Biden's meddling made compromise all but impossible
The US president communicated time and again his displeasure with the judicial reform in the runup to Monday's vote, making Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz less inclined to strike a deal.
Biden is seen here with his eyes closed talking to fellow President Isaac Herzog inside the Oval Office
Now that the first bill of the judicial reform has been enacted and the Knesset goes on recess, the Israeli leadership hopes relations with the White House will be less rocky, thus making room for addressing urgent matters such as the Iranian nuclear issue, Hezbollah's actions on the northern border and perhaps the expansion of the Abraham Accords.
As President Joe Biden told President Isaac Herzog in their meeting last week, Israel's preoccupation with judicial reform has been taking away focus from other burning issues and it is time to join forces on diplomatic challenges. The US leader has not been in touch with Herzog since the latter's return to Israel but nevertheless has continued communicating his message through various channels and journalists.
srael is satisfied with the US reaction to the passage of the bill on Monday since the White House statement lacked any threats of a possible crisis in relations; it only said the measure was "unfortunate." If Israel manages to ensure that this level of friction doesn't escalate, this could bode well for the scope of the damage future judicial bills could inflict on the relations.
For all intents and purposes, the US has been meddling in Israeli legislative affairs and in a domestic crisis that has no bearing on its foreign policy. Herzog, when visiting Washington, said Biden's conduct showed the 46ht president cared about Israel like family, as he is one of its greatest supporters. But is that how diplomacy should be conducted between two friends? Hardly. In fact, what got the US involved in this internal matter was the anti-reform camp that all but invited it to do so. Biden's backing of that camp, in his meetings with Thomas Friedman and various statements about the need to reach a broad consensus, was the backwind that emboldened the Opposition and made compromise all but impossible.
Why should Yair Lapid or Benny Gantz make concessions if the US president says the bill should not go forward? Why should they let the elected government pass a bill with its sizable majority in the Knesset (64 seats out 120 is not a slim majority, despite what the White House claims) if the US has their back?
Everyone agrees that the geopolitical situation in the Middle East is complex. The region is undergoing a major shift as China makes forays and Iran is expanding its reach by adding more members to its rogue club. Tehran is moving forward toward nuclearization and there is still no formula – diplomatic or military – that could halt its progress. Israel might find itself in a multi-theater war that would be triggered by Hezbollah. It is time Biden and his people shift gears by putting these pressing issues on the front burner rather than focus on Israel's legislative agenda.
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