Back in 2016, Donald Trump had a memorable quote that pretty much encapsulated his old over the Republican Party: “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters, OK.”
At this point, you might be able say the same thing about Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The premier could stroll up Fifth Avenue, shoot somebody on the street and still receive US-supplied joint direct attack munitions, 2,000-pound bombs, fighter aircraft and no-strings-attached diplomatic support. The man can apparently do no wrong in the eyes of the Biden administration — or more accurately, he couldn’t do anything that would warrant even a minor, let alone substantive, adjustment in US policy.
But is that changing? President Biden’s conversation with Bibi today, during which he threatened to condition US policy on a series of Israeli humanitarian concessions, would suggest the answer is yes. So would White House national security spokesman John Kirby’s declaration after the call that there will be changes if the Israelis don’t play ball.
Author
Events on Middle East
