Biden Has It Right, Netanyahu Has It Wrong: The Impact on Jewish Unity and Values

Written by Jerry Elman, June 20, 2024

I will start this out by saying a lot of Jews are going to be upset with some or all of my comments, but they must be said. If nothing else, my hope is to invoke thought, introspection, and reflection.

As Jews continue to focus on the Israel-Hamas war, we overlook another significant battle in America: the increasing polarization of Jews driven by misinformation from both the right and left in politics and the media. The Progressive Left is flooding the media with pro-Palestinian propaganda and misinformation about President Biden’s support for Israel. Meanwhile, right-wing politicians and nationalist groups, often harboring Jewish hatred sentiments, are also spreading propaganda and misinformation about President Biden’s support for Israel, trying to convince Jews they are supporters of Jews and not Biden. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Jewish voices on social media are increasingly filled with vitriol against Biden and the Democrats, which plays into the hands of both the extreme right and left. Both sides have agendas that exploit Jewish hatred sentiments to drive Jews toward the right with the false notion that the right is better protecting Israel. However, this is not the case. The right hates Jews while they claim to support Israel. That is not compatible! The extreme Progressive Left hates Jews and hates Israel. While wrong, that is compatible.

Jews are caught in the middle, and instead of staying unified and sticking up for Jews, they are taking sides in this circus of lies on both sides.

Jews are also spewing vitriol at each other. Many Jews who are taking the position of the right are expressing hatred toward Jews who are Democrats or liberals. They are trying to change the discussion from the Israel-Hamas war to the upcoming US presidential election.

While I am a strong advocate for the fight against Jewish hate and the right of Israel to exist and defend itself, I have had to leave Jewish online groups focused on the Holocaust and antisemitism (or claim to be) because they have demonized me and others as a human being and as a Jew because, one, I am a Democrat and, two, I lean towards liberal principles. Fellow Jews have called me a Jewish antisemite, a Nazi, and even more of the terms I’ve come used to be called by hardcore MAGA supporters. But these are Jews saying this to fellow Jews! Since when have Jews become enemies of Jews? What is really going on is that right-wing Jews are trying to switch the situation in Israel with their pro-MAGA beliefs. It’s not about Israel; it’s about their politics. When pulled into that, we have to walk away.

This divisiveness within the Jewish community serves the interests of those who harbor Jewish hatred views from both sides. By fostering internal conflict, these groups aim to weaken the unified political voice of Jews in America. When Jews are divided and focused on blaming each other or external political figures, they are less able to effectively counteract the agendas of those who seek to harm them. This internal discord is precisely what both extreme right-wing and left-wing Jewish haters desire, as it distracts from their own harmful activities and policies.

Many Jews criticize Biden for delays in weapons shipments to Israel, particularly for not sending a single shipment of heavy 2,000 lb bombs. In a previous article, I shared why these kinds of bombs should not be used and how it is a bad war strategy and public relations strategy to use them. As a comparison, the US used a handful of these bombs throughout the years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. Israel has used at least 500 and has thousands in their inventory, which makes the US holdback on this one shipment irrelevant.

Yet Prime Minister Netanyahu still makes a big deal out of Biden’s decision as being anti-Israel. That is a slap in the face to the President of the United States, and Netanyahu does so to stoke the support of the right-wing faction in his government for his own benefit.

However, it is actually the right and Republicans who repeatedly blocked funding for weapons to Israel for political reasons. While this aid finally passed, it delayed important aid for Israel. Netanyahu has never mentioned that or ever attacked a Republican or right-wing sympathizer in America.

Prime Minister Netanyahu himself is contributing to this narrative by making false claims against Biden regarding weapons shipments. When confronted with this, just days ago, he could not name any specific weapons Israel does not have because of anything President Biden did, including 2000 lb bombs, which Israel has a large inventory of.

Netanyahu wants to take the focus off his personal mismanagement of the war and his focus on political survival, influenced by the extreme right-wing members of his government. The reality is that Netanyahu and Netanyahu alone are responsible for an unnecessarily high death toll in Gaza and a totally botched effort to destroy Hamas. Netanyahu shows no empathy, sympathy, or concern for both Israeli and Palestinian lives. More lives have been lost on both sides than needed to be to do the job. Not caring about Palestinian lives is not genocide, as many in the world claim Israel is guilty of. However, not caring gives those who claim this a strong basis to think that.

The reality on the ground is that Hamas will survive this war, and further fighting will not do much to change that. The window to destroy Hamas before they could disperse and hide has been lost. It should have taken only three months to accomplish that.

Netanyahu’s strategy has been criticized on several fronts, and he keeps making the same mistakes over and over again:

1. Overreliance on Military Force: Netanyahu’s approach has heavily focused on military solutions without adequately addressing the underlying political and social issues that fuel the conflict. This has led to repeated cycles of violence without long-term resolution.
2. Underestimation of Hamas: Netanyahu’s government was caught totally off guard for the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. There is no excuse for that! Netanyahu has led several previous wars with Hamas and always underestimates Hamas’ capabilities and resilience. Despite extensive military campaigns, Hamas has been able to survive and then strengthen its operations, demonstrating that military force alone cannot eliminate the group. Hamas always uses the devastation caused by war as a means to further Palestinian hate towards Israel.
3. Civilian Casualties: The heavy bombardment strategy using 2000 lb bombs, particularly in densely populated Gaza, has resulted in significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction. This has drawn international condemnation and has not effectively weakened Hamas’ operational capacity. It has been a wasted effort on Israel’s part that only turns world opinion against Israel and gains nothing in destroying Hamas.
4. International Isolation: Netanyahu’s aggressive tactics have alienated many of Israel’s traditional allies and diminished global support. This isolation has made it more challenging for Israel to gain diplomatic backing and has damaged its international standing.
5. Internal Political Focus: Netanyahu’s decisions have often been driven by his need to maintain political power amidst ongoing corruption investigations and political instability. This has led to short-term, politically motivated strategies rather than a coherent, long-term plan for peace and security that is in Israel’s best interests.
6. Lack of a Political Solution: Netanyahu’s longtime refusal to pursue a viable political solution alongside military efforts has perpetuated the conflict. Without addressing the aspirations of the Palestinian people, any military victory remains temporary and superficial.
7. Repeated Tactical Errors: In previous wars, Netanyahu repeatedly launched large-scale military operations with similar tactics, each time expecting different results. Each time, the operations have ended with significant destruction but without a lasting solution to the conflict. The cycle just keeps repeating itself, with Hamas getting stronger each time.
8. Anger and Revenge-Driven Solutions: Solutions driven solely by anger and revenge rarely work. Netanyahu operates under such a solution, focusing on punitive measures rather than constructive engagement. This approach only fuels further resentment and violence, perpetuating the cycle of conflict.

President Biden warned Netanyahu from the outset that his strategy was flawed. He cautioned that relying solely on heavy bombardment and military force would not achieve the desired outcomes. Biden opposed the use of heavy 2,000 lb bombs from the start, arguing that they cause mass devastation and are not suitable for the precision strikes needed to target Hamas effectively. He emphasized the importance of minimizing civilian casualties to maintain international support and highlighted the necessity of a political strategy to complement military actions.

Biden predicted that failing to address the broader political and humanitarian issues would lead to prolonged conflict and instability. Current events have proven Biden correct, as the heavy-handed military approach has resulted in significant destruction without effectively neutralizing Hamas. Hamas is running the IDF in circles back and forth from Northern and Southern Gaza and still launching rockets in areas controlled by the IDF.

Yahya Sinwar, leader of Hamas and mastermind of the October 7th attack, is recently quoted as saying he has Israel exactly where he wanted them in pulling them into this war via the October 7th attack and massacre. He knew long before October 7th exactly how Netanyahu would act. Netanyahu played into his hands. And Biden warned Netanyahu over and over. And Jews got mad the more Biden challenged Netanyahu.

In contrast to Netanyahu’s and former President Trump’s anger and revenge-driven strategies on virtually any issue, President Biden’s approach emphasizes diplomacy, strategic restraint, and humanitarian considerations. Biden believes in a balanced strategy that includes military support for Israel while advocating for a long-term political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He has been clear about the need for precision in military operations to avoid unnecessary civilian casualties and has stressed the importance of maintaining international support for Israel.

Trump and Netanyahu always engage in aggressive rhetoric and punitive measures. Their policies are marked by a confrontational style and a focus on immediate, forceful actions, even if those actions are stupid ones and create more harm than good. This approach appeals to those who favor strong, decisive responses but often results in increased polarization and backlash both domestically and internationally.

Additionally, there is a significant issue regarding the two-state solution. Netanyahu continues to oppose a two-state solution, a stance that aligns with the right-wing elements within his government and their vision for Israel’s future. They want to annex both the West Bank and Gaza for Jewish settlements with no proposed plan for the Palestinian Arabs living in both territories. They currently speak of resettling them into other nations. This opposition creates a significant barrier to achieving a lasting peace. And world opinion will only become even more negative towards Israel.

On the other hand, most Palestinian groups, including Hamas, also oppose a two-state solution, calling for a single state that does not recognize Israel’s right to exist. Their solution is the dismantlement of Israel and exiling or even killing Israel’s Jewish population. This mutual opposition to a two-state solution further entrenches the conflict and makes diplomatic progress exceedingly difficult. Both sides will not compromise or even talk to each other.

Jews must also make it clear to the world that Israel did not create this conflict and cycle of wars—the British did. They walked away from it and made the world believe this conflict was Israel’s creation. The historical roots of this conflict lie in the unfulfilled promises and mistakes made by Britain during the Mandate period. Britain’s contradictory commitments and broken promises to both Jews and Arabs laid the groundwork for the current strife. Recognizing this history is crucial in seeking a lasting solution. A workable peace agreement exists, but, in my opinion, it involves going back to the Mandate maps of 1921 and the original commitments made by the British. A true and just resolution to this conflict involves Jordan, Syria, and some of their territory.

The Bottom Line:

Yes, fellow Jews, we must own up to the botched leadership of this war where Hamas should have been destroyed but, once again, won’t be.

To this day, Netanyahu has not taken any responsibility for the October 7, 2023, attack that occurred on his watch. If the opposing party were in power, Netanyahu would make mincemeat of their leadership, just like he did to Yitzhak Rabin in 1994 and 1995. Netanyahu always makes others out to be traitors and only himself as the hero, just like Donald Trump.

Jews must look at facts and truth and recognize the consequences of abandoning Biden and supporting the right. Here are the key consequences:

1. Increased Domestic Polarization: Aligning with right-wing extremists who spread Jewish hate rhetoric and policies will deepen divisions within the Jewish community and society at large, making it harder to advocate for Jewish interests and values in a united front.
2. Weakening of Democratic Norms: Supporting right-wing agendas will strengthen forces that undermine democratic institutions and processes in the U.S., putting at risk the freedoms and rights that are essential to all Americans, including Jews.
3. Strengthening the Efforts of Extreme Evangelical Christian Nationalists: Supporting right-wing agendas will inadvertently empower groups that aim to impose their religious views on American society, which could undermine the secular and pluralistic values essential to a democratic society.
4. Damage to U.S.-Israel Relations: A shift towards supporting the right gives more legitimacy to the Israeli right, which continues to push to undermine Israel’s democratic values. This then further strains U.S.-Israel relations, reducing the effectiveness of U.S. diplomatic support for Israel on the global stage.
5. Failure to Address Root Causes of Conflict: Focusing solely on military solutions and neglecting diplomatic and humanitarian efforts risks prolonging the conflict, making it even more difficult to achieve sustainable peace. This could result in more suffering for both Israelis and Palestinians.
6. Isolation on the International Stage: Netanyahu’s continued opposition to a two-state solution and aggressive policies could lead to further isolation of Israel internationally, reducing support and increasing pressure from global communities and international organizations.
7. Increased Violence and Retaliation: An approach driven by anger and revenge, whether in Israel or U.S. domestic politics, only escalates violence and retaliation. This then creates cycles of conflict that are hard to break, leading to more casualties and destruction.
8. Erosion of Moral Authority: While Israel as a nation stands as a symbol of human rights and international law, Netanyahu has a long history of disregarding them. This is eroding the moral authority of the Jewish community globally, undermining efforts to advocate for justice and human rights universally. Because of people like Netanyahu, we are labeled as oppressors and violators of human rights. That is not who Jews are!
9. Compromise of Long-term Security: Without a balanced approach that includes political negotiations and peacebuilding efforts, long-term security for Israel and the region remains unattainable. This only leads to continuous instability and conflict, threatening the future of generations.

The Jewish community must recognize the broader context and understand how internal divisiveness is being exploited by those with Jewish hatred agendas. Unity and a clear, informed perspective are crucial to countering these harmful influences and ensuring that the true interests of Jews and the broader democratic principles are upheld.

We must stand up for Israel and both its right to exist and its right to defend itself. But we must also call out Israel’s leaders when they do things that are not in line with Jewish values and actually hurt the Jewish state and Jewish standing in the world. Benjamin Netanyahu must be called out and condemned for his willingness to sacrifice Israel’s well-being and security for his own personal best interests.

We call out Donald Trump in the US for the exact same thing. Netanyahu should not get a pass because he leads Israel. That is a reflection of the reputation and standing of Jews worldwide.