Biden’s Middle East Policy Shift Threatens Stability: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Takes Center Stage
In a significant departure from past administrations, President Joe Biden has chosen to deprioritize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as part of his Middle East policy. Previous presidents, especially Democrats, have made substantial efforts to broker a comprehensive peace agreement between the two sides. However, the Biden administration has opted for a different approach, focusing on quiet diplomacy and more limited improvements in Palestinian living conditions.
This policy shift has raised concerns about the long-term stability of the region, as the recent outbreak of violence between Israel and Hamas demonstrates. The attack by Hamas and Israel’s military response have resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians and prompted the United States to deploy carrier strike groups to the region. Arab leaders are now pointing fingers at the lack of active engagement from the United States, fearing that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could have broader implications for the entire Middle East.
During a meeting in Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, among other Arab leaders, cautioned Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the Israel-Gaza war poses a threat to the stability of the region as a whole. El-Sissi expressed concern that the Israeli offensive could lead to an influx of Palestinian refugees into Egypt. Arab leaders also criticized the absence of international pressure on both Israel and the Palestinians to return to negotiations and find a resolution to the long-standing conflict.
Saudi Arabia has also warned about the potential dangers of the ongoing conflict and called attention to the need for a solution to the Palestinian cause. While Arab leaders may be accustomed to enduring cycles of violence between Israel and the Palestinians, they recognize that such instability is not sustainable and could have severe consequences for the region’s peace and economies.
The Biden administration’s diminished emphasis on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is evident in President Biden’s first call with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas since taking office. Previous U.S. leaders believed that resolving the Palestinian demands for statehood was strategically important for the United States. However, years of recurring violence and failed mediation efforts have led to diminished support for major negotiations among Israelis.
It is worth noting that ambitious engagement by the Biden administration may not have produced immediate progress, nor could it have prevented the recent attack by Hamas, which seeks the destruction of Israel. Instead, President Biden has embraced his predecessor Donald Trump’s approach to Middle East peacemaking by encouraging normalization deals between Israel and Arab countries, even in the absence of an Israeli-Palestinian accord.
While it remains unclear how the recent outbreak of violence will affect Biden’s normalization push, Arab partners of the United States are pragmatic and share a common adversary in Hamas and other Iran-backed groups. Additionally, the Biden administration’s swift support for Israel’s defense against Hamas’s attacks may further encourage Saudi Arabia’s desire to establish a security alliance with the United States.
Some argue that forging these alliances could promote stability in the Middle East, potentially alleviating the need for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. However, the ongoing nightmare for Israeli and Palestinian civilians suggests otherwise. Ignoring the core issues of the conflict will not make them disappear, emphasizing the importance of addressing the underlying problems for a lasting resolution.
In conclusion, President Biden’s decision to deprioritize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in favor of other foreign policy priorities has raised concerns about the stability of the region. The recent escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in neglecting the long-standing conflict. Arab leaders have expressed their worries and urged the United States to actively engage in finding a solution. The true impact of Biden’s policy shift and the path forward remain uncertain, but the need for a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is as pressing as ever.
