Biden’s Lack of Focus on Israeli-Palestinian Dialogue Criticized Amid Regional Unrest

From the outset of its term, the Biden administration marked a significant shift in its approach to the Middle East by deprioritizing longstanding American diplomatic efforts to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Unlike previous U.S. administrations, which have engaged in efforts such as Camp David summits and shuttle diplomacy, Biden’s administration has noticeably abstained.

Instead, the Biden administration articulated a strategy of “quiet diplomacy,” aiming for incremental improvements in Palestinian living conditions and freedoms. This less aggressive diplomatic approach was in alignment with Biden’s broader foreign policy objective to shift focus from the Middle East to concerns over China.

However, the recent eruption of violence, instigated by a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and a subsequent intense Israeli military response, has sharply spotlighted the risks of this reduced focus on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Arab nations, dismayed by the United States’ lack of proactive engagement, argue that the escalating violence is symptomatic of America’s neglect.

The conflict has resulted in significant loss of civilian life in both Israel and Gaza and has required the United States to dispatch carrier strike groups to the region. The violence also risks sparking a broader regional crisis involving flows of Palestinian refugees.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, among other Arab leaders, warned U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the escalating conflict poses a risk to the stability of the entire Middle East. Sissi highlighted the absence of international pressure on both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Palestinians to return to the negotiation table, citing this as a major contributing factor to the current crisis.

Saudi Arabia, echoing these concerns, emphasized its prior warnings about the volatile situation. Yezid Sayigh, a senior fellow at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, noted that while Arab leaders may endure this cycle of violence for now, the recurrent crises are far from a stable or acceptable state of affairs.

In a telling move, Biden’s first call to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas came only in the midst of this renewed hostilities, further illustrating the administration’s marginalized focus on the issue.

Despite the limited prospects of immediate success, critics argue that not engaging in the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue can have far-reaching consequences. This perspective was made glaringly evident in the aftermath of the recent violence, which was the deadliest in the history of conflicts between Hamas and Israel.

While the Biden administration had made strides in securing normalization deals with Arab countries, these agreements may now be in jeopardy due to the renewed hostilities. Despite their criticisms, it’s worth noting that America’s Arab partners are fundamentally pragmatic and share a mutual interest with the U.S. and Israel in opposing groups backed by Iran.

Several analysts posit that the U.S. response to the Israeli crisis could potentially solidify Saudi Arabia’s interest in a security alliance. Yet, as the situation deteriorates for Israeli and Palestinian civilians alike, critics argue that the existing issues cannot simply be sidelined.

Yousef Munayyer, who heads the Palestine-Israel program at the Arab Center, summed up this sentiment: “Ignoring the core issues will not make them disappear. This should serve as a lesson for all parties involved.”

Contributions to this report were made by Big Big News correspondent Sam Magdy in Cairo.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Biden’s Israeli-Palestinian Policy

More about Biden’s Israeli-Palestinian Policy

• Biden Administration’s Middle East Policy
• The History of U.S. Involvement in Israeli-Palestinian Peace Efforts
• What is Quiet Diplomacy?
• Profile: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi
• Overview: Hamas and Its Objectives
• U.S. Foreign Policy Shift to China
• The Impact of Normalization Deals on the Middle East
• Arab Leaders and Their Views on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
• Historical Context: The 1973 Arab-Israeli War and Oil Embargo
• Report on Civilian Casualties in Recent Israeli-Hamas Conflict