously in New York, California (two Democratic bastions that don’t need pandering)… but there’s large numbers in Florida, which can be competitive and the 4th largest state in the electoral college, and New Jersey which had a fairly tight race for Governor only 3 years ago and current polls show is as tight as Minnesota.