Israel’s advocates offer political cover to Biden over embarrassing trip – Mondoweiss
Posted By admin on July 19, 2022
Joe Bidens trip to Israel, Palestine and Saudi Arabia has been something of a fiasco back home. His fist bump with the murderous Saudi Crown Prince was widely criticized, even by mainstream media, because Biden spent a ton of political capital without much in return; oil prices went up.
He made similar concessions to Israels rightwing leadership, saying nothing about the occupation or illegal settlements or the killing of Palestinian-American Shireen Abu Akleh, while he gushed over his Israeli hosts including a warm meeting with disgraced former PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
Biden could not even push to reopen the consulate serving Palestinians in Jerusalem, lest he offend the Israeli government. Rep. Rashida Tlaib called the visit ill-conceived.
But Israelis exulted over the trip, and now Biden has gotten rave reviews from the organized Jewish community.
The American Jewish Committee celebrated the advances in the Saudi-Israel relationship. So did AIPAC and the Anti-Defamation League. And the official Jewish Democratic Party organization (the JDCA) cheered the trip, with two former U.S. ambassadors applauding the growing normalization between Israel and the Saudis and saying not a word about Israels killing of Abu Akleh, during more than an hours discussion.
The White House has reflected the Israel lobby line. It has tried to salvage victory from the trip by bragging about warming Israel-Saudi relations when Jake Sullivan and I gaggled on the plane when the President flew from Israel to Saudi Arabia, that was a historic flight, Bidens press secretary said.
The trip has been tough on liberal Zionists. The scholar Dov Waxman said that the trip showed the U.S. has given up any pretense of pushing for a two-state solution. And J Street issued a statement about the trip admitting that it fell well short on any measures that would bring about Palestinian freedom. Though J Street grasped at an upside Bidens lip service to a two-state solution.
Here are some of the center-right wing celebrations of the trip.
Former ambassador Martin Indyk told the Jewish Democratic Council that the trip was a great success because Israelis were overjoyed with Bidens love for them.
Israelis have a bottomless desire to be loved by U.S. presidents. It doesnt matter how much else you do for them, its the love they want to feel.
On that same call, Dan Shapiro of the Atlantic Council said Biden bowled Israelis over with the depth and the breadth and the sweep of his relationship to the country, and the big win for Israel was normalization the emergence of a regional coalition of Israel and Arab monarchies, ala ASEAN.
Cameron Brown of AIPAC said that rightwing organization could not have asked for more from Biden.
If you had been the presidents speechwriter I think you would have been hard pressed to write a better speech [than what Biden gave upon his arrival], for the things we believe in, he said.
If you had been the presidents speechwriter I think you would have been hard pressed to write a better speech, for the things we believe in.
In that speech, Biden described the U.S.-Israel relationship as bipartisan and bone deep. Then there was the Jerusalem Declaration issued the next day by Biden and Israeli PM Yair Lapid. Brown said the denunciation of BDS as a terrible thing that both countries have to fight against I dont think we could have asked for more.
The Jerusalem Declaration was also heartwarming to center-left Zionists: Yossi Alpher at Americans for Peace Now called the Declaration a strategically pleasing feature of a visit that also included an awful lot of schmalz and kitsch designed to warm Jewish hearts.
And designed to militarize the Middle East against Iran. Shapiro and AIPACs man Brown both exulted in Israel getting arms deals with Arab countries, and advancing laser weapons systems that even the United States cannot match.
Meanwhile, Brown and Shapiro and Indyk all insulted Palestinians. As I noted, in discussing the trip, neither Shapiro nor Indyk mentioned Shireen Abu Akleh, let alone Israels impunity for killing the journalist two months ago, a source of rage to Palestinians that Biden fumblingly tried to address in a Bethlehem appearance with P.A. President Mahmoud Abbas.
While the AIPAC official said Bidens message was that Palestinians are irrelevant in the new Middle East.
The Palestinians have become increasingly less relevant. The reason that countries want to move forward with Israel is that theyre tired of waiting for the Palestinians to get on board.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the Florida congresswoman, also cheered the Biden trip on the JDCA call and said the message is that American politicians must not quarrel about Israel. This statement by Wasserman Schultz is pretty astounding in its arrogance about Israels political rights here:
Its important for me to stress that all the progress we have made is really dependent on our maintaining Israel as outside of American political decision-making. It hurts Israel for us to become political and to try to use it as a strategic weapon to have one side best the other.
Liberal Zionists were not so cheerful. Here is part of Dov Waxmans thread saying the U.S. has given up on a two-state solution:
If nothing else, President Bidens brief visit to Israel and Palestine confirms the fact that the US has given up any serious effort to reach a two-state solution. When Biden came into office, many hoped that he would reverse Trumps policies and renew US efforts to reach a two-state solution, before it was too late (if it isnt already too late) [Biden] has not delivered on most of its promises to the Palestinians (reopening consulate in Jerusalem and PLO office in DC, etc.).The administration preferred to keep the now defunct Bennett-Lapid government in power over pressuring it to make concessions to the Palestinians or holding it accountable for Israeli human rights violations. Now that it is 100% clear that neither a Democratic or Republican administration will prioritize reaching a two-state solution, let alone pressure Israel to make this happen, the Palestinians will reevaluate their options and growing numbers will turn towards a one-state solution
J Street tried to revive the two-state solution in its comments on the trip:
Its more than welcome for J Street to see the President reaffirm his commitment to a two-state solution with borders based on the pre-1967 Green Line with land swaps. This effectively rolls back the position taken by the Trump administration and returns the US to alignment with the rest of the world. It was also notable that Israels new Prime Minister Yair Lapid stated publicly his belief that a two-state solution is a guarantee for a strong, democratic Israel. These are words not heard from an Israeli leader in nearly 14 years.
But J Street lamented Bidens politeness. There is no reason to shy away from using the term occupation to describe what is happening on the West Bank and in Gaza.
Of course the left now uses different terms to describe what is happening: apartheid. And by refusing to give any oxygen to the liberal Zionist camp, Biden has made the left that much more relevant. The ADL said the trip has caused a spike in anti-Zionist rhetoric, and it has a point. Biden has only fostered the very process Debbie Wasserman Schultz says he beat back: politicization of Israel in the U.S.
h/t Dave Reed, Adam Horowitz, Yumna Patel, Mariam Barghouti, Michael Arria.
This movement needs a newsroom that can cover all of Palestine and the global Palestinian freedom movement.
The Israeli government and its economic, cultural, and political backers here in the U.S. have made a decades-long investment in silencing and delegitimizing Palestinian voices.
Were building a powerful challenge to those mainstream norms, and proving that listening to Palestinians is essential for moving the needle.
Become a donor today and support our critical work.
