The Wall Street Journal said that "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stormed the volatile American political arena hoping to polish his image and garner support from President Joe Biden and Donald Trump for Israel's war against Hamas, but he received a clear message from Democratic and Republican leaders to end the fighting."

The newspaper explained - in a report by Rory Jones - that Netanyahu's defense of Israel's conduct in the war sparked warm applause in the crowded House of Representatives hall, alleviating fears that Netanyahu might attract the wrong kind of attention amid divisions among Americans over Washington's support for the Israeli war on Gaza.

Kamala Harris, the expected presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, said after her meeting with Netanyahu, "Let's get the deal done so we can reach a ceasefire to end the war." Trump also urged the Israeli prime minister to end the war, saying in a press interview, "I want him to end it quickly."

Netanyahu’s Dilemma

Trump, who sat with Netanyahu and others at a table at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, said he was the only one who could prevent the war from spreading across the Middle East. “If we win, it will be very simple, and it will all work out very quickly,” he said.

While Netanyahu’s visit demonstrated the strong support Israel still enjoys in Washington, it also highlighted the impatience on both sides.

Netanyahu now faces a dilemma: If he seeks a deal with Hamas, the fighting will stop, and that could lead to the collapse of his fragile coalition. “We are moving toward a real ceasefire, but he will lose his coalition partners,” said his former adviser, Mitchell Barak.

For months, Netanyahu has faced accusations, which he has vehemently denied, that he is delaying a ceasefire to appease his right-wing coalition partners and prolong his time in office, especially since they have threatened to withdraw if he makes a deal to stop the fighting.

The newspaper pointed out that Hamas has recently shown greater flexibility in negotiations, and that Israeli security officials believe that the time is right to reach an agreement to return the detainees in Gaza, but the negotiations have stalled due to new demands from Netanyahu.

Pending Issues

The issues that have not yet been decided include the number of living detainees to be released, control over the border between Gaza and Egypt, the extent of Israel’s control over the Palestinian prisoners who can be released, and the possibility of resuming fighting after the initial ceasefire.

Israelis who want a ceasefire hope that Netanyahu will have a chance to go through with the ceasefire agreement without fear of bringing down his government when parliament goes on recess until October 27.

Gadi Wolfsfeld, a professor of political science at Israel’s Reichman University, said that “some Israelis hope that when his government is not in imminent danger, Netanyahu will do what needs to be done.”

The newspaper reported that Netanyahu visited Washington in the midst of a political earthquake due to Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race, and said in his speech to Congress, "Our enemies are your enemies, our fight is your fight, and our victory will be your victory."

Some Democrats have urged Biden to use American influence on Israel to limit losses and end the war, and Netanyahu and Biden have indeed clashed over Israel's continuation of the war in Gaza, especially over the heavy civilian death toll.

Netanyahu faced harsher statements on the ceasefire from Harris, who said she supports Israel's right to defend itself but described how it does so as important.

Source: Wall Street Journal