Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: Gaza's hospitals recorded six deaths due to starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, all of them adults
Informed sources to Al Mayadeen: A new chapter in relations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will begin within the framework of the new law passed by Parliament

Biden's peace bluff means there's no way out for Netanyahu

  • Tom Fowdy Tom Fowdy
  • Source: Al Mayadeen English
  • 7 Jun 2024 14:20
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

No matter what happens, it seems quite obvious that "Israel" is losing this war diplomatically and politically, even with the backing of the United States.

Listen
  • x
  • "Israel" can lose by agreeing to peace, or they can lose by winning. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

The Biden administration last week proposed a "ceasefire" deal which it claimed had originated from "Israel", seeking a pathway to ending the war on Gaza by guaranteeing the release of hostages, arguing that the military capability of Hamas had been destroyed. Although swiftly dismissed by Tel Aviv, Washington quickly rallied its allies and other Arab states to support the measure. This, however, is wishful thinking, given that the US was clearly being disingenuous with the idea that "Israel proposed it."

First, the Biden administration has a well-established political strategy of effectively lying on behalf of "Israel". The White House effectively sets red lines, but moves the goalposts when Netanyahu subsequently violates them anyway. The administration claimed that it opposed an IOF invasion of Rafah, but when that happened, they claimed the "red line had been crossed," among numerous other things. Every action the US has taken in regards to the conflict has been merely symbolic, if not outright disingenuous, while nonetheless keeping support for Tel Aviv unconditional.

However, domestic politics comes first in the United States, and the Biden administration is now seeking to bring the war to an end, or to at least given the appearance of such, because the growing backlash against it will undermine Biden's re-election interests, as well as his attempt to claim a massive political scalp by upgrading ties with Saudi Arabia and pushing normalisation with "Israel". In doing so, the real intention of this ceasefire proposal has been to comprehensively isolate Benjamin Netanyahu and back him into a corner, as toothless as this may be. As Reuters noted, "The decision to announce unilaterally - an unusual step for the United States to take with a close ally - was deliberate, officials say, and narrowed the room for Israel or Hamas to back away from the deal."

Related News

Brazil will also go to the ICJ against 'Israel's' genocide of Palestine

Donald Trump’s foreign policy is just Biden plus

However, it is politically untenable for Netanyahu to possibly consider ceasing the fighting at this stage, for he is aware this will certainly mean the end of his tenure in office. Already, hardliners in his cabinet have threatened to resign over it and jeopardise the ruling coalition. For his administration, agreeing to a ceasefire now is an effective return to a pre-October 7th status quo that amounts to "co-existence" between "Israel" and Hamas in Gaza, and this is impossible because Netanyahu has repeatedly and publicly affirmed that the goal of his invasion has been to change the political status quo in the Strip. 

This means first. the destruction of Hamas, and second, what he has described as a "new security regime" in the strip, which should be described as a full military occupation in all but name. The ceasefire proposal, however, requires that "Israel" withdraw from the populated areas of the Gaza Strip. This means ceding political control, and therefore contravenes his maximalist objectives. Already, "Israel" has seized control of Gaza’s entire border area and therefore is preparing to establish de-facto sovereignty over it. It is precisely for this reason that the most hardline Zionists will not agree to it, because their broader objective is to effectively incorporate and settle the territory.

Therefore, a retreat from this would be nothing less than a huge political defeat for him, a loss of legitimacy, and an upheaval of the political regime he has built. All in pursuit of these goals, Netanyahu has overseen the global ruination of "Israel’s" reputation. To turn round and say, "Let’s go back to square one" means that all of that would have been absolutely in vain. He would have "nothing to show" for this "return to status quo" outcome, and therefore his only perceived pathway to political survival is the perpetuation of conflict towards attaining the goals the hardliners so crave.

Either way, this makes one statement true: No matter what happens, it seems quite obvious that "Israel" is losing this war diplomatically and politically, even with the backing of the United States. It can either stop now and cut its losses, thus ending the Benjamin Netanyahu coalition, or it can continue onwards in its extreme brutality and disregard for human life, which will only beckon deeper isolation. Biden has tried to box Netanyahu in, but in fact he’s already done that to himself. There’s no easy way out.

"Israel" can lose by agreeing to peace, or they can lose by winning. 

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect Al Mayadeen’s editorial stance.
  • Joe Biden
  • Benjamin Netanyahu
  • Israel
  • Palestine
  • war on Gaza
Tom Fowdy

Tom Fowdy

British journalist, columnist, and political analyst, with a specialist focus on Asia topics. He resides in South Korea.

War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

All
Given ample indications Epstein was collating sexual blackmail material on powerful figures for intelligence agencies, comments made by Mirage's cofounder to Ynet take on a chilling character. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Zionist spies innovate AI sexual blackmail tech

  • Analysis
  • 27 Jul 2025
The right wing love affair with Zionism has ended

The right wing love affair with Zionism has ended

  • Opinion
  • 23 Jul 2025
Beyond the United States are critical leftist perspectives which underline the reawakening of the Arab left. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

The Reawakening of the Arab Left: Amman to Tunis, new voices challenging empire and capital

  • Opinion
  • 21 Jul 2025
What is the current state of Resistance forces, after the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, the collapse of independent Syria and the ongoing attacks on Lebanon and Iran? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

Regional Resistance after the Gaza Genocide

  • Analysis
  • 25 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
War on Iran

More from this writer

All
Netanyahu has already fallen into the trap of a huge cat and mouse, or a “whack-a-mole” game, which is hugely costly and simply unsustainable. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Ali Al-Hadi Shmeiss)

Netanyahu has gravely miscalculated invading Lebanon

Britain's Arms Restrictions are symbolic yet send a meaningful message

Britain's Arms Restrictions are symbolic yet send a meaningful message

Essentially, the game goes “You have done X against us, therefore we will salami slice your land further.” (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)

West Bank attacks lay bare what Netanyahu's endgame is for Palestinian territories

The US wants damage control, but Netanyahu wants conflict because it is in his political interest to do so. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)

It's America, not 'Israel' who wants a ceasefire

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS