The late Henry Kissinger's observation that "Israel has no foreign policy, only a domestic one" may have missed the mark when he first made it, but it has become disturbingly relevant in explaining Washington's recent pattern of diplomatic missteps.
Consider this shocking development: Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris recently perpetuated what amounts to a modern blood libel by suggesting Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Whether born of ignorance or calculation, Harris's rhetoric crosses a line into modern antisemitism that demands unequivocal condemnation.
Saturday's Iranian strike on the Israeli prime minister's residence represents an unprecedented escalation. This brazen attack shatters every diplomatic norm and constitutes a clear act of war. To put it in perspective, imagine Russia or China launching missiles at President Joe Biden's Delaware home. The deafening silence from Washington speaks volumes. Twenty-four hours after this egregious attack, neither Biden nor Harris – leaders of Israel's supposedly "closest ally" – could muster a word of condemnation.
While the administration's pre-election reticence might have been understandable, what followed was not. Someone within the Pentagon deliberately leaked classified documents to hamstring Israel's response to Iran. Let's call this what it is: active sabotage of Israeli military planning during wartime. So much for the special relationship. Just a day earlier, the Financial Times dropped another bombshell, reporting Israel's alleged shortage of interceptor missiles. The timing and nature of this leak seemed calculated to spread panic among Israelis and tie their government's hands. This playbook isn't new – during Barack Obama's presidency, strategically timed leaks of Israeli military plans for Iran became something of an art form. Even more troubling, some of these leaks reportedly originated from within Israel's own defense establishment, with officials feeding information to their American counterparts to thwart Jerusalem's plans – a serious breach that demands investigation.
The diplomatic strong-arming reached new heights when US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken essentially threatened Israel with a weapons embargo. This heavy-handed tactic eerily echoes America's 1948 arms embargo during Israel's War of Independence – a historical stain Washington would rather forget. Now, with Israel fighting for survival, these supposed allies are wielding the same threat. What happened to standing by our friends?
Adding insult to injury, they're demanding Israel halt bipartisan legislation to cut ties with UNRWA. Washington knows perfectly well that this UN agency is compromised by terrorism. UNRWA isn't just problematic – it's a major obstacle to peace, actively perpetuating the conflict and destabilizing the region. Yet despite knowing this, American officials have the audacity to meddle in Israeli domestic legislation, essentially demanding Israel act against its own security interests. In what universe does this make sense?
Maybe it's pre-election jitters driving the Democrats, or perhaps something more calculated is at play. Either way, this toxic turn in Washington-Jerusalem relations cannot stand. The Biden administration should be doing exactly the opposite – actively joining Israel's confrontation with Iran. That's what real leadership of the Western world looks like. Ironically, it was Kamala Harris herself who labeled Iran as America's primary adversary.
