Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is renowned as the quintessential survivor in the political arena.
Renowned for his tenacity and rare concessions, his cunning has maintained his prominence in Israel for over 45 years, despite sometimes facing intense opposition. If Netanyahu and President Joe Biden’s relationship status were displayed on Facebook, it would read “It’s complicated.”
Undeniably, the two leaders, who have been acquainted for almost four decades, have experienced both good and bad times. However, since October 7, 2023, they have found a way to collaborate. Netanyahu is aware that Biden has risked his presidency in numerous ways to ensure that Israel has everything necessary to combat Hamas, in addition to providing political cover amidst widespread criticism from allies regarding the prime minister’s conduct of the war.
Everything in 2024 is political
In the upcoming, intensely contested election year of 2024, with the presidency and control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate at stake, it would be prudent for Netanyahu to remain neutral and observe from the sidelines. Meanwhile, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is advocating for sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) over their arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other Israeli government officials, and he has also extended an invitation to the prime minister to address a joint session of Congress.
The prospect of sanctions, coupled with the opportunity to address a joint session of Congress, is highly attractive to Netanyahu. However, it would be prudent for him to scrutinize the sources extending the invitation. Speaker Johnson’s invitation is perceived as a blatant act of partisan politics despite some bipartisan support.
Be careful who you chose to associate with
The present Republican Congress has shown antisemitic leanings. Media Matters for America, a nonprofit research organization, has recorded over 100 instances where Republican officials and campaign nominees have endorsed and promoted antisemitic media figures and outlets. Haaretz recently featured an article on Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley, highlighting his ties to fringe groups.
He was one of a dozen Republican lawmakers who opposed the $14 billion emergency military aid package for Israel. As a result, AIPAC and the Republican Jewish Coalition have stopped fundraising for 15 legislators, 12 of whom are GOP members, including Hawley, ahead of the 2024 elections.
President Biden has Netanyahu’s back
President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have openly criticized the ICC’s ruling, showing staunch support for the Israeli Prime Minister and other officials targeted by the court. Biden labeled the ICC’s decision as “outrageous,” arguing that it falsely equates the actions of a democratic state with those of a militant group. Meanwhile, Blinken described the court’s stance as “wrong-footed” and voiced unequivocal support for the Prime Minister.
In an interview with Sirius XM’s “The Morgan Ortagus Show,” set to air on Sunday, an excerpt obtained by POLITICO reveals Prime Minister Netanyahu’s belief that he is losing bipartisan support. “The United States stated they would back the sanctions bill,” Netanyahu remarks during the interview. “I was under the impression that this was still the American stance, given the bipartisan consensus that existed just a few days ago.”
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre stated that the administration is seeking alternatives, committing to “work with Congress on other options.” However, she stressed that sanctions are not an acceptable course of action. Netanyahu may not be considering that the sanctions could be relatively minor and, by aiming at ICC officials, the U.S. might be undermining the court’s ability to probe alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, which are crucial aspects of U.S., Israeli, and international law.
The US can’t have it both ways.
The primary reason why Biden and Blinken are reluctant to impose sanctions is due to the March 2023 issuance of warrants by the ICC for Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, and the commissioner for children’s rights, concerning the alleged illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. Both the Biden administration and Congress, including Johnson who was not the speaker at the time, commended the ICC’s actions.
Therefore, not pursuing sanctions and lodging a formal complaint about the court’s jurisdiction in the case against Israel may be a more cautious approach to counter the ICC, avoiding any appearance of the U.S. showing favoritism or hypocrisy regarding the court’s warrants. Netanyahu recognizes that neither Israel nor the U.S. are members, and the U.S. has consistently maintained that the court should not assert jurisdiction over citizens from non-member states.
To be clear, Netanyahu will not be arrested or go to trial for war crimes as the United States supports him, regardless of whether sanctions are approved by Congress. The Prime Minister has received all the necessary support from the Biden administration and more.
Now is not the opportune moment for him to take sides in the forthcoming elections. As I mentioned earlier in this column, Netanyahu is no fool; he’s a very savvy politician who knows when to avoid inter-party conflicts, and I expect that’s what he will do in this instance.
Jim Williams, based in Washington, D.C., provides comprehensive written articles and video reports on the conflict between Israel and Hamas, among other Middle Eastern issues. He has reported on every U.S. Presidential election since 1980.
Washington based CEO & Founder of LJC. Media covering politics, sports, & entertainment A seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director, and podcast host. Digital Director and Washington Bureau Chief at News Talk Florida & The Daily Cable
