In less than three weeks, on July 13, an Air Force 1 plane will land at Ben Gurion Airport, launching the 46th President's first trip to the Middle East. Red Nixon, on her land on June 16, 1974, this time is a precedent, since his main interlocutor in Jerusalem will be Yair Lapid, who will be the deputy prime minister until the election.
Despite the fact that he is a "lame duck" from the moment he enters Balfour, which is highly unlikely to succeed in gaining public legitimacy in his new status until the election date, Biden chose not to change the route of his tour.
By doing so, Lapid, by virtue of the President's willingness to meet with him, will gain official American recognition, as if he were a "standard" prime minister with the potential for effective governance on all levels and not a transitional prime minister.
Apparently, the deep sediment of resentment and suspicion - accumulated between Vice President (in the Obama administration) Biden, and then-Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Netanyahu's close proximity to Biden's bitter enemy, former President Trump - were the basis for the decision to send a message of support to one of his leaders. Of the "Change Bloc."
Despite the fact that the American-Israeli system is saturated with American attempts to "cross the lines" and influence the results of the Knesset elections, this is the first time that the president and his immediate entourage are working to provide support to a transitional government in the midst of an acute political crisis.
Although the president will not bring to Jerusalem an extravagant gift package in the form of the Sharm el-Sheikh conference on the war on terror (which President Clinton convened in March 1996 to help Shimon Peres' election campaign), the visit will still include a supportive international envelope.
This is a renewed and renovated version of the "Periphery Alliance" from the late 1950s, with its partners this time (who will convene to a virtual summit during the visit) being the leaders of India and the United Arab Emirates.
This is when the American top will play the role of senior partner and execution contractor.
A visit full of promises
In addition, the visit can be expected to be full of promises and tufts towards Israel, including expressing a willingness to deepen its strategic cooperation in the intelligence and technological field, including assisting in the development of advanced air defense systems, which will help it face security challenges in Tehran's direction. News of a settlement in the Palestinian territories (which will surely disappoint the head of the Palestinian Authority, Abu Mazen, to whom Biden will arrive at the end of his visit to Israel).
Muhammad bin Salman, Photo: AP
Lith Mann Deflig, these candies and temptations are also related to the imminent resumption of Iran's new nuclear negotiations, and are intended to reassure Jerusalem in the face of the possibility that the "Second Vienna Agreement" will be signed soon.
The Iranian threat, which hovers in the background of the trip to Jerusalem, is also tied in its navel to its Saudi tier, which is the highlight of the entire trip.
Not only does the administration seek to allay the Gulf states' ongoing concern, especially in Saudi Arabia, about US abandonment in the face of the danger posed by Iran, especially in light of the resumption of nuclear negotiations with it - but it seeks first to resume relations with Saudi Arabia. A more friendly base, after the days of frost and deep stagnation that marked the beginning of Biden's tenure, and the rise in oil prices following the sanctions imposed on Russian oil exports after the invasion of Ukraine.
For, this price increase has contributed to the current inflationary spin, whose political price for Biden (unless it is quickly halted) is unbearable.
Thus, as the political situation in the polls continues to deteriorate from rejection to rejection (and now stands at only 36% support), the 46th president goes to the fine under the guise of participating in the Jeddah summit and trying to advance the normalization process between Saudi Arabia and Israel. "Abrahamic Agreements").
This, when the real core goal of the visit is to improve the dismal situation of his party coming to the midterm elections to Congress in November.
All, of course, provided his sworn rival until recently, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, approves a further increase in black gold output, which could calm the energy market and alleviate Biden's political distress.
In the face of new political, economic and energetic circumstances, therefore, Ben Salman has turned from an undesirable personality to a coveted target for the vigorous courtship of the president, who is not now hesitant to stamp his feet as far as Riyadh and Jeddah.
In a short time, it will become clear whether the president has indeed been able to advance the main goals of his trip to the Middle East in general and to Saudi Arabia in particular, thereby improving his position on the House front.
It is not inconceivable that the lifeline for his party will actually come from Washington, following the court's ruling on the issue of abortions, which for him may be the buoy that will give him vital air to breathe.
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