Benjamin Netanyahu, the Herpes of Israel

Israel’s longest-serving prime minister is a lingering disease for his country, Palestinians, the region, and President Biden.

Like herpes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has become a painful disease without a cure. He seems to stick around forever, occasionally flare up, and ruin everyone’s good time. In this case, a “good time” would be an end to a devastating genocide in Gaza, the return of Israeli hostages, and a pathway towards self-determination for Palestinians who have been occupied for decades.

Earlier this week, 14 out of 15 UN Security Council Members - with Russia abstaining - voted in favor of what President Biden said was Israel’s proposed three-phase cease-fire proposal that would accompany the release of hostages. Oddly, Netanyahu has yet to endorse his country’s own proposed plan and has previously said there will only be a permanent ceasefire after “the destruction of Hamas’ military and governing capabilities.” This is a non-starter for Hamas and completely unrealistic considering Israeli intelligence itself has established that Hamas, although weakened, would likely not be destroyed. Unfortunately, 36,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have instead been killed as collateral damage and collective punishment for the massacre of 1,200 Israelis on Oct 7. 

But why shepherd a peaceful resolution to violence that has dragged on for 8 months if it means relinquishing power? Like Donald Trump, a twice-impeached criminal convict, Netanyahu is also facing several criminal cases, specifically involving allegations of corruption. As such, he is willing to take a blowtorch to Palestinians and Israeli democracy to avoid accountability. The second this war ends, the vast majority of Israelis will demand his resignation. Nearly twenty percent of Israel’s population has previously participated in protests and marched in the streets against him after he failed to undermine and weaken the judiciary. There is a strong chance he might lose his case and end up in jail thereby permanently sealing his ignominious 16-year career as Prime Minister of Israel. 

You can’t wear pinstripes after you’re accustomed to fine attire and bling. Instead, Netanyahu has decided to prolong the miserable war and drag Israel and the region into a raging fireball with an extremist government pouring gasoline. He’s so desperate that he’s entered into a political marriage with genocidal lunatic settlers to maintain his coalition. His cabinet now includes a rogue gallery of Israel’s greatest extremists. There’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir who was convicted for inciting hate against Palestinians. In November, he gave West Bank settlers rifles to form “civilian security teams.” (More than 500 Palestinian civilians have been killed in the West Bank since Oct 7.)  There’s also Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who refers to himself as a “fascist homophobe” proudly in favor of Jewish supremacy. The LGBTQ+ community of Israel should take comfort in knowing Smotrich has said he won't stone gays. (Happy Pride month, gays of Israel!) 

Even though Netanyahu pretends that he cares about the Israeli hostages, the family members of the hostages are calling out his bullshit and understand he’s only in this war to preserve his power. On our show A Muslim and Jew Walk Into a Podcast, which I co-host with Professor Jen Taub (spoiler alert: she’s the Jew), we interviewed Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights. She recently returned from Israel after attending protests against the Bibi government. She told us that family members of the hostages are protesting outside of the military headquarters every single day and are demanding an end to the war and the return of their loved ones. Bibi allegedly cares so much about these grieving family members that he has refused to meet them. However, he conveniently showed up for a photo op with the 4 Israeli hostages that Israel retrieved while killing over 250 Palestinians. Recall that during the week-long ceasefire in November, Hamas released 105 Israeli hostages. Netanyahu’s belligerent military actions have so far only freed a total of 7 Israeli hostages and accidentally killed at least 3 of them. 

In the meantime, the ICC prosecutor is seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas leaders for engaging in war crimes. However, that hasn’t stopped US Congressional leaders from issuing a bipartisan letter inviting Netanyahu to address US Congress. Why not show Netanyahu love even as he has never missed an opportunity to belittle, undermine, humiliate, and cross President Biden’s so-called “red lines”? This will teach him a lesson! Like a masochist, Biden has often said, “Thank you, may I have another?” and Netanyahu has obliged. However, this week’s UN Security resolution, which the US supported, and a recent Biden quote in a Time Magazine interview where he said there is “every reason” to think Netanyahu is prolonging the war for his political gain reveal that even Biden, who has been a moral failure during this war, is getting fed up.

There’s an opening here for President Biden and Democrats to separate Israel from Netanyahu, who is currently more loathed than herpes. (Again, no offense to herpes.) As Rabbi Jacobs told us, “You don’t have to stand with this extremist government, because the people in Israel aren’t.” Also, it bears reminding that Netanyahu has no allegiance to President Biden and would prefer Donald Trump who will give him a carte blanch to crush any chance of a peaceful solution with Palestinians and take everything - from the river to the sea - for Israel. 

By ramping up the pressure on Netanyahu, siding with the family members, and not interfering with the ICC or ICJ, Democrats can still show their “ironclad support” for Israel and its people but also distance themselves from Netanyahu. Through surrogates, