In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal Eliot Kaufman argues the case that Israel must strike back against Iran:
Israel is being told again to let the problem fester and accept a tit-for-tat equation, but on worse terms than ever. “It’s only 100 ballistic missiles” is only the latest gruel to swallow, while Mr. Khamenei releases ravings, such as on April 10, about Israeli normalization with Muslim states: “The Zionists suck the blood of a country for their own benefit when they gain a foothold.” The world brushes off the antisemitism. The media doesn’t even report his statements.
Mr. Biden asks Israel to put its faith in deterrence while its enemies become stronger and Israel is the one deterred. When the president threatens that Israel will be isolated, on its own if it defends itself properly, he is asking it to stick to the strategy that left it fatally exposed on Oct. 7 and that it swore off the same day.
I have no idea what the Israelis are thinking at this point. I suspect that failing to strike back at Iran will make matters extremely difficult for Mr. Netanyahu politically while Israel striking back at Iran will make things politically even more difficult for President Biden.
My own view is that while there were several ways to avoid tying the president’s political future to Israel, we have done none of them. Imagining an Israel that does not exist, a Gaza that does not exist, a Palestine that does not exist, and political leadership in Israel and Palestine that do not exist is not conducive to good policy.
Doing nothing means Netanyahu and his buddies get voted out sooner.
Steve