Jonathan Capehart of the Washington Post asserts that President Joe Biden’s stance on withholding aid from Israel is not politically driven. This statement smells of denial, considering Biden’s past brushes with Israel and its opposition.
Capehart’s denial occurs in response to Matt Lewis from the Daily Beast’s query about Biden’s red line. Lewis intuitively points out that any attempts Biden makes to satisfy young progressives—as seemingly impossible as that might be—risks alienating pro-Israel democrats and anti-Trump republicans. Lewis was referring to the growing disapproval from pro-Israel democrats and Republicans over Biden’s harsh treatment of Israel in the recent escalation of violence.
Capehart brushes off the question, arguing that Biden is free from domestic political influences. He refers to Biden’s lengthy presence on the world stage and his relationship with Israel’s Prime Minister, suggesting that these make him an infallible geopolitical actor. However, if we glance back at Biden’s past relationship with Israel and her opponents, this argument starts to unravel.
During the 2019 Democratic Primary, Biden labeled any thought of cutting off aid to Israel as ‘preposterous.’ In 2006, in the midst of Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah, Biden condemned Hezbollah for their cowardly tactics. He also openly criticized George H.W. Bush in 1992 for pressuring Israeli PM Yitzhak Shamir to negotiate peace with the Arabs. These statements seem to have been swept under the rug.
Looking at this past rhetoric, it’s hard to believe that Biden’s recent move towards harsher treatment of Israel is free from political undercurrents. It appears that he might be toying around with politics more than his defenders, like Capehart, would like to admit.
In our politically charged climate, it’s vital not to mix up diplomacy with political game-playing. Biden’s recent moves suggest a neglected ally—Israel. Rather than denying the existence of political influences, maybe figures like Capehart should question whether this political dance is in the best interests of America and her allies.
