The president’s second “Summit for Democracy” has been framed as an opportunity for him to advocate democracy and condemn the ills of dictatorship around the world.
Unfortunately for Biden, this week’s programme was preempted by Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Israeli prime minister’s now-cancelled intention to undermine one of America’s staunchest democratic friends’ courts has inserted an unwelcome set of circumstances into Biden’s democracy celebration. Biden and his associates were vocal in their opposition to the judicial makeover (and just as forcefully in private). Yet, they are disturbed by Netanyahu’s activities, even though he has placed the proposal on hold.
On Tuesday night, Biden said Israel had put itself in “a tough situation,” and he hoped Netanyahu would “walk away from it.”
Netanyahu, on the other hand, issued a combative statement in which he stated that Israel “takes its decisions based on the desire of its people and not on pressures from abroad, including from the closest of friends.”
The anxiety inside the White House sprang from a belief that the Netanyahu-led far-right government presently ruling the once-stable democracy in the Middle East has authoritarian tendencies. These worries have grown as Washington struggles to hold together a democratic alliance against dictatorships in nations like Russia, China, and Iran, Israel’s archrival.
There are also domestic considerations. The instability in Israel has given Biden a foreign policy issue just as he prepares to run for president in 2024. Biden, a longtime public supporter of Israel, now leads a party in which an increasing percentage of members publicly oppose the country.
Several Democrats believe Biden should set aside his affinity and go beyond rhetoric to put pressure on Israel on issues ranging from democracy to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
“Joe Biden has consistently stated that there will be no penalties, so why should Netanyahu modify his behaviour based on whatever the US says?”
“, according to Matt Duss, a major progressive advocate and Middle East analyst who has advised Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on foreign policy.
Despite Netanyahu’s desire for judicial reform, Israel was invited to attend the summit, which is Biden’s second since assuming office. According to White House aides, Netanyahu is not anticipated to attend the leader-level discussions that Biden will lead on Wednesday. According to a source familiar with the situation, Netanyahu was instead scheduled to participate on a panel during the week, but even that was not confirmed.
On Tuesday, the White House attempted to defuse tensions with Israel. The US ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides, indicated Netanyahu will be welcomed to Washington at some time, though a White House official claimed no meeting had been scheduled. Aides indicated that while they were delighted that Netanyahu had postponed his plan for the judiciary, they were still waiting to see if he would return to them in the next Knesset session. Allies do not believe Biden’s handling of the situation will harm him politically.
“Where he has expressed disagreements with Israel — on West Bank settlements and a judicial overhaul that could undermine Israel’s democratic foundations — he is on solid ground with the vast majority of Americans, and those in his party,” said Dan Shapiro, a former US ambassador to Israel under President Barack Obama. “I assume that any adversary, from any side, would find this matter hardly worth pursuing.”
Even before the judicial makeover proposal was announced, the Biden administration became concerned about Netanyahu’s coalition government, which includes various personalities with racist, homophobic, sexist, and religiously radical ideas.
That was a way for Netanyahu, a senior Israeli politician, to re-enter the prime minister’s office while he fights to avoid corruption charges in Israeli courts. But inside Biden’s world, it appeared to be more than just a convenient alliance. Some of Netanyahu’s allies support legislation that would make it more difficult to remove him from office, and his statement Tuesday suggested he was concerned that kowtowing to Washington would split his coalition.
Biden and Netanyahu have known each other for decades and have a friendly and familiar relationship. “Hey, man, what’s up?” According to aides, Biden’s typical welcome to Netanyahu is “
There have, however, had significant disparities.
Their relationship was strained after Netanyahu delivered a speech to Congress in 2015 in which he slammed the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration, when Biden was vice president. And Biden has privately expressed disappointment that Netanyahu has become such a fawning follower of ex-President Donald Trump, and that Israel has mostly remained on the sidelines during Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
A call between the two men was organised earlier this month by White House advisers in the hopes that Biden could persuade the prime minister to forgo his judiciary makeover.
Despite Biden’s tough words, Netanyahu went ahead with the plan, rattling many American Jews worried about Israel’s future. Administration officials, acutely conscious of the importance of America’s security alliance with Israel, proceeded with caution, warning Netanyahu both publicly and privately to seek a compromise with those who oppose the revamp.
Netanyahu sacked his defence minister over the weekend for questioning the judicial proposal. The White House issued a statement that resembled previous ones, reminding Netanyahu that “checks and balances enrich democratic societies, and substantial changes to a democratic system should be implemented with the broadest possible basis of popular support.”
Yet, the massive protests appeared to have persuaded Netanyahu to back down, at least briefly.
According to White House sources, Netanyahu’s choice to back down on the judicial reform effort was proof that Israel’s democracy was responsive and working.
But, the push itself raises concerns about the future of Israeli politics and adds uncertainty to an already volatile region.
