The Knesset, Israel’s parliament, reconvened on Monday, September 13th, amidst tense U.S-Israel relations. The relationship between the two countries has been strained in recent months, with disagreements over the Iran nuclear deal and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
The tensions between the U.S. and Israel began to escalate earlier this year when President Joe Biden’s administration announced its intention to re-enter the Iran nuclear deal. The deal, which was originally signed in 2015, lifted economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits on its nuclear program. Former President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018, and since then, Iran has resumed its nuclear activities.
Israel has been a vocal opponent of the Iran nuclear deal since its inception, arguing that it does not do enough to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has called the deal a “strategic mistake” and has vowed to do everything in his power to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
The tension between the U.S. and Israel was further exacerbated by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. In May of this year, tensions between Israelis and Palestinians erupted into violence, with Hamas firing rockets into Israel and Israel launching airstrikes in Gaza. The conflict resulted in the deaths of over 250 Palestinians and 12 Israelis.
The U.S. initially expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself during the conflict, but as the death toll in Gaza continued to rise, pressure mounted on the Biden administration to take a more active role in resolving the conflict. In June, the U.S. announced that it would provide $735 million in weapons to Israel, a move that was criticized by some Democrats in Congress who argued that the U.S. should not be providing weapons to a country engaged in human rights abuses.
The tension between the U.S. and Israel has put Prime Minister Bennett in a difficult position as he seeks to balance his country’s relationship with the U.S. with its own national security interests. In his speech to the Knesset on Monday, Bennett emphasized the importance of Israel’s relationship with the U.S. but also made it clear that Israel would not hesitate to take action to protect its own security.
“The United States is our greatest ally and we will work together to strengthen our partnership,” Bennett said. “But we will also act independently when necessary to protect our people and our interests.”
Despite the tensions between the U.S. and Israel, there are signs that the two countries are working to repair their relationship. Last week, President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Bennett for the first time since he took office, and the two leaders reportedly had a “warm and friendly” conversation.
In addition, the U.S. has announced that it will provide $180 million in aid to the Palestinians, a move that is seen as an attempt to ease tensions between Israel and Palestine and demonstrate U.S. commitment to a two-state solution.
The reconvening of the Knesset comes at a critical time for Israel as it seeks to navigate a complex geopolitical landscape. The tension between the U.S. and Israel is just one of many challenges facing the country, but it is one that will require careful diplomacy and strategic thinking to overcome. As Prime Minister Bennett said in his speech to the Knesset, “We face many challenges, but we will meet them with strength, determination, and a commitment to our values.”
