The United States has stood by Israel since it was attacked by Hamas on October 7. However, as US secretary of state Antony Blinken wrapped up his recent visit, the divisions between the two countries were prominently evident. After a day of meetings between US and Israeli officials, both Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, and Blinken separately held press conferences that highlighted their disagreements on issues such as the future course of the war and the strategy to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a former US state department official, commented that “This trip reflected just how hard this whole [diplomatic] process is going to be.”Miller also emphasized that while the US has a significant role, it’s important to be realistic about the extent to which Washington can influence the crisis. President Joe Biden criticized Israel’s military response in Gaza, calling it “over the top,” marking one of his most direct criticisms of the offensive to date. He also expressed concerns about the civilian casualties in Gaza and cautioned that the dehumanization of Israelis by Hamas should not justify dehumanizing others.In a clear demonstration of the gap between Blinken and Netanyahu, the two leaders differed in their assessment of the latest conditions proposed by Hamas for releasing the approximately 130 hostages still in their hands. Blinken suggested that although the terms contained some “non-starters,” they offered “space for agreement to be reached.” However, Netanyahu dismissed the terms as “delusional” and insisted that the only way to free the captives was through “total victory” over Hamas. This difference in stance signals the challenges facing US diplomacy.The article also brings to light the challenges facing US diplomacy during Blinken’s visit to other countries in the Middle East. For instance, there were indications that Saudi Arabia, which Blinken visited earlier in the week, was reluctant to support the US’s positive messaging on the potential normalization of relations with Israel. The Saudi statement emphasized that they would not establish diplomatic relations with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is recognized on the 1967 borders. Blinken’s visit underscored the complexities and limitations of US diplomacy as it navigates efforts to broker a lasting peace.With this in mind, it’s evident that while the US is making efforts to exert pressure and facilitate the entry of aid to Gaza, significant obstacles remain in achieving a resolution. As the situation develops, it is becoming increasingly clear that time is running out for potential breakthroughs in resolving the conflict. Additionally, with the upcoming US presidential election campaign, the Biden administration’s willingness to invest political capital in long-shot attempts at brokering a peace deal may diminish. Despite the challenges, US officials believe that their diplomacy has had some impact, but they acknowledge the limitations and complexities involved in brokering a lasting resolution.
