Analysis

US President Joe Biden’s efforts to persuade Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip are plunging the two leaders into a difficult early test of the US-Israeli relationship.

Hamas will have to balance the price it paid in Gaza with its success on the Palestinian street. Over a week into Operation Guardian of Walls, it seems that the main Israeli challenge now is no longer military, but political: how to leverage the achievements of the operation so as to ensure prolonged calm in the south, while conveying strength and implicitly preventing an escalation in other areas.

Arab officials have come together to condemn what they see as flagrant Israeli aggression in Gaza, but in the United Arab Emirates, criticism of Israel is now often balanced with harsh words for the Palestinians, as well.

Israel must focus less on the appearance of victory and more on preventing an all-out conflagration. It will try to exact a price from Hamas and possibly take out some of its senior officials in the hope of deepening deterrence in Gaza the day after.

Israelis and Palestinians alike slam Biden administration’s call to roll back the escalation. Israeli Ambassador to US: It is impossible to put in the same message to Israeli leaders who call for calm and to terrorist organizations that launch missiles and rockets.

It is no secret that the new geostrategic reality shaped by these Iranian interventions has strengthened the ayatollahs’ position vis-à-vis not only the US, but also its ally Israel.

In the early days of the Biden administration, officials paused weapons sales to Middle East allies, including sales of Raytheon's and Boeing-made precision guided munitions to Saudi Arabia.

By ignoring Israel's views on an issue critical to its security, Washington will cast a dark shadow over its status as a key ally in the Middle East.

The US envoy to Yemen recently warned "Iran’s support to the Houthis is quite significant, and it’s lethal." He sees no sign that Iran is supporting a political solution in Yemen.