The Wednesday meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden led to a turnabout in US-Israel ties following a 10-month period of distance.
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A meeting that was initially scheduled to take place with all members of the delegation in attendance turned into a lengthy conversation in private, like between old friends.
Biden also extended an invitation to Netanyahu, this time to the White House, by the end of the year. In addition, the two countries are expected to celebrate Israel joining the US Visa Waiver Program in the coming weeks.
Video: Netanyahu and Biden meeting in New York / Credit: Video: Roi Avraham/GPO, sound: Yehezkel Kandil/GPO
One cannot help but wonder, what happened during the meeting. What led to the U-turn in Biden's approach to Netanyahu, whom he shunned since he came back to power?
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger put it best when he described Israel as having no foreign policy, only a domestic one. Kissinger was right in his observation, but what is also true is that as of late, Washington too has been determining its foreign policy based on domestic considerations. Until recently, Biden thought it was politically crucial for him to keep a distance from Netanyahu, who is disliked by progressives in his party as well as many in the Jewish community.
But the presidential elections are around the corner, and with Donald Trump breathing down his neck, Biden needs to branch out.
And who is especially liked in Republican circles and may help him gain more votes? Netanyahu. And just like that, Bibi turned from enemy to friend.
Then there are also geopolitical interests, such as China. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's embrace of Xi Jinping has not been lost on Washington. Almost three years late, Biden now realizes that he has to take significant steps to stay friends with Arab Gulf states. He began seriously considering the possibility of an American-Saudi agreement that would include normalization with Israel, which may also improve his standing in the polls if successful.
It should also be noted that Netanyahu, too, paid a price to bring about a turnaround in Biden's attitude, mostly by ignoring the bad agreement reached by Biden with Iran, including millions of dollars.
It seems that the restraint that the IDF is exhibiting in Judea and Samaria, as well as Netanyahu's decision to bolster the Palestinian Authority, also resulted from pressure from Washington. Biden is also urging Netanyahu to reach a consensus on the judicial reform.
All of these processes have led to a return to normalcy in Israel-US ties. Almost a year after the formation of the government in which far right-wingers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich are members, the Biden administration accepts its existence and strengthens ties with it. This in itself is not a bad start to the Jewish new year.
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