Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is used to being the center of attention during his visits to the United States, where he enjoys bipartisan support and ignores the few American politicians who choose to criticize his country.
But his recent trip came at a critical juncture in the US presidential race, after Democrat President Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the re-election race a day before Netanyahu’s arrival. Instead of finding politicians eager to meet him, Netanyahu spent most of his trip at local events.
Then, he had to cut short his trip after a rocket attack on a Druze town in the occupied Golan Heights on Saturday killed 12 people. Israel has blamed Hezbollah for the attack, but the Lebanon-based group has denied responsibility.
While the European Union demanded an independent investigation into the incident and most countries refrained from blaming any party, the United States accused Hezbollah of being behind the attack, highlighting Netanyahu’s dependence on Washington at a time when he is becoming increasingly isolated domestically and internationally.
The Israeli leader’s domestic popularity is at an all-time low, and many Israelis are frustrated that he has been unable to secure the release of those captured during the October 7 Hamas-led offensive, who remain detained in Gaza.
In Washington, DC, Netanyahu was able to deliver his fourth address to the US Congress – the most of any foreign leader – with an enthusiastic audience that felt like every other word. But dozens of lawmakers boycotted the event in protest of Israel’s conduct in Gaza, where its forces have killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians since October 7.
Netanyahu was able to meet with Biden, the Democrats’ new presumptive presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, and the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump.
However, Harris highlighted the suffering of the people of Gaza after the meeting. Even Trump had said last week that Israel should end its war on Gaza quickly because it was spreading false propaganda and the world was “not taking its war lightly”.
Presidential race
Analysts say the timing of Netanyahu’s visit, which comes as the US presidential election heats up, was always going to be tricky. The Israeli leader faced a difficult balancing act, keeping all sides of the American political divide happy while avoiding any perception that he was favoring one side more than the other.
And what looked like a presidential race in which Trump was the heavy favorite has now become more balanced as Democrats rally behind Harris. The vice president is eager to energize her party’s base, and one way to do that is by signaling a more pro-Palestinian policy than Biden.
Earlier today I briefed the press about my meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. pic.twitter.com/lNLSaufIvK
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) July 26, 2024
“Netanyahu’s main takeaway will probably be that Harris is likely to be less of a blank check for him on the Democratic side than Biden is, even if it is minimal,” said H.A. Hellyer, a nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Institute’s Middle East program.
“More than that, he appears to have resolved his differences with Donald Trump on this trip, who was reportedly upset with Netanyahu when the latter congratulated Biden on his victory [the] 2020 [presidential election],
“We should expect Netanyahu to continue acting exactly as he has done so far, at least until the elections in November,” Hellyer said. “Both Harris and Trump will prioritize support for Israel under presidents, but the question is how much, and Netanyahu certainly prioritizes support for Trump.”
However, some analysts believe a victory by Trump – who is notorious for his mercurial personality – could also be damaging for Netanyahu, hence the importance of a positive meeting during this visit.
“It’s not as straightforward as you might think,” said Michel Barak, a survey expert and former Netanyahu ally.
“Netanyahu knows Biden will overlook personal insults if it means he can continue to help protect Israel. That’s not the case with Trump. With Trump, it’s very much personal. He needs to know he’s respected,” Barak said.
In his address to Congress, Netanyahu provided evidence that full support for Israel is still the norm for most politicians in Washington, D.C. – especially on the Republican side. According to Hellyer, the prime minister’s visit was therefore aimed at maintaining the current American position and ensuring that dissenting voices are not silenced – even if this risks angering his critics.
“There will not be any broadly significant changes in U.S.-Israel relations as a result of Netanyahu’s visit, but there are trends over time that are changing the relationship, including this visit,” Hellyer said.
,[Washington] DC’s relationship with Israel is no longer as bilateral as it once was, and a big reason for that is Netanyahu’s direct involvement in American politics. He did just that, and [those dissenting] Democratic Party leaders on Israel will see his visit as evidence of why their disagreement is important.”
Domestic troubles
Netanyahu found a more receptive audience in the US Congress than in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.
Indeed, while US lawmakers welcomed his speech – at one point Netanyahu even asked them to stay and listen – politicians and opponents in the US were critical of him.
“What about the hostages? What did you say?” [them] “These are just empty words,” opposition leader Yair Lapid said.
On the streets, protests that began before the war over proposed judicial reforms continue, even if their focus has shifted. Now, thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets of Tel Aviv and elsewhere in Israel, demanding a compromise that ultranationalist members of Netanyahu’s coalition cabinet are essentially rejecting, threatening the prime minister’s grip on power and bringing closer the October 7 reckoning over his inaction as well as long-standing corruption allegations.
Therefore, many Israelis see his visit to the US as an opportunity to take a break from the troubles of their country.
“He wanted to run,” said Alan Pinkas, Israel’s former consul general to the United States between 2000 and 2004. “This is a sham, pure and clear. He’s doing what he thinks a prime minister does: speaking. Not working on policy or negotiations, just speaking.”
“Congress has provided everything [Netanyahu] “That was more than he asked for,” Pincus said. “It’s understandable that he would want to thank them, but this was a Zoom call, not an international trip.”
Because of these problems domestically and continued isolation globally, American support for Israel is more important than ever.
The US provides Israel with arms, economic aid and diplomatic cover at the United Nations. It has also vented its anger at international bodies such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) when they focus on Israel.
This is why the US has always been such a key stop for Netanyahu. But despite the devastation it has caused in Gaza, Israel still has strong support in Washington, but a rise in the number of US politicians willing to openly criticise Israel would be worrying if it is a sign of wider change to come.
“The U.S. government is almost the only supporter left for Israel in the world,” said Omar Rahman, a fellow at the Middle East Council. “Even in Europe, support is wavering.” Rahman cited the example of Britain, where the new Labor government has backed down from challenging the ICC prosecutor’s call for a warrant for the arrest of Netanyahu and his defense minister, Yoav Galant. “So it makes sense to try to shore up that support in Washington,” he said.
Rahman added, “Although most Israelis will not believe his words, particularly regarding the return of the hostages, his speech and the enthusiastic response from U.S. Congressmen indicate his unparalleled power in Washington.”
“In front of an American and international audience, he was able to make his case. No matter how weak and discredited it is, it still affects many people. And he wants the US government to continue to support him and his war despite growing international pressure, especially from international courts.”
