The one between Benjamin Netanyahu and Joe Biden is a subtle balancing act. A mixture of warnings and soothing messages, tests of friendship and tests of strength. And which is played on a chessboard that goes from the Gaza Strip to Iran, from the corridors of the American Congress to those of the Knesset. The alliance between Israel and the United States has never been questioned.
But the relationship between Biden and Netanyahu during the war in Gaza often appeared at its lowest. The US president has had to play the role of fireman too many times, trying to defuse the most dangerous initiatives of Netanyahu and the far-right that is pressing him from within. But Biden also had to concede something, knowing not to have to pull too hard.
Why did Israel attack Iran? Mini drones and soft strategy: here’s what really happened
And now, after the moments of frost, there seems to be a new period of détente. Also certified by the armaments package arriving from Washington and worth a billion dollars. The turning point was the Iranian attack on Israel. A launch of drones and missiles that was phoned in to say the least, but which served Netanyahu to break the isolation in which he appeared condemned. Washington protected the Jewish state with its armed forces and those of its allies. But while many expected a lightning-fast counterattack, Bibi surprised everyone with an attack several days later and limited to a few facilities in Isfahan. Nothing new for an Iran that has been fighting a shadow war of sabotage and mysterious explosions for years. But if the response appeared “soft” to the radical right of Itamar Ben-Gvir, for the prime minister it is above all a bargaining chip with the White House.
NEGOTIATION
Regional escalation with Tehran was probably avoided. And Netanyahu knows that he can ask for something in return. And which for many observers could be the definitive green light for the Rafah operation. In recent days, however, the Biden administration has denied involvement in “offensive operations” against Iran, immediately extinguishing suspicions about joint work between the Pentagon and the Israel defense forces. Yesterday, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken reiterated that his government does not support “a major military operation in Rafah”, because it is convinced that the same objectives can be achieved “in other ways”. After all, Washington wants to avoid a regional escalation. But while it warns its ally about the consequences of the offensive, according to the Wall Street Journal the Biden administration is negotiating with Israel one of the largest agreements for the supply of weapons since the war in Gaza began.
PLAN
A billion dollars in ammunition for tanks and mortars, vehicles, weapons of various kinds. Confirming that complicated double track of Washington’s diplomacy, divided between attention to the humanitarian front and the solid military alliance with Israel. US skepticism about the attack on Rafah remains. The Pentagon has repeatedly recommended surgical operations and asked for detailed plans for the evacuation of civilians. Before Iran subverted Tel Aviv’s agenda, CNN revealed that the Israeli air force was ready to drop millions of leaflets as early as Monday to warn the population of the impending attack. A nightmare scenario for residents and refugees, who have been trying to escape for weeks by taking advantage of the partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from the south of the Strip. They gathered what was left of their lives, loaded everything into carriages and old cars, and began to head north, returning to what remains of their homes. But even in other areas of the Strip the climate risks catching fire at any moment. Yesterday, after launching a rocket against Askhelon, Israeli forces targeted Beit Lahia and in the previous 24 hours the jets “destroyed around 25 targets”. According to the plans leaked in the long discussions between US and Israeli officials, other operations should then be launched in the central and northern part of the Strip together with the offensive on Rafah. Netanyahu not only wants to defeat the last Hamas battalions, but he also seems intent on bringing a definitive turning point to the conflict. Without an agreement on the hostages and with too many open fronts, Rafah is a dossier that must be closed at all costs.
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The messenger
