Editorial. US leaders must mend relationship with Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s arrival in Washington amid the political upheaval following Joe Biden’s decision not to seek re-election underlines the critical importance Israel has for what remains of the US leader’s term as well as for whoever succeeds him in the White House. An indication of that importance is seen in Mr Netanyahu’s scheduled address to a joint sitting of the US congress on Thursday AEST, when he will become the first foreign leader to do so four times: even Winston Churchill did so on just three occasions.

Mr Netanyahu’s presence in Washington, however, also points to the stresses that have developed in the vital bilateral relationship, especially since Iran’s Hamas proxy launched its terrorist onslaught against the Jewish state with its slaughter of 1200 people on October 7 last year. It is imperative that Mr Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris use Mr Netanyahu’s presence to mend fences over US criticism over Israel’s conduct of the war. Nothing will achieve that goal better than if the Biden administration is able to pull off its plan for a ceasefire in Gaza that would free the hostages being held by the terrorists and bring relief to Gazans suffering because of the war.

In addition to meeting Mr Biden and Ms Harris, it is likely Mr Netanyahu will meet Donald Trump, who famously said of the Israeli Prime Minister in 2021, after Mr Netanyahu had congratulated Mr Biden on his election victory, “F..k him”. Mr Trump needs to do better than such schoolyard prattle. So does Mr Biden. His presidential legacy will be severely tarnished if, when he finally leaves office, Washington’s relations with Israel are not much better than they have been during much of the Gaza war.