Dear MEPIN Readers,
All eyes have been focused on the American election results. However, we forget that President Biden and Vice President Harris will remain in charge until inauguration day in late January. Previous Presidents, like President Clinton and Obama, have used this time to create legacy achievements in foreign policy, especially concerning Israel and the Palestinians.
What will President Biden’s actions mean for the future of US foreign policy in the Middle East?
Maayan Hoffman of Media Line interviewed me, Professor Benjamin Miller of Haifa University, and former Knesset Member Alon Tal to hear our analysis.
Let me know what you think.
Eric
Excerpt:
Will Biden follow the path of President Bill Clinton, who pushed for a peace agreement in his final months in 2001? Or will he take a page from President Barack Obama, whose administration abstained from a 2016 UN Security Council vote declaring all Israeli settlement beyond the 1949 armistice line a “flagrant violation” of international law—taking a stab at Israel?
Biden is a Zionist, and if he really cares about Israel’s existential issues, he knows the No. 1 issue is Iran
“Biden is a Zionist, and if he really cares about Israel’s existential issues, he knows the No. 1 issue is Iran,” Mandel said.
So far, the United States has supported Israel in defending against the Islamic terrorist regime, including during two of the most significant ballistic missile attacks in Israel’s history. However, Mandel suggests that Biden might want to change course as part of his legacy, helping Israel go on the offensive to reshape the region’s trajectory. Iran, after all, is not only anti-Israel but is also the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism and a major source of instability in the Middle East.
Mandel speculated that Biden may decide Iran has had “enough chances” and could supply Israel with the 30,000-pound bombs needed to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. This action might not destroy Iran’s nuclear program, but it could set it back significantly.
“Biden asked Israel to hold back from attacking Iranian nuclear or energy facilities [when it struck Iran last month] to keep gas prices down before the election,” explained former Knesset Member Alon Tal. “Now, with Harris’ loss, he no longer has that concern.”
Go HERE to read the entire interview in The Media Line on November 6, 2024