Context:

The Israeli government under Netanyahu is seen as pursuing an extremist agenda that undermines U.S. interests in the Middle East, prioritizing the annexation of the West Bank and expulsion of Palestinians over peace with Arab neighbors. The U.S.-Arab-Israel alliance, originally built on the foundations of a two-state solution, is threatened by this shift, as Netanyahu's actions are jeopardizing potential normalization with Saudi Arabia. The U.S. has stopped demanding Saudi normalization with Israel, signaling a significant diplomatic setback. Netanyahu's plans to re-invade Gaza and further annex the West Bank risk destabilizing the region and increasing war crime allegations against Israel. There is concern that such policies will hinder U.S.-Arab-Israeli security integration, favoring adversaries like Iran and China, and potentially isolating Israel as a pariah state in the future.

Dive Deeper:

• Netanyahu's government is focused on annexing the West Bank and expelling Palestinians from Gaza, which is contrary to the historical U.S.-Israeli commitment to a two-state solution that underpins regional peace and security.

• The Biden administration's efforts to engage Netanyahu in dialogue with the Palestinian Authority, conditional on Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel, have been unsuccessful due to internal Israeli political pressures and Netanyahu's legal troubles.

• The U.S. has abandoned the requirement for Saudi-Israeli normalization in civil nuclear cooperation talks, marking a diplomatic failure and a missed opportunity for regional stability and economic cooperation.

• Netanyahu's planned military actions in Gaza and the West Bank are likely to lead to further war crime charges, with significant civilian casualties expected, and may destabilize neighboring countries like Jordan and Egypt.

• The aggressive Israeli policies are perceived as hindering long-term U.S. strategic interests in the Middle East, potentially benefiting adversaries such as Iran and China, while risking Israel's international reputation and future alliances.

• The discourse criticizes Netanyahu's prioritization of personal and political interests over national and international security considerations, highlighting the potential consequences for U.S.-Israel relations and regional stability.

• There is a call for a reassessment of U.S. policies in the Middle East, emphasizing the need for leadership that aligns with broader geopolitical interests and moral considerations, to prevent further isolation of Israel on the global stage.