Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s split with President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party did not happen overnight. The strained relationship between Netanyahu and the Democrats has been years in the making, characterized by a series of disagreements and clashes on various issues ranging from Iran’s nuclear program to Israeli settlement expansion.
One of the key factors contributing to the growing rift between Netanyahu and the Democrats was their divergent approaches towards the Iran nuclear deal. Netanyahu vehemently opposed the agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), arguing that it would not prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and posed a direct threat to Israel’s security. On the other hand, the Obama administration, with Biden as Vice President, championed the deal as a diplomatic breakthrough that would curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
The deep-seated disagreement over the Iran deal not only strained Netanyahu’s relationship with the Obama-Biden administration but also set the stage for future conflicts with the Democratic Party under Biden’s leadership. As President, Biden has sought to revive the JCPOA and re-engage with Iran on nuclear diplomacy, a move that has been met with strong opposition from Netanyahu and his supporters in Israel and the United States.
Moreover, Netanyahu’s contentious relationship with the Democrats was further fueled by his government’s policies regarding Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. The expansion of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem under Netanyahu’s leadership drew condemnation from the international community, including the United States. The Obama administration, in particular, viewed Israeli settlements as a major obstacle to peace and a violation of international law, leading to tensions between Netanyahu and Democratic officials.
The personal dynamics between Netanyahu and Biden also played a role in the deterioration of their relationship. Netanyahu’s vocal support for former President Donald Trump, combined with his perceived snubs of the Obama-Biden administration, strained his ties with Democratic leaders. Biden, who has known Netanyahu for decades, reportedly harbored a sense of distrust towards the Israeli leader, which persisted as he assumed the presidency.
The culmination of these long-standing tensions came to a head during the recent conflict in Gaza, when Biden called for a ceasefire to end the violence, while Netanyahu resisted international pressure and continued military operations against Hamas. The differing approaches to the Gaza crisis highlighted the growing divide between Netanyahu and the Democrats, ultimately leading to a further deterioration of their already strained relationship.
In conclusion, the split between Benjamin Netanyahu and President Joe Biden, as well as the broader Democratic Party, was not a sudden development but rather the result of years of disagreements and conflicts on issues such as the Iran nuclear deal, Israeli settlements, and personal dynamics. The strained relationship between Netanyahu and the Democrats underscores the complexities of U.S.-Israel relations and the challenges of navigating political differences in the pursuit of common goals.
