Biden was clear – so why is Israel defying its closest ally again?
The US President, Joe Biden, has repeatedly expressed his opposition to Israeli ground operations in Lebanon, calling for a ceasefire following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Despite these calls, Israel has begun “targeted” raids on Lebanon, indicating that Washington has been unable to rein in its ally amid fears of a wider Middle East conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has continued to escalate military actions despite US efforts for a negotiated solution. This pattern has left the Biden administration feeling powerless to influence Netanyahu’s decisions, with the US supplying Israel with military means but being repeatedly caught off guard by its actions.
The situation has been further complicated by the US election calendar, with Vice President Kamala Harris battling for the White House. The Biden administration hopes to see a Middle East peace deal reached before the election on November 5, but few observers believe it is ready to change its strategy so close to Election Day.
