Starting with a joint speech at the legislature on the 24th,
Biden, Harris, and Trump scheduled for consecutive meetings
Tension reignites over dormant Israel-Palestine issues
Facing the dilemma of balancing criticisms from both parties domestically, ‘[Seoul Economy]’,
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, ‘There is a tension in Washington ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming visit to the United States. With the U.S. presidential election approaching in about 100 days, there are speculations that the highly contentious Israel-Palestine issue will reignite. As the election draws near over the next three months, the political advantages and disadvantages are being weighed by both the Democratic and Republican camps, revealing contrasting approaches to the matter. Netanyahu, who faces domestic criticism and calls for resignation, is said to be facing a ‘historic political balancing act’ that requires garnering support from both parties.’,
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, ‘According to reports from the Associated Press (AP) and The Washington Post (WP) on the 23rd local time, Netanyahu will begin with a joint speech at the U.S. Congress on the 24th, followed by meetings with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris (on the 25th), and former President Donald Trump (on the 26th). The schedule, arranged at the invitation of Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, will see Netanyahu advocating the legitimacy of the Gaza operation and urging continued U.S. support. However, Netanyahu’s persuasion strategy has faced a complicated situation following the unexpected issue of ‘Biden’s candidate resignation’ last weekend.’,
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivering a speech at the U.S. Congress, a day before on the 23rd in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington DC, as protesters call for a halt to Israel’s military policies during the war. AFPYonhap News,
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, ‘Netanyahu’s upcoming visit has already stirred controversy even before the schedule officially begins. While Israel is referred to as a key Middle Eastern ally in the U.S. with a ‘strategic partnership,’ it has faced significant criticism in the international community due to the significant casualties following the Gaza War. Demand for the halting of U.S. support for Israel is intensifying within progressive circles in the U.S.’,
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, ‘Many Democratic lawmakers plan to boycott Netanyahu’s congressional speech for these reasons. In particular, Vice President Harris, who is also the Senate President, will not attend the speech citing prior commitments, raising clear discontent towards Netanyahu’s administration. As Vice President Harris gears up for a full-fledged presidential campaign, local media outlets speculate that she will tread carefully to avoid drawing too much attention to the Gaza issue.’,
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, ‘Former President Trump is expected to prominently highlight this issue to emphasize the Democrats’ incompetence and differentiate himself from Harris. It is interpreted that he will also leverage the situation within the Democratic Party, where opinions on U.S. support for Israel are divided. Amid criticisms of the Biden administration’s inability to resolve the long-standing crisis, there are many analyses suggesting that he will criticize their capabilities harshly. The WP reported, “Netanyahu’s congressional speech will be an uncomfortable moment for the divided Democrats as they still hold contrasting views on the U.S.-Israel relationship, just four months before the election.”‘,
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, ‘External controversies are also heating up. Activists staged large-scale protests in Washington DC in anticipation of Netanyahu’s U.S. visit. Hundreds of protesters occupied the Cannon House Office Building central hall within the Congress on that day.’,
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, ‘There are also evaluations that Netanyahu is facing a ‘historic’ challenge. With the U.S. election entering an unpredictable phase, Netanyahu must garner support from both parties. Netanyahu, who congratulated President Biden on his election win in 2020 but faced criticism from former President Trump for being “ingratiating,” is now in a dilemma. Vice President Harris is expected to emphasize a more strengthened Indo-Pacific policy in response to the Gaza conflict. Facing increasing resignation sentiment domestically, Netanyahu, in need of ‘achievements from the U.S. visit’ to counteract, finds himself in a dilemma. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, “Netanyahu is facing a new balancing act of appealing to the progressive side of the Democratic Party while not harboring animosity towards Trump.”‘,
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