In his opinion column in the "New York Times", the senior journalist Thomas Friedman published tonight (between Wednesday and Thursday, Israel time) that the American administration is expected to adopt a new strategy in the Middle East which he called: "The Biden Doctrine".
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According to the plan, as published by Friedman, the US will develop a firm stance against Iran, work to promote an independent Palestinian state in the Palestinian Territories and the Gaza Strip, and establish an alliance with Saudi Arabia - which will include, among other things, normalization with Israel.
Rethinking
In his article, Friedman emphasizes that the three tracks are directly related, and he believes that the officials in the White House also understand this.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, photo: Kobi Gideon/L.A.M
For example, the process of establishing an independent state for the Palestinians would involve some kind of US recognition of a demilitarized state in Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip, and according to Friedman, this would only be possible after the Palestinians themselves had developed an array of security capabilities to ensure that the state could exist - and would not pose a threat to Israel.
In the third stage, as mentioned, the US will establish an expanded security alliance with Saudi Arabia, which will include, among other things, the normalization of relations with Israel. Friedman claims that if the Biden administration succeeds in realizing this doctrine, it will become the largest strategic arrangement in the Middle East since the Camp David Agreement.
Expanded security alliance.
The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, Photo: I.P.I
Stated that the events of October 7 are forcing a "rethinking" of the Middle East, even within the Biden administration.
He points out that one of the reasons for this necessity is the inability of Netanyahu's right-wing government to express any plan for the "day after" in Gaza, with a Palestinian partner other than Hamas.
A loss on three fronts
Friedman also criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu and said that the US should stop letting him hold its policies hostage. He pointed out that the US has a desire to build a reliable and legitimate Palestinian Authority that can one day govern in an effective way that will not pose a threat to Israel.
Desire to build a reliable and legitimate Palestinian Authority.
Abu Mazen, photo: Reuters
For Biden's bold plan, he will be forced, in Friedman's words, to "expose Iran's bluff - and Netanyahu's as well."
According to him, the US is suffering from Iranian attempts to destroy any initiative in the Middle East and at the same time, the US is also suffering from the Netanyahu government, whose goal is to permanently prevent a Palestinian state, in any form - even to the point of strengthening Hamas.
In his article, Friedman claimed that Israel is now losing on three fronts.
"It lost the war on the narrative and even though Hamas murdered Vance, it was Israel that was dragged to the hearing at the International Court of Justice in The Hague."
South Africa's prosecution team at the hearing at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, photo: UN Photo/ICJ-CIJ/ Frank van Beek
In addition, Friedman wrote, that "Israel is losing the ability to maintain its security by maneuvering in Gaza - without having any plan to create another government in Gaza, and it is also losing on the regional front."
"Israel is now under Iranian attack from four fronts: Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and the Shia militias in Iraq - but it is unable to mobilize the Arab allies or NATO to win the war for the simple reason that it is doing everything to not cultivate a reliable and legitimate Palestinian partner" .
Friedman concludes: "I believe, hope and pray that the 'Biden doctrine' will come to the Middle East - a doctrine that the Israelis should also hope for."
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