Franklin Foer: “On Wednesday, Benjamin Netanyahu will receive an ovation in the United States Congress, at least from a large swath of the chamber. But he hardly deserves one. More than 100 Israeli hostages—some alive, many dead—remain trapped in Gaza because of his failure to aggressively pursue a deal for their release. His strident refusal to ponder the postwar governance of Gaza means that anarchy and misery will prevail there for the indefinite future—conditions that terrorists almost always exploit. [~https://theatln.tc/EkDe8XV0~](https://theatln.tc/EkDe8XV0)
“With his coalition fraying and his political future in doubt, Netanyahu has begun resorting to an old political instinct: He’s picked a diversionary fight with a Democratic president. Last month, he recorded a video falsely accusing Joe Biden’s administration of depriving Israel of the weapons it needs to win the war against Hamas. And upon his arrival in the U.S., he will embrace Biden’s political opponent, Donald Trump, and bask in the adulation of the president’s strident Republican critics.
“Although a skirmish with Biden might help Netanyahu navigate his personal short-term crisis, it is terrible for Israel’s long-term interests. That’s because no American president has suffered as much politically for what he has done on Israel’s behalf as Biden has. Biden’s Zionism cost him the affection of his party’s base, which turned on him at his hour of greatest need. For months, as his campaign faltered, he was heckled by left-wing critics of his Israel policy everywhere he spoke.
“In return for Biden’s devotion, Netanyahu has consistently displayed ingratitude—and hardly a hint of reciprocity. By attempting to turn Biden, one of the most pro-Israel presidents in the history of the country, into a villain, Netanyahu is sending a message to other American politicians, especially Democrats: There’s no glory in being a resolute ally.”
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Franklin Foer: “On Wednesday, Benjamin Netanyahu will receive an ovation in the United States Congress, at least from a large swath of the chamber. But he hardly deserves one. More than 100 Israeli hostages—some alive, many dead—remain trapped in Gaza because of his failure to aggressively pursue a deal for their release. His strident refusal to ponder the postwar governance of Gaza means that anarchy and misery will prevail there for the indefinite future—conditions that terrorists almost always exploit. [~https://theatln.tc/EkDe8XV0~](https://theatln.tc/EkDe8XV0)
“With his coalition fraying and his political future in doubt, Netanyahu has begun resorting to an old political instinct: He’s picked a diversionary fight with a Democratic president. Last month, he recorded a video falsely accusing Joe Biden’s administration of depriving Israel of the weapons it needs to win the war against Hamas. And upon his arrival in the U.S., he will embrace Biden’s political opponent, Donald Trump, and bask in the adulation of the president’s strident Republican critics.
“Although a skirmish with Biden might help Netanyahu navigate his personal short-term crisis, it is terrible for Israel’s long-term interests. That’s because no American president has suffered as much politically for what he has done on Israel’s behalf as Biden has. Biden’s Zionism cost him the affection of his party’s base, which turned on him at his hour of greatest need. For months, as his campaign faltered, he was heckled by left-wing critics of his Israel policy everywhere he spoke.
“In return for Biden’s devotion, Netanyahu has consistently displayed ingratitude—and hardly a hint of reciprocity. By attempting to turn Biden, one of the most pro-Israel presidents in the history of the country, into a villain, Netanyahu is sending a message to other American politicians, especially Democrats: There’s no glory in being a resolute ally.”
Read more: [~https://theatln.tc/EkDe8XV0~](https://theatln.tc/EkDe8XV0)