Biden vs. Netanyahu – Who Will Control the Narrative?

Hamas’s assault on Israel, the humiliation of its defense doctrine, the taking of hostages, and the 700 Israeli deaths have shaken the country’s security apparatus. Alongside these events, Hezbollah’s warnings from the North, Iran’s support for Hamas, and the involvement of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other Gulf and Muslim leaderships serve as clear indications of America’s frustration with Netanyahu. His ongoing provocations of Palestinian issues, particularly surrounding Al Aqsa, have undermined American efforts to pursue a two-state solution, despite offers of normalization with the Muslim world—including the prize of Saudi Arabia.

However, Biden’s “iron-clad” support for Israel’s security does not translate into backing Netanyahu, whom the U.S. may be eager to remove. As a result, the battle is now for control of the political narrative. Netanyahu is determined to push for the complete dismantling of the two-state solution, redirecting focus onto war with Iran by implicating it as the mastermind behind Hamas and Hezbollah. His threat to turn Gaza into a “desert island” could provoke a risky ground operation. If Netanyahu follows through, it would essentially declare war on Hamas, and he could seize the narrative to dismantle the two-state solution and expel Palestinians from the occupied territories.

For the U.S. and its media, the narrative centers on targeting Israeli public opinion. On the surface, Israelis appear to be unified in support of their government, but in reality, there is growing discontent with Netanyahu. This sentiment seeks to undermine his credibility by highlighting the weaknesses of Israel’s military, as evidenced by the U.S. sending a warship to the region. This move is a public humiliation for Israel and a blow to its image as a self-reliant military force capable of handling both state and non-state actors like Hamas and Hezbollah.

Israel’s request for U.S. assistance in providing more stocks for the Iron Dome interceptor missiles further exposes the limitations of its defense systems, particularly in the face of the volume of Hamas rockets. The hostage crisis, the most critical element of Hamas’s assault, along with Israel’s highest death toll (700 in any exchange with Palestinians), will undoubtedly be amplified in U.S. media. The threat of the conflict escalating into a regional crisis through Hezbollah and other actors will also be used as pressure on Netanyahu.

Already weakened by corruption charges and public opposition to his constitutional changes, Netanyahu’s position is precarious. The timing of Hamas’s assault is politically advantageous for the Biden administration. Meanwhile, the American allies who have struck peace deals and normalized relations with Israel now face a delicate balancing act. They must manage the support and outrage among their populations over Palestinian suffering while remaining aligned with U.S. policy, which still holds the carrot of normalization as leverage for Israel.

For now, these American allies will publicly support the Palestinians—but it will likely be more for show. Despite their public statements, they will not lift a finger to aid the Palestinians militarily or, at the very least, challenge the terms of their peace treaties and normalization agreements with Israel.

This ongoing political struggle is a power play between the American administration and Netanyahu’s right-wing government, with the Palestinians caught in the middle as pawns.