Israel isolated by international community as assault on Rafah nears

There is nearly “unbearable” pressure on Netanyahu to avoid an assault in Rafah, wrote Al-Monitor’s Andrew Parasiliti. The Israeli prime minister has resisted any calls for a ceasefire, even if temporary, and derided Hamas’ conditions for a truce as “delusional.” U.S. President Joe Biden is reported to have privately criticized Netanyahu, but hasn’t gone as far as withdrawing American financial support for the war. Ultimately, Parasiliti argued, Netanyahu’s aversion to a ceasefire or independent Palestinian state comes down to domestic politics: “For Netanyahu, it all begins and ends with holding together his far-right coalition in order to stay in power. Any talk of a Palestinian state is therefore a nonstarter and could bring down his government.”

Pushing allies into decisions is a difficult diplomatic task, “especially when it comes to pushing policies that restrict a partner’s approach to national defense,” Barbara Elias, associate professor of government and legal studies at Bowdoin College, wrote in Foreign Policy. To persuade allies to agree to terms, the U.S. has often made further aid conditional on adherence to policy reforms or international laws. Washington is straddling a tricky line, Elias noted, between trying to protect its own interests — in this case, a secure ally — with the need for an agreement that could end the war. “Washington will need to be agile and purposeful in its diplomatic approaches as the U.S. seeks to both support and influence Israel,” Elias said. “The U.S. can and should do more.”