Secretary of State Atony Blinken visits Israel this week against the backdrop of a surge of terrorism, but Israel should not let the Palestinian theater dominate the discussions he will have. Despite the combustible nature of the conflict, Israel would be well-served if this issue is not high on the agenda.
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The first reason why this is a good idea is that we should not let terrorists feel like they had managed to dictate our diplomatic discussions. The second reason is that the US does not hold the key to changing the dynamics with the Palestinians, and if it were to enter the fray, Israel would face pressure and constraints. The third reason is the most crucial one: The main challenge facing Israel and the region is the Iranian threat, and this is where the US plays a central role.
As far as Israel is concerned, this visit will have been a success if it leads to an agreed roadmap on joint collaboration vis-a-vis Iran, comprising the following components:
- An American-European declaration that the 2015 nuclear deal is officially dead and referring the matter to the UN Security Council to trigger the snapback mechanism that would re-impose sanctions.
- Bolstering US enforcement of the sanctions currently on Iran, especially on the export of oil.
- Increasing the efforts to counter Iranian procurement of dual-use machinery and substances.
- Deepening Iran's diplomatic isolation, including through its expulsion from international forums.
- Taking steps to stall Iran's nuclear program.
- Stepping up the preparations for a military option.
Israel should convince the US that taking such action will not necessarily lead to war with Iran. In fact, if it does not pursue this path, the likelihood of war will grow exponentially.
It is hard to assess how receptive the Biden administration is going to be to such proposals in light of other pressing issues it currently has to deal with, and also because it has championed diplomacy as the best means of countering Iran. But even the most ardent proponents of the diplomatic approach in the White House will all but concede that it has failed and that it has exacted a heavy price from the US.
On Biden's watch, Iran accelerated its activities related to the military dimensions of the nuclear program as well as continued its subversive activity in the region and its use of terrorist proxies across the Middle East. The outstretched European and American hands to the Islamic Republic have been met with a clenched fist.
The White House's policy and the weakness it has been projecting in the region have pushed Saudi Arabia and other countries to embrace Russia and China. Perhaps now that the nuclear talks have failed and with Iran getting involved in the Ukraine war, Washington will seize the opportunity Israel has long identified for rehabilitating the US' standing in the Middle East by shoring up the pro-Western alliance.
There is no question that such a shift would help move forward the normalization process between Israel and Saudi Arabia; Jerusalem sees this as one of the goals of the visit. It would be right to discuss the chances of having a full-fledged peace accord with Riyadh that would bring about the end of the Arab-Israeli conflict. If the time is not right for this, then perhaps baby steps can be taken toward this objective.
The warm embrace that President Joe Biden, along with his staff, gave Israel in the wake of the weekend terrorist attacks is heartwarming and should by no means be dismissed. His stance stands in stark contrast to Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas, who not only refused to condemn the shootings but also blamed Israel for the escalation.
Israel's actions in Jenin are yet another indication of how the PA has failed to assert its authority and reject terrorism. Moreover, the PA has been indirectly fomenting terrorism by glorifying terrorists and paying them and their families.
Security ties between Israel and the PA, which Abbas said were going to end in light of the escalation, serve the Palestinian interests just as much as Israel's. Those who want to use them as leverage against Israel make the thwarting of terrorism a bargaining chip for diplomatic haggling and plays with fire.
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