Israel's 75th Anniversary Celebrations Marred by Strained US Relationship and Shifting Democratic Stance

  Amidst the celebrations marking Israel's 75th anniversary, tensions between the United States and Israel are overshadowing the occasion. While Israeli President Isaac Herzog represents the nation in Washington, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leading the most right-wing government in Israeli history, is notably absent – a symbolic reminder of strained relations.

The Biden administration's decision to invite Herzog instead of Netanyahu sends a clear message of disapproval toward Israel's current government, which is seen as undermining democratic institutions and escalating settlement activity in the West Bank.

President Joe Biden has previously referred to Netanyahu's ruling coalition as "one of the most extremist in Israel's history." The traditional visit to the White House, which would have been a diplomatic coup for Netanyahu, has been withheld.

Instead, Biden offered a tete-a-tete on the sidelines of the upcoming U.N. General Assembly in September. This lack of a warm embrace suggests a souring of the U.S.-Israel relationship under Netanyahu's leadership.

Herzog, a left-of-center politician supportive of a two-state solution, appears as a more acceptable figure to the Biden administration. However, his visit still faces resistance from progressive Democrats who view any Israeli leader's visit as a source of frustration.

House members including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Jamaal Bowman have announced they will boycott Herzog's speech. These shifting attitudes toward Israel reflect a broader change in the Democratic Party's stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

A Gallup survey found that Democrats' sympathies have shifted, with more individuals now expressing solidarity with the Palestinians rather than Israel. This transformation threatens the longstanding bipartisan support for Israel in the United States.

Biden's reservations about Netanyahu are rooted in the prime minister's strained relationship with former President Barack Obama, as well as the close alignment between Netanyahu and former President Donald Trump.

The Trump administration's policies, such as recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and cutting aid to the Palestinians, have further complicated the prospects for an Israeli-Palestinian peace accord.

Netanyahu's recent authorization of a large-scale military escalation in the West Bank has only heightened tensions. These actions have deepened concerns that Netanyahu's government is pushing Israel further toward a one-state solution, jeopardizing the nation's democratic and Jewish identity.

The Biden administration's decision to extend the invitation to Netanyahu's visit in the United States remains tentative and contingent upon the Israeli government's future conduct. Concerns about Netanyahu's proposed judicial overhaul and settlement policies persist in the White House.

As the bilateral relationship between the United States and Israel evolves, President Biden's emphasis on a two-state solution and the need for compromise reflects a departure from previous US approaches. The repercussions of these changing dynamics in the Israeli-American relationship may have far-reaching consequences for both nations, potentially rupturing ties that were once seen as unbreakable.