U.S. State Department document reveals Biden administration intentions • The next prime minister must navigate between indifferent powers and a hostile ally • Opinion
US President Joe Biden // Photo: Reuters
In the last decade, Prime Minister Netanyahu has revolutionized Israel's international and strategic status.
Instead of bowing to the hostile Obama administration, Netanyahu leveraged Obama's hostility to establish deep strategic relations with Arab countries.
Netanyahu also conducted a global campaign to promote bilateral relations with dozens of countries around the world, based on common interests.
He established personal relations with Russian President Putin, which allowed for Israeli maneuvering space in Syria in the middle of a civil war, without dragging Israel into the war itself.
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All this and other activities have led to the fact that when a friendly government entered the White House in 2017, Israel, which welcomed it, was already a regional power.
Netanyahu's proper work with the Trump administration has enabled Israel to maximize the political and strategic payoff from the administration.
These changes - including the relocation of the US Embassy to Jerusalem, American recognition of the legality of settlement in Judea and Samaria, Israel's sovereignty in the Golan Heights and Israel's sovereign rights in Judea and Samaria - greatly strengthened Israel's status as an independent regional power and attractive economic and political state. It was he who paved the way for the agreements of Abraham.
Last week, The National newspaper, published in Abu Dhabi, published a State Department document outlining the administration's policy toward Israel and the Palestinians.
The document was prepared by Hadi Amar, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Israel-Palestine and a man with a rich history of hostility to Israel and support for terrorism.
According to the document, the new administration will repeal the Trump administration's policy that surface C products in Judea and Samaria exported to the United States will receive a "Made in Israel" stamp.
The new administration will also renew the transfer of funds to UNRWA and the PA, press Israel to allow Jerusalem residents to vote in Palestinian elections, work to reopen the US mission to the PA and more.
As for the Avraham agreements, in diplomatic language the document indicates that the administration intends to undermine the peace agreements, in a way that will renew the Palestinian veto on Israeli-Arab relations.
The document renews Obama's policy of acting for an Israeli withdrawal from the 1949 ceasefire lines.
The document is not surprising, but it makes it clear that Israel faces a great challenge in managing its relations with the United States. Prime Minister in the coming years.