Biden needs to have a tough talk with Israel’s Netanyahu

Former U.S. President Harry Truman famously had a sign on his desk: “The buck stops here.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lived in the U.S. during his youth and has for decades claimed that no one understands the U.S. as he does. Yet he seems incapable of understanding those four words. 

Of course, he understands. He simply refuses to follow them when it comes to governing and addressing the current crisis of democracy in Israel. And he is not alone.

President Joe Biden occupies the same Oval Office as Truman yet seems oblivious to the only place the buck can stop as it relates to Israel. Biden needs to have an uncomfortable conversation with Netanyahu, and soon.

On Friday night, a Palestinian was killed by Jewish settlers. Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir responded by announcing that the suspected murderer should receive a “medal of valor.” 

Ben Gvir has been previously convicted for racism, incitement and violence. He owes his present position to Netanyahu. When it comes to such wildly egregious attitudes and actions by a high-ranking government official, the buck must stop with Netanyahu. The buck must also stop with Biden. Silence, acceptance and complicity are unacceptable if the U.S.-Israel relationship is to remain relevant.

So far, Netanyahu has merely issued “pass-the-buck” comments that would leave Americans who believe in law and order speechless. He has also refused to commit himself to respecting the Supreme Court (sitting as the High Court of Justice) should it rule in a manner unfavorable to his personal interests. Separation of powers is a “buck-stops-here” backstop to authoritarian rule.

Furthermore, it is clear the Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich, who for complicated coalition reasons holds an additional portfolio as second minister of defense responsible for West Bank settlement, is firmly committed to dramatically increasing the number of Jewish settlements in the West Bank. 

Notwithstanding Netanyahu’s soothing words of comfort to U.S. media and audiences, the current Israeli government is violating international law and ignoring repeated U.S. requests.

We in Israel are repeatedly told, even by former friends and allies of Netanyahu, that “this isn’t the same Bibi.” The suggestion is that he is passing the buck out of coalition necessities to hold onto power — that he is being led by extremists in his government.

It is for that reason, then, that President Biden, without intermediaries, must pick up the telephone, read Netanyahu the riot act and make it clear that the unless the unhinging of democracy in Israel stops, U.S. support and bucks, will.

Perhaps actual U.S. bucks stopping would get Netanyahu’s attention.

As it teeters on the verge of a hybrid dictatorship-democracy, no longer can Israel claim to be the only democracy in the Middle East. Under no condition does this serve U.S. interests in the Middle East.

The increasing irrelevance of Israel is clearly manifested in ongoing talks between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia in which Israel will be, at best, a bit player. Invited to the dinner party to help clean up after the guests have left seems the most apt description.

If the U.S. doesn’t need Israel for an agreement with Saudi Arabia, then the decades long claim that Israel is vital to the U.S. is no longer the case.

Thirty years ago, then-U.S. Secretary of State James Baker, who understood clearly where bucks actually stop, in a dismissive manner told then Israeli Prime Minister Shamir to call him (and sarcastically provided the White House switchboard number) when he’s ready to move forward regarding Israeli-Palestinian talks. In that spirit, Biden needs to pick up the phone and tell Netanyahu, clearly-directly-concisely, “there is a direct and immediate price for your actions: Bucks will stop!”

The U.S.-Israel friendship requires brutally frank, direct conversations. That is in the best interest of all parties. Failure on Netanyahu’s part to understand cold reality must have consequences. Joe Biden must channel his inner Harry S. Truman.

Amos N. Guiora is professor of law at the S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah. He served for 20 years in the Israel Defense Forces Judge Advocate General Corps. He is involved with the Bystander Initiative.