Continued here:
Israel's advocates offer political cover to Biden over embarrassing trip - Mondoweiss
- Netanyahus Judicial Overhaul Proposal Sets Off Fury in Israel - The New York Times - January 12th, 2023
- Where are the Gulf Arab tourists? Israel's hopes fall short - January 3rd, 2023
- Ukraine didn't attend UN vote on Israeli occupation after Netanyahu called Zelensky - Axios - January 3rd, 2023
- Kol Israel Foundation raises ceremonial flag over its Holocaust National Memorial - Cleveland Jewish News - January 3rd, 2023
- Cantor Fromson, Temple Israel agree on new, five-year contract - Cleveland Jewish News - November 24th, 2022
- Trump: I could "easily" be Israel's prime minister - Axios - October 17th, 2022
- Netanyahu memoir: Dems feeling more leftist pressure on Israel than they publicly admit - Forward - October 17th, 2022
- Its driven by fear: Ukrainians and Russians with Jewish roots flee to Israel - The Guardian - October 17th, 2022
- How AIPAC and DMFI Outspent the Democratic Insurgency - The Intercept - October 17th, 2022
- Israel keeps building settlements and Palestinians keep dying. Peace is impossible this way - The Guardian - October 17th, 2022
- Azerbaijan's story mirrors that of Israel Aze.Media - Aze Media - October 17th, 2022
- UK-Israel relationship to hit new heights amid rocky times - CTech - October 17th, 2022
- Israel is fifth-most educated country in the world, report says - Ynetnews - October 17th, 2022
- Israel, Warrior Nation | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs - The Times of Israel - October 17th, 2022
- College leftists expand campaign to silence all talk of Zionism and Israel - New York Post - October 17th, 2022
- Israel Maps & Facts - World Atlas - October 10th, 2022
- Israel pays family of dead Palestinian-American detainee - October 10th, 2022
- After claim that possible new Israel govt will damage relations with US, Sen. Menendez stays silent - Yahoo News - October 10th, 2022
- The EU-Israel Association Council discussed the difficult path for peace in the region | EEAS Website - EEAS - October 10th, 2022
- Microbot Medical Receives Patent Allowance in Israel for the LIBERTY Robotic System - GlobeNewswire - October 10th, 2022
- Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez gets by Israel Gonzalez in second WBC title defense - The Ring - The Ring - September 18th, 2022
- Novavax Nuvaxovid COVID-19 Vaccine Now Available in Israel for Individuals Aged 12 and Older - Novavax Investor Relations - September 18th, 2022
- Israel hosts dragon boat race to mark 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties with China - Xinhua - September 18th, 2022
- The occupied West Bank cities at centre of resistance to Israel - Al Jazeera English - September 13th, 2022
- Moscow's invitation to Hamas could be meant as warning to Israel, analysts say - JNS.org - September 13th, 2022
- Alber Elbaz Gets the Museum Treatment in Israel - WWD - September 13th, 2022
- OneRepublic Lead Singer Says They're 'Pumped' to Return to Israel for Concert in November - Algemeiner - September 13th, 2022
- Bachelet deplores Israel's failure to grant visas for UN Human Rights staff in the occupied Palestinian territory - OHCHR - August 30th, 2022
- On the bus with an army of pro-Israel TikTok influencers J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - August 30th, 2022
- 7 great new films from Israel coming soon to a (big or small) screen near you - Forward - August 30th, 2022
- Israel is worried about a possible clash with Washington over the Iran nuclear deal - Middle East Monitor - August 30th, 2022
- Why is America so obsessed with Israel? - Spiked - August 30th, 2022
- Disband this biased UN commission on Israel New York Daily News - New York Daily News - August 30th, 2022
- Israel country guide: Everything you need to know before you go - The Independent - August 30th, 2022
- Strike looms after court rejects states request to order teachers to work - The Times of Israel - August 30th, 2022
- UN told Israel's imposition of apartheid must be 'wake-up call' to end impunity - Middle East Monitor - August 30th, 2022
- Caroline Glick: Israel is on its own against Iran - Cleveland Jewish News - August 30th, 2022
- Y-mAbs Therapeutics (YMAB) and Takeda (TAK) Granted Marketing Authorization in Israel for DANYELZA - StreetInsider.com - August 30th, 2022
- Israel Braces for Hottest Week of the Year - Israel News - Haaretz - August 29th, 2022
- Hizbullah Official: In Next War With Israel, We Will Turn Israelis' Lives Into Hell, They Will Be Pulling Bodies From Under The Ruins - Middle East... - August 29th, 2022
