Standing Biden Us
At a press conference last week, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu made a comment about U.S. military support, or lack thereof, for Israel’s war effort against Hamas under the Biden administration. The withholding of weaponry costs IDF lives, claimed the prime minister. It is very likely that that is true. It was an unexpected thing to say at a press conference. Members of that administration were quick to respond, as was to be expected. No less unexpected was the tone in which the responses were made.
American support for Israel in this newest outbreak of the war for independence has been undeniably helpful. Jews all over should be grateful.
But it isn’t that simple.
President Joe Biden sent ships to the region to discourage broadening the battle. He himself got on his plane and came here. And for the early part of the conflict, it seemed that the U.S. was behind Israel in its need to destroy Hamas and return the hostages.
And then it changed.
We were told where to go and where not to go, or the U.S. will withhold arms and equipment. Interspersed with the threats were actual acts of support for Israel. It is notable that after every one of those acts of support, the official making the announcement, whether from the Department of State, the Department of Defence, or the White House, would reiterate how this is yet another indication of America’s ironclad commitment to the security of the State of Israel. As if it was necessary in order to balance the displays of conditional commitment.
Holding back military materiel is one thing, and alone as one thing is bad enough. Air attacks prepped for the ground invasion. When we attacked from the air, we warned civilians to get out of the way, and either they did or they did not. But with the ground invasion, we were face to face with the civilians who were protecting the terrorists. We wanted them out of the way; we needed them out of the way. The Biden Administration’s position was that there will be no evacuation of the civilians from Gaza, as they (I love this) have the right to stay in their land. We were then told by that administration to stay away from densely-populated areas (otherwise known as everywhere). Wonder how many IDF lives that policy cost? They actually aided and abetted Hamas in the war crime of hiding behind, and within, the civilian population.
Furthermore, in the face of the two-faced position on Israel defending itself, the enemy could only be emboldened to continue the fight. Based on their past experience, eventually America pushes for a ceasefire, Israel comes out of it more vulnerable, and the enemy lives to fight another day.
When one thinks about it, Netanyahu let the Biden Bunch off a little easy.