[[{"content_id":"356556","domain_id":"0","lang_id":"en","portal_id":"2","owner_id":"114","user_id":"44","view_accesslevel_id":"0","edit_accesslevel_id":"0","delete_accesslevel_id":"0","editor_id":"44","content_title":"Calls grow for the US to end its special relationship with Israel","content_number":"","content_date_event":"2021-06-01 11:02:35","content_summary":"The apparent end \u2013 for now at least \u2013 to the Benjamin Netanyahu era, has, along with the recent one-sided conflict with Gaza, intensified calls for the US to end its special relationship with Israel.","content_summary_fill":"1","content_body":"Predictably, the violence killed scores of innocent civilians – the vast majority, Palestinian, and left the core issues, principally Israeli’s deliberate wrecking of a two-state solution – unaddressed.\r\n \r\n\r\nIt has called into question more urgently than ever why the US provides Israel with unconditional economic, military, and diplomatic support.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nHarvard’s international relations expert Stephen Walts argued last week that: “The benefits of this policy are zero, and the costs are high and rising. Instead of a special relationship, the United States and Israel need a normal one.”\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nBibi’s replacement by a rag-tag alliance of left, right and centre parties marks a final end to the type of US-Israel relations seen during the Trump-Netanyahu years, when the pair went to any lengths to please the religious zealots at home.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nBut how far is US President Joe Biden willing to detach his administration from Israel?\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nGreater distance would allow him to concentrate on more pressing foreign policy issues relating to China and Russia. The ongoing pandemic, Afghan disengagement, and world trade are all more important to the US.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nBiden is a longtime supporter of Israel, and during the recent hostilities he took longer, at least in public, than other Democrats to publicly demand a cessation of fighting. But he also senses that among many in his party, tolerance of Israel’s policies is wearing thin.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nIsrael’s expansion of illegal settlements, its racist "Nation State law", which effectively casts Arab, Druze and Christian individuals as second-class citizen and its callous disregard for civilian casualties in Gaza and the West Bank, have led to groups such as Human Rights Watch compare its treatment of Palestinians with apartheid\r\n \r\n\r\nThe White House has said it “categorically rejects” that description. And the Democrats and activists who pressured Biden into demanding a ceasefire with Hamas are already arguing among themselves. \r\n \r\n\r\nSome want to block any aid to Israel and halt arms sales. Others want to go further with steps such as boycotts and sanctions. \r\n \r\n\r\nFor many if not most Democrats seeking to reset relations with Israel, these actions would be steps too far. But if radical and immediate change in America’s  ties with Israel is unlikely, there’s no doubt which way the wind is blowing – relations are cooling not hotting up.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nWriter: Michael Day - inews.co.uk\r\n\r\nMichael is the i's Chief Foreign Commentator. He was previously Rome Correspondent for The Independent, and has held staff jobs at The Sunday Telegraph, Express and New Scientist. He is the author of Being Berlusconi: the Rise and Fall from Cosa Nostra to Bunga Bunga.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nThe views expressed in this article belong to the writer and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Qods News Agency.","content_html":"

Predictably, the violence killed scores of innocent civilians – the vast majority, Palestinian, and left the core issues, principally Israeli’s deliberate wrecking of a two-state solution – unaddressed.<\/span>
\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n

It has called into question more urgently than ever why the US provides Israel with unconditional economic, military, and diplomatic support.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Harvard’s international relations expert Stephen Walts argued last week that: “The benefits of this policy are zero, and the costs are high and rising. Instead of a special relationship, the United States and Israel need a normal one.”<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Bibi’s replacement by a rag-tag alliance of left, right and centre parties marks a final end to the type of US-Israel relations seen during the Trump-Netanyahu years, when the pair went to any lengths to please the religious zealots at home.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

But how far is US President Joe Biden willing to detach his administration from Israel?<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Greater distance would allow him to concentrate on more pressing foreign policy issues relating to China and Russia. The ongoing pandemic, Afghan disengagement, and world trade are all more important to the US.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Biden is a longtime supporter of Israel, and during the recent hostilities he took longer, at least in public, than other Democrats to publicly demand a cessation of fighting. But he also senses that among many in his party, tolerance of Israel’s policies is wearing thin.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Israel’s expansion of illegal settlements, its racist "Nation State law", which effectively casts Arab, Druze and Christian individuals as second-class citizen and its callous disregard for civilian casualties in Gaza and the West Bank, have led to groups such as Human Rights Watch compare its treatment of Palestinians with apartheid<\/span>
\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n

The White House has said it “categorically rejects” that description. And the Democrats and activists who pressured Biden into demanding a ceasefire with Hamas are already arguing among themselves. <\/span>
\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Some want to block any aid to Israel and halt arms sales. Others want to go further with steps such as boycotts and sanctions. <\/span>
\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n

For many if not most Democrats seeking to reset relations with Israel, these actions would be steps too far. But if radical and immediate change in America’s  ties with Israel is unlikely, there’s no doubt which way the wind is blowing – relations are cooling not hotting up.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Writer: Michael Day -<\/strong> inews.co.uk<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Michael is the i's Chief Foreign Commentator. He was previously Rome Correspondent for The Independent, and has held staff jobs at The Sunday Telegraph, Express and New Scientist. He is the author of Being Berlusconi: the Rise and Fall from Cosa Nostra to Bunga Bunga.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

The views expressed in this article belong to the writer and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Qods News Agency.<\/span><\/em><\/p>","content_source":"","content_url":"","content_columns":"0","content_date_start":"2021-06-01 11:02:35","content_date_finish":"2021-06-01 11:02:35","content_date_register":"2021-06-01 11:14:13","content_date_last_edit":"2021-06-01 11:14:15","content_show_img":"1","content_show_details":"0","content_show_related_img":"0","content_show_slider":"1","content_show_title_slider":"1","content_comment":"1","content_score":"0","content_recorded":"0","content_confirmed":"0","content_status":"1","content_kind":"0","old_id":"0","tag_id":null,"tag_word":null,"tag_service":null,"tag_total":null,"tag_soundex":null,"attach_token":"3240226244","attach_date_register":"2021-06-01 11:14:12","attach_id":"490665","attach_file_ext":"jpg","attach_file_header":"image\/jpeg","attach_img_type":"2","attach_img_width":"800","attach_img_height":"532","attach_file_media":"1","attach_show_watermark":"1","score_average":null,"score_count":null,"score_date_last":null,"visit_count":"354","visit_date_last":"2025-05-10 22:06:25","attach_title":"Calls grow for the US to end its special relationship with Israel\n 2","node_title":"news,Top news,Latest news","ot_node_left_right":"[{\"node_id\":122, \"left\":2, \"right\":53},{\"node_id\":143, \"left\":47, \"right\":48},{\"node_id\":144, \"left\":49, \"right\":50}]"}]]