SCORING PERSONAL POLITICAL POINTS
At this stage, it’s exhausting to see what Mr Biden can acquire from visiting the area, other than maybe some home political capital: His presumptive challenger for the presidency in 2024, Donald Trump, has not endeared himself to the American public by describing Hamas as “good”. In a rustic the place full-throated help for Israel is a bedrock political stance, Mr Biden stands to select up some factors.
Maybe the hope is that by wanting Mr Netanyahu within the eye, he can power the Israeli chief to train some restraint and keep away from piling extra distress on Palestinians. Given the present local weather in Israel nonetheless, with the nation reeling, rising frustration with the federal government’s failure to forestall the assaults, and the bottom situations, that seems a protracted shot.
Carl Skadian, a former journalist and editor for 30 years, is Senior Affiliate Director on the Center East Institute, NUS.