“Israel cannot stand alone and Netanyahu knows it.”
“The American decision to restrict arms sales could be a turning point in the US-Israel relationship.”
“Netanyahu has responded to the US decision with bravado and defiance. Israel looks likely to move forward with its attack on Rafah, using its already formidable arsenal. The Israeli prime minister says that no outside power can prevent his nation from defending itself, as it sees fit. Israel, Netanyahu insists, “will stand alone” if necessary.
But the reality is that many Israelis are shocked and dismayed by Biden’s decision. David Horovitz, the founding editor of the Times of Israel, called it a “devastating announcement”. His description of Israel’s situation is stark: “Already abandoned by most of the international community, Israel . . . has now lost the unstinting public support and full protection of its most essential ally.”
Even if Israel goes ahead on Rafah, Biden’s decision raises serious questions about the future of the Israel-US relationship and about the Netanyahu government’s options. Many in the Israeli security establishment want to open a second front by taking on Hizbollah in Lebanon. But the US has made it clear that it opposes that idea.”
Financial Times Today