Today, president Biden warned Netanyahu an assault on Rafah would cross a ‘Red Line’. O.K . What happens if the line is crossed?
More than a million Palestinians have taken refuge in Rafah. Civilian casualties are sure to be very high if Israel goes in.
Biden set a red line, but Netanyahu says he will attack anyway. This is where alleged red lines aren’t exactly red.
The Wall Street Journal reports Biden Warns Netanyahu an Assault on Rafah Would Cross ‘Red Line’
“It is a red line, but I am never going to leave Israel. The defense of Israel is still critical. So there is no red line I am going to cut off all weapons, so they don’t have the Iron Dome to protect them,” Biden told MSNBC, referring to the antimissile interceptors. “But there’s red lines that if he crosses…. You cannot have 30,000 more Palestinians dead.” [Or what?]
“Finishing the war without demilitarizing Rafah is like sending in firefighters to put out 80% of a fire,” Gantz [ Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz] told U.S. officials, according to an Israeli official familiar with his meetings.
“Biden understands he needs to make a difference, not a point,” said Aaron David Miller, a former U.S. Middle East peace negotiator and a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Speaking to lawmakers in the House chamber after the speech, Biden was overheard saying that he would have even tougher words for Netanyahu in private.
“I told him, Bibi, and don’t repeat this, but you and I are going to have a ‘come to Jesus’ meeting,” Biden confided to Sen. Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat, before an aide cautioned the president that his words were being broadcast on an open microphone. [Was that on purpose or a typical Biden gaffe?]
The State Department is looking at whether it could invoke a rarely used provision of the Foreign Assistance Act that requires a cutoff of financial and military support for any country that restricts delivery of humanitarian aid, officials said. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D., Md.) is among the lawmakers calling on the Biden administration to use the provision to curtail aid to Israel. [If Biden wanted to do this, he wouldn’t be looking at it, he would be doing it.]
“Anybody with eyes and ears and a brain can see that the Netanyahu government is restricting the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza,” said Van Hollen.
Does Biden Have a Line?
If so, is it red, pink, yellow or green?
I am leaning towards yellow or green. Regardless, in his attempt to please everyone, I rather doubt Biden is pleasing anyone.
Note that Biden continues to press for aid to Israel with no strings attached. If that’s not yellow or green, what is it?
Hoot of the Day on Leverage
Ali Vaez, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group, said that Biden’s efforts to change Israel’s calculations have had minimal success so far and that U.S. influence might remain limited unless Biden is prepared to take much tougher steps.
“The U.S. has tremendous leverage, but very little influence,” he said.
Is it possible to have tremendous leverage but no influence?
The only way I can rationalize such an Orwellian statement is to have red lines that are really green.
What’s Next?
That’s pretty easy. Netanyahu will hold off an assault on Rafah until Congress delivers aid with no strings attached.
Then Biden will howl about red lines while Netanyahu smiles. If Congress does not deliver the aid, Netanyahu will blame Biden.
“It’s Only Temporary and Won’t Require US Boots in Gaza”
Biden announced the US will build a temporary ship docking pier in Gaza that will not require boots on the ground.
For discussion please see “It’s Only Temporary and Won’t Require US Boots in Gaza”
Biden directed the military to carry out the emergency project, aiming to ease food shortages and lack of shelter and medical services for Gaza’s 2.2 million residents, according to U.S. officials who briefed reporters ahead of Biden’s speech Thursday evening.
The forces that will be required to complete this mission are either already in the region or will begin to move there soon, they said. The mission, which is expected to last only temporarily, won’t require U.S. boots on the ground in Gaza, officials said.
Q&A on the Pier and Biden’s Lines
Q:Can you build a pier with no one on the ground?
A: We are about to find out.
Q: Wat happens if the pier comes under fire?
A: We are about to find that out as well.
Q: Has Biden defined temporary? Stated the costs? Have an endgame?
A: No, No, No
Q: Is the US ignoring new illegal Israeli settlements on the West Bank?
A: Yes
Q: Can you cross a red line with no consequences?
A: Only if it’s really green?
Q: What color are Biden’s red lines?
A: I leave that to the reader and history to decide.
https://mishtalk.com/economics/are-bidens-red-lines-to-netanyahu-really-yellow-or-green/
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