- Why the US and Israeli Right Really Hate the Iran Nuclear Deal - Scheerpost.com - August 29th, 2022
- Bahrain seeks to boost space collaboration with Israel - Arab News - August 29th, 2022
- Israel the country speaks for itself - Australian Jewish News - August 12th, 2022
- Americans Rarely See True Face of Israel's Bombing of Gaza - The Intercept - August 12th, 2022
- Everything Foreign Residents Need to Know about Buying an Apartment in Israel - JD Supra - August 12th, 2022
- Auburn basketball players baptized in Jordan River on tour of Israel - sportsspectrum.com - August 12th, 2022
- Shira Brown on Moving to Israel: 'How Could We Not?' Detroit Jewish News - The Jewish News - August 12th, 2022
- The Line Separating Israel From Palestine Has Been ErasedWhat Comes Next? - The Nation - August 12th, 2022
- As Gaza ceasefire holds, Israel lifts all security restrictions - The Times of Israel - August 12th, 2022
- Gen Z progressive says he's 'pro-Israel' and 'pro-Palestinian' - Jewish Insider - August 12th, 2022
- Israel and the Occupied Territories - Political solutions needed to halt cycles of violence - occupied Palestinian territory - ReliefWeb - August 12th, 2022
- Defence minister in Israel to discuss bilateral relations - Cyprus Mail - August 12th, 2022
- Israel - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - August 6th, 2022
- Israel kills top Islamic Jihad terrorist in Gaza, announces formal ... - August 6th, 2022
- "Was She Fighting?": Family Of Gaza's 5-Year-Old Killed In Israel Strike - NDTV - August 6th, 2022
- Murphy heading to Israel this weekend for 4-day trip - NJ.com - August 6th, 2022
- Why Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad are fighting again - Washington Examiner - August 6th, 2022
- Jaguars training camp: 1-on-1 interview with DT Israel Antwine - Black and Teal - August 6th, 2022
- The power we had was astonishing: ex-soldiers on Israels government in the occupied territories - The Guardian - August 6th, 2022
- The Long Con(federation): Understanding the latest attempts to legitimize Israeli colonization - Mondoweiss - July 31st, 2022
- Party in Israel Ends with One Death as Sinkhole Opened Up In the Middle of a Swimming Pool - Nature World News - July 31st, 2022
- Far-right religious nationalists are edging closer to power in Israel - Arab News - July 31st, 2022
- Israels Music Business Has the Ears of the Majors - Variety - July 31st, 2022
- An ancient Israeli law leaves thousands of women 'chained' to their wayward husbands - ABC News - July 31st, 2022
- OUT AND ABOUT: Visit to Israel brings the Bible to life - Northwest Georgia News - July 31st, 2022
- Israel/OPT: Immediately halt forced eviction of more than 1000 West Bank residents and stop demolitions of Bedouin homes in the Negev/Naqab - Amnesty... - July 19th, 2022
- Joc Pederson joins Team Israel for 2023 World Baseball Classic J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - July 19th, 2022
- The identity crisis of Israel's left-wing parties - Ynetnews - July 19th, 2022
- Final act of empire? U.S., Israel and the Saudis now heading for war with Iran - Salon - July 19th, 2022
- Few resolutions deferred two years until 81st General Convention, among them Israel 'apartheid' - Episcopal News Service - July 19th, 2022
- Joint Statement of the Leaders of India, Israel, United Arab Emirates, and the United States (I2U2) - The White House - July 19th, 2022
- Secret Service worker sent home after attacking woman in Israel - July 14th, 2022
- The Jerusalem US-Israel Strategic Partnership Joint Declaration - The White House - July 14th, 2022
- Bidens Jerusalem visit is a recalibration of the US-Israel relationship - Vox.com - July 14th, 2022
- Biden meets with Herzog, Netanyahu at Presidents Residence in Jerusalem - The Times of Israel - July 14th, 2022
- Secretary Blinken's Travel to Israel, the West Bank, and Saudi Arabia - United States Department of State - Department of State - July 14th, 2022
- Israel works with Arab allies to down drones, in sign of growing ties - The Indian Express - July 14th, 2022
- Earliest Known Images of Two Biblical Heroines Unearthed in Israel - Smithsonian Magazine - July 14th, 2022
- Israels high-tech crisis is changing the work chain - which industries are set to benefit? - CTech - July 14th, 2022
- Should you book in your second COVID-19 booster? Here's how Israel's fourth dose changed the fight against Omicron - ABC News - July 14th, 2022
Comments