WASHINGTON: In the early months of the Biden administration, a significant shift in Middle East policy became evident. The administration chose to deviate from the high-profile peace-brokering efforts that characterized past U.S. presidencies, especially those of Democratic leaders, regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Since the era of Richard Nixon, successive U.S. administrations pursued various avenues, including Camp David summits and shuttle diplomacy, in attempts to facilitate talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders aimed at resolving the deep-rooted disputes spanning 75 years of Middle East tensions. However, President Joe Biden chose a notably different path.
Early on, the administration outlined a policy of “quiet diplomacy.” This approach advocated for modest improvements in Palestinian freedoms and living conditions under the leadership of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose government supported settlement activities in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Notably, this approach deviated from the U.S.-backed two-state solution, aligning with Biden’s foreign-policy pivot towards addressing challenges posed by China.
However, recent events have shed light on the potential risks of sidelining the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The eruption of violence initiated by a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, followed by Israel’s forceful response in Gaza, has drawn attention to the implications of the U.S. adopting a less involved stance. Frustration among America’s Arab partners has grown, emphasizing the need for active engagement to manage the escalating Israeli-Palestinian violence.
During discussions in Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi expressed concerns about the impact of the Israeli-Gaza conflict on the entire Middle East’s stability. He, along with a series of other Arab leaders, warned Secretary of State Antony Blinken of the dangers posed by the Israeli military offensive and its potential to force Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants across the Egyptian border. Sissi attributed the escalation to the dwindling international pressure on Netanyahu’s government and the Palestinians to return to negotiations.
As President Biden engages with leaders from Jordan, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority, it remains to be seen how the administration will adapt its approach in response to the renewed urgency and gravity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The delicate balancing act of quiet diplomacy against the need for active involvement to maintain regional stability is a complex challenge that the administration must navigate moving forward.
Sissi highlighted the accumulated outrage and animosity spanning over 40 years and the absence of a prospect for resolving the Palestinian issue; one that instils hope for the Palestinians in achieving a state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia pointed to the repeated alerts from Saudis about the looming explosion.
According to Yezid Sayigh, a senior fellow at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, Lebanon, Arab leaders acknowledge the inevitability of continued escalation. They may endure the current situation and perhaps the next, as they have done in the past.
However, perpetually living in this state of affairs is far from ideal, added Sayigh, noting the ceaseless cycles of conflict between Israel and Palestine that jeopardize regional peace and economies. He criticized the U.S. for allegedly enabling Prime Minister Netanyahu to overlook Palestinian grievances.
Emphasizing the reduced focus of his administration on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, President Biden’s recent call to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during the escalating Gaza conflict marked the first communication between the American leader and Abbas since assuming office.
