Team Biden is putting the squeeze on Israel. Washington is pressing Jerusalem to accept an unpopular hostage deal. It is also issuing an executive order sanctioning Israel for “settler violence,” directing the State Department to develop options for American recognition of a Palestinian state, and refusing to answer Israeli requests for arms. Meanwhile, there’s still no retaliation for the attack by Iranian backed forces that killed three American soldiers. Mike and Gadi connect the dots between the pressure on Israel and the inaction on Iran. The Biden administration sees “de-escalation” in Gaza as the road to “de-escalation” and stability in the Middle East. Will appeasement with Iran lead to a serious falling out between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Biden?
Gadi Taub is an author, historian, and op-ed columnist. He is co-host of Tablet’s Israel Update podcast.
Michael Doran is Director of the Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East and a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C.
