Over the weekend, Israel welcomed two prominent members of the Biden administration: Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. These high-profile visits carried both symbolic and pragmatic implications for Israel's relationship with the United States.
On the surface, the visits reaffirmed President Biden's unwavering commitment to standing by Israel during times of need. However, beneath the surface, the situation was more intricate. Secretary Austin's primary concern was to ensure that Israel refrained from launching a preemptive strike against Hezbollah. In exchange, he presented an enticing proposal—a firm American commitment to deploy U.S. pilots and aircraft if Hezbollah initiated hostilities. This commitment was bolstered by the formidable presence of two American aircraft carriers stationed off the coast of Lebanon, serving as a powerful deterrent. Israel's compliance with this demand was evident, but the effectiveness of deterring Iran, which supports Hezbollah, remains uncertain, as Iran and its proxies seem resolute in their pursuit of war with Israel.
British Warships leaving Gibraltar earlier today to join up with the US warships near Israel pic.twitter.com/GrPUHSL9pO
— ElBluemountain Israel is in my soul (@EBluemountain1) October 15, 2023
Blinken and Austin conveyed an additional message during their visit—the United States would find it challenging to support any military operation in Gaza that resulted in widespread civilian casualties and posed a risk to Egyptian sovereignty. Beyond the ethical obligation of a democratic government to uphold human rights, there is a strategic interest at play. The United States is keen on preserving the stability of pro-American Arab regimes, including Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.
In a bid to maintain the robust cooperation and support from Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu extended an official invitation to U.S. President Joe Biden for a solidarity visit to Israel in the near future. Much like the senior delegation from various nations that have visited, Israel aims to host an international delegation to witness firsthand the complexities and tragedies unfolding in the Gaza Strip. Biden's visit would be the most significant, following his five discussions with Netanyahu since the outbreak of hostilities and reflecting the unwavering military and diplomatic support extended by the American administration over the past week.
US Secretary of Defense Austin, IMoD Director General Zamir and IDF Deputy Chief of General Staff Baram welcomed an American cargo plane at the Nevatim Air Force base, the first landing of such aircraft since the commencement of the war, delivering armaments for IDF use. pic.twitter.com/d4RiNLBobr
— Ministry of Defense (@Israel_MOD) October 13, 2023
In Israel, there is a prevailing expectation that President Biden will accept this invitation, recognizing its more than sentimental value—a strong show of solidarity with a crucial ally in the Middle East. Biden's presence in Israel during this critical juncture would provide direct support to Israel's efforts in Gaza, while simultaneously serving as a stark warning to Iran and Hezbollah regarding their provocations along the northern Lebanese border.
