We're two weeks into the harrowing ordeal that has turned our world upside down. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, some say, is handling things better in the second week, according to those closely watching. He was in absolute shock initially. However, in terms of quick thinking and control, he seems to have lost some of his edge. Military officers discuss it, as do many of his Likud colleagues.
Read more:
United States President Joe Biden, the older, more deliberate figure, seemed somewhat more alert in their meeting. The embrace between Netanyahu and Biden upon his arrival in Israel carries profound symbolic weight; Israelis are yearning for a sense of security.
For years, their trust in their domestic governments has eroded. Across the political landscape worldwide, there's a profound crisis of trust. However, when Hamas breached Israel's borders, the citizens' seemingly sacred and unshakable sense of security in the IDF wavered. The military's ability to shield us all is unquestionable, and no one denies that, not even the chief of staff.
A few hours after Netanyahu embraced Biden, Benny Gantz spoke at the funeral of Ofir Levinstein and stated he would move to live in the Gaza envelope. This is a declaration of personal example, a reflection of classic Zionism. Late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, used to say, "Guard ourselves, by our own strength." He emphasized that Israel knows how to defend itself independently. These are not the values that Netanyahu seems to convey these days. It appears as though he aims to be the 51st state of the United States. There's a symbolic and substantial cost to this shift.
Biden's visit was pivotal. He made it crystal clear to the region that the United States stands firmly behind Israel, and the dream of its destruction - a nightmare for millions around us - will not come to pass. In the wake of the misfired rocket near the Gaza hospital, Israel had faced a barrage of critical (and inaccurate) headlines. In Israel, he expressed support, but of course, this bear hug comes with conditions. Israel must now exert pressure on Hamas without causing a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, avoiding the disturbing images of epidemics, and hungry, and thirsty children.
The second concern is more worrisome: Biden subtly criticized the Israeli Cabinet and stressed the need for clear war objectives. We can only interpret this statement as a call for clarity: at the moment, at least to the President, these objectives are not entirely clear.
Nadav EyalPhoto: Avigail UziOn October 7, Israel did not experience any miracles – neither before nor after. As a young hero, from Nir Oz shared with me this week, "We have an amazing people but a shattered government." Our only grace was one: an American president who loves Israel and commits to global responsibility (unlike Donald Trump), with an efficient White House team (in contrast to the tumultuous entourage surrounding Netanyahu).
The Americans feel that their closest ally is wavering. They worry about the delicate balance between Israel's formidable military capabilities and the underlying sense of vulnerability. They fear no less the possibility of miscalculation by Tehran or Beirut, leading to a regional war with global consequences. Hence, they seek control. Their empathy is genuine, but it's also instrumental. This is why U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken "participated" in an Israeli war cabinet. Why Biden visited Israel for a few hours, and why the U.S. sent two aircraft carriers. Not only to defend us from our enemies but to protect us from ourselves, safeguarding against the errors of our leaders and the security apparatus, those that have failed us all