New Warnings for U.S. Policy in the Middle East
After numerous ups and downs in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations, recent remarks by William Burns, the CIA director, and the U.S. foreign policy leader at his joint meeting with the head of Britain’s MI6, indicated hope for finalizing an agreement. However, subsequent developments reflected contradictory news.
Last weekend, both the U.S. and Israel witnessed unusual widespread protests by opponents of Netanyahu’s government, demanding an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages. Amid the intensifying protests, it was revealed that one of the key Israeli negotiators had warned the hostages’ families that there was no hope for an agreement and the release of their loved ones. New reports from Axios, a well-known Israeli journalist, also narrated the disillusionment of Biden’s foreign policy team, specifically pointing to Sinwar’s efforts to disrupt the groundwork for an agreement. Biden and his team have long been angry at the situation Netanyahu has created.
In a previous article on this subject, we mentioned that Netanyahu and Sinwar are trying to prolong the existing crisis to maintain their positions in Israel and Palestine.
Amid these developments, Richard Haass, a former prominent U.S. foreign policy diplomat and director, in his recent interview, issued one of the most public warnings to Biden and his foreign policy team. He said no agreement is in place or will be, and Biden should remain hopeful in this regard. Haass believes that Netanyahu and Sinwar have shown no willingness for agreement and peace. Haass’s directness in this warning was astonishing, and his words, as one of the most important theorists of U.S. foreign policy, cannot be ignored.
More important than the discussion of the agreement, Haass has a new warning. He believes that the process of the West Bank becoming like Gaza is reaching a point of no return. According to Haass, there are no longer any signs in this regard; rather, this process has occurred. The West Bank, with the strengthening of Palestinian militants and unprecedented weakening of the Palestinian Authority on one side, and the expansion of destructive activities by extremist Israeli settlers, will become a new battlefield that must be controlled as soon as possible.
Beyond all, Haass warned that Israel should expect an attack from Iran, and there is certainty that the Iranian regime will eventually act to avenge Haniyeh’s assassination in Tehran, with only the type of action remaining unclear.