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Netanyahu’s options come at a high price

The United States has at last let a United Nations Security resolution pass, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza until the end of Ramadan and the release of all hostages. In response, an infuriated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called off an Israeli delegation’s visit to Washington, where the two nations were planning to discuss Israel’s security needs and the Gaza war.

This marks an unprecedented rift in US-Israeli relations and comes amid Washington’s growing frustration with Netanyahu’s conduct of the Gaza war.

Israel’s operations in Gaza have steadily flown in the face of the Biden administration’s emphasis on the need to stay on course with international law. The final straw has been Netanyahu’s determination to attack Rafah, which Washington has said would be a ‘‘huge mistake’’, given the toll an attack would inflict on the 1.4 million Gazans located there.

No Israeli leader has leveraged American support more than Netanyahu to pursue a self-centred anti-Palestinian policy. Yet, he has managed to bypass any US presidents who have previously raised objections by relying on hedge politics and bipartisan support in the US Congress.

Since October 7, he has had the backing of much of the political Right in the US in his pursuit of uprooting Hamas. However, many within in Democratic Party and the US’s allies have increasingly found it morally, politically and humanly repugnant to be associated with Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Traditionally a staunch supporter of Israel, Biden has finally found it expedient to maximise pressure on Netanyahu and his extremist national security and finance ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich – who deny the existence of the Palestinians – to fall in line with the US and allied interests. Hence the US’s abstention vote and passage of the UNSC’s ceasefire resolution.

The ball is now in Netanyahu’s court, and he faces two options: to comply with the resolution or to refuse to implement it.

If he complies, it would be a huge loss of face and almost certainly result in a revolt from within his government, seeing Israel’s longestserving prime minister ousted from office. Even if he called a general election to soften the blow, polling shows he is destined to lose, with the National Unity Party wellpositioned to win under Benny Gantz. Though still totally opposed to Hamas, unlike Netanyahu, Gantz is open to dialogue with the Palestinians and amenable to Washington’s demands.

This scenario could help restore confidence in Israeli-US relations. But out of power, Netanyahu would face trial on charges of bribery and fraud. What’s more, it’s hard to imagine a world where, this far down the line, Netanyahu would be willing to open himself up to any risks on his power.

The second option, if Netanyahu chooses to defy the resolution, may come with short-term personal political reprieve, but also comes at the risk of the Biden administration taking tougher action. This includes a potential limitation in the supply of weapons to Israel long-term, which wouldn’t win him any support from voters, namely because this would weaken Israel’s standing vis-a-vis its adversaries in the region.

Though neither option is personally easy for Netanyahu, he could do a lot of good if he accepted the ceasefire and secured the release of the hostages. But this would require putting the people who elected him above himself, which is something we’re yet to see him do. Meanwhile, at 74, he is hardly young. On Saturday, his office announced the prime minister will undergo a hernia operation, less than a year after being fitted with a pacemaker. Seventeen years in power has taken a heavy toll, and Netanyahu is not in the best health to lead Israel any longer.

All this does not mean that the path to political stability and a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be smooth. But it could avert a crisis in relations with the US and break the deadlock that has hampered any meaningful move towards a resolution.

The US has had an unwavering commitment to the wellbeing and security of Israel. Its direct aid-ingrant and indirect military and financial assistance, including that embedded in the US-Israeli strategic partnership projects since the late 1950s, have been crucial for Israel’s growth as an economically and industrially prosperous and militarily powerful state in the region. It has also played a key role in enabling Israel to maintain its occupation of the Palestinian lands and the Syrian Golan Heights.

The US holds more sway with Israel than any other nation. Allowing the resolution to pass was a good start in flexing its power, but for meaningful change to occur, it needs to keep going.

Amin Saikal is an author, emeritus professor at the ANU, and adjunct professor at the University of Western Australia.

Article link: https://www.theage.com.au/world/middle-east/netanyahu-has-been-given-two-options-by-the-us-both-come-at-a-high-price-20240328-p5fg0g.html?ref=rss
Article source: The Age & Sydney Morning Herald | Amin Saikal | 2 April 2024

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