Biden’s faith and perpetual war in the Holy Land

President Biden is not apologetic when it comes to supporting and defending Israel. Since the early days of his political career, he has developed a network with intellectuals and politicians who identify with Israel. In his recent meeting with Jewish Leaders in the Whitehouse, the President underscored his faith when, in answering a question from one of the Jewish community leaders, he asserted that he draws his strength from “My faith. It’s not about revenge.”

While Biden identifies as Catholic, he is always notably on the extreme side of the Catholic faith, espousing war, foreign interventions, and obliteration of perceived enemies. He also proudly claims to be a Zionist. There are a few other Catholic politicians who promote Zionism, notably Tony Blair, Joe Biden, and Daniel Moynihan. However, Biden stands as the most vehement in his opposition to the Arab people’s aspirations for liberty and dignity. According to his thinking, everything on earth is created to serve Israel.

Though Washington’s elites’ attitudes toward Israel gradually evolved, a profound shift took place when Biden ascended to power in January 2021. This stage constituted a complete departure from the first two stages of the elites’ stance on Israel. In the first stage, during the late 1940s, Israel was viewed strictly as an American colony that primarily served American interests. The rise of the neoconservatives and their historical domination was noticeable as George W. Bush became president on January 20, 2001. During his presidency, the neoconservatives reinforced the position that Israeli interests coincided with that of the U.S.’s. In this period, 2001-2009, defending Israel’s and America’s interests were considered both one and the same.

Biden’s ascendance to the presidency was a turning point in U.S. relations with Arabs and the Muslim World. Not because he thought that freedom and democracy in the Arab world was a threat to Israeli existence, but because he considered defending Israeli actions to be a religious duty and a fulfillment of his faith. He underscored this by declaring that it was because he was raised by “a righteous Christian” father. In promoting this notion, Biden seemed to suggest that using American resources and weapons arsenals to ensure the supremacy of Israel in the Middle East and beyond was a divinely inspired act. It is this belief that has blinded him from seeing the sea of destruction and slaughter that Israel has carried out in Gaza and Lebanon. The massacre of children, the deaths of women, and the loss of lives are irrelevant to him.

 Recently, the Washington Post (Oct. 9, 2024) asserted, “The Biden administration largely agrees with Netanyahu’s strategy, despite sometimes implying otherwise. In many ways, Netanyahu’s policies are America’s policies.” Former presidents have avoided giving the impression that their policies were driven by religious considerations. For a large part, their policies toward the Middle East were based on economic and perceived strategic interests. When faced with troubling circumstances and tragic events in the region, they managed to stop Israel as President . Eisenhower did in 1956, and President Reagan did in 1982.

The New Republic (Feb. 8, 2024) reported that Biden “is likely the most anti-Palestinian person to occupy the Oval Office in recent history.”  In recent weeks, the Biden administration has affirmed this as his administration has encouraged Israel to degrade Lebanon’s infrastructure  and intensify its mass killings in Lebanon. The State Department made this clear on Oct. 8 when it stated, “We do support Israel launching these incursions [ground troops in Lebanon].” And the administration linked its position on Lebanon to optimally serving Israeli designs and goals when it stated that Israel is not currently calling for a cease-fire adding, “ It is a different world you’re looking at today than it was several weeks ago.” Though the declared goals are to decapitate groups that defy Israel’s domination, the ultimate goal is to make countries in the region subservient to Israel or else face an unimaginable calamity, now and in the future; a calamity much larger in magnitude than what was done to Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and Syria.

Israeli leaders appreciate the unconditional support that Biden has provided Israel in its war to eliminate the aspirations of Palestinians and the Lebanese for liberty and self-determination. In fact, Israel has found that its policy of escalating conflicts and mass massacres is rewarding. The more they escalate, the more weapons and funds they get from Washington. Michael Herzog, Israel’s envoy in Washington, articulated this when he stated, “It must be said, we wouldn’t be where we are today were it not for the steadfast support of our close friend and ally the United States of America.”

Netanyahu seems to be emboldened by Biden’s new strategy for the region. This strategy is  a risky gamble as it is founded on shaky foundations and lacks moral clarity. The pillars of this strategy are: aggressively defending Israel actions in  international settings; offensively promoting the notion that the lives of the  Arab people are less important than those of Israelis, as reflected in Biden’s continuing emphasis on Israeli deaths, while dismissing the extent of the massacres and destruction in Palestine and Lebanon; justifying and legitimizing Israel’s slaughter by ignoring historical contexts and the continuing occupation of Arab land by Israel; strengthening Israel’s drive  to continue its slaughter in Palestine and Lebanon by funding its operations and placing America’s huge weapon arsenal under Israel service; appointing pro-Israel hardliners  to be responsible for designing his Middle East policy (e.g., Biden‘s Lebanon envoy, Amos Hochstein, is an Israeli military veteran); and pressuring Arab governments not to show any solidarity with the Palestinians and Lebanese. 

The above strategy is a departure from the previous U.S strategies that were based solely on economic and military interests. While those administrations conveyed to the Arabs the message that “We are powerful and we seek dominion,” Biden’s message is starkly different,  and it reads like “We are powerful, and we will not be sated until we are certain that everyone has submitted to the Israeli will.” In his speeches and actions Biden positions himself as the most anti-Arab and anti-Muslim president in the history of the United States. While the consequences of this strategy are unfolding, it certainly is deepening animosity in the region toward the U.S. and will radicalize generations for many years to come. More importantly, it is contributing to making the world less stable and more dangerous.

Abbas J. Ali is distinguished university professor, Indiana University of Pennsylvania.