Staff Reports
In a twist that even a soap opera writer would envy, President Joe Biden finally caught up with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on their first phone call in a staggering seven weeks. The timing is rich, as Israel appears to be ramping up its ground incursion into Lebanon while contemplating how to counteract Iran’s antics of the fireworks variety — specifically, a recent ballistic missile attack. And to add a touch of chaos to this diplomatic melee, Vice President Kamala Harris also participated in the call because why not throw in a sidekick for the heavy lifting?
Meanwhile, Netanyahu has been keeping busy, including a chat with former President Donald Trump, who, it must be noted, is open about engaging with world leaders in the face of a competitive 2024 campaign against Harris. Trump dared to congratulate Netanyahu for the “intense and determined operations” against Hezbollah, a refreshing echo of support when compared to the radio silence from the current administration. The Trump campaign’s press secretary described this as nuclear diplomacy 101, implying that many foreign leaders are eager to speak with Trump because they know he embodies the common sense necessary for international stability.
"How significant it will be in direct correlation to Israel's plan to strike Iran, we don't know yet"
Sky's @AliBunkallSKY reports from Jerusalem as President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a 50-minute phone conversation.https://t.co/ayvWwiPFNL pic.twitter.com/kdeHuU34zH
— Sky News (@SkyNews) October 9, 2024
The recent Iranian missile barrage on October 1st has left Israel contemplating its next move, as Biden has made it abundantly clear he won’t endorse a retaliatory strike on Iran’s nuclear program. The choices on the table seem limited to symbolic gestures, possibly because a robust approach might ruffle the feathers of an administration that has been less than enthusiastic about firm foreign policy. Contrast this with Trump’s decisive style, which was focused on explicit action rather than empty rhetoric.
In the meantime, Israel has been making its mark with bold operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, effectively cutting into the militant group’s capabilities. Notably, this has included airstrikes that decimated a slew of leadership members while an unexpected explosion — linked to explosives cleverly hidden within pagers and walkie-talkies — caused widespread casualties among both fighters and innocent civilians. Speculations abound regarding Israel’s hand in this attack, sparking chatter about what qualifies as “playing dirty” in the geopolitical arena.
As U.S. troops remain strategically positioned to protect Israel and American interests in the region, the current administration is seeking more transparency from its ally. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was due to meet with Israel’s defense chief. Yet, the encounter was postponed, presumably due to Biden continuing his stern lecture about how to handle the Middle East. The befuddled Biden recently reportedly shared his frustrations about Netanyahu, possibly expressing that the prime minister struck him as not the most trustworthy ally. While Biden’s alleged profanity-laden tirade against Netanyahu paints a picture of more chaos than cooperation, it’s pretty clear that the dynamic between these leaders is far from stabilizing for the region.
The Biden administration is certainly mastering the art of mixed messages, making one wonder if the next diplomatic meeting will involve tic-tac-toe or perhaps a polite game of charades. With significant decisions looming in the international arena, one can only hope the adults will return to the room — and soon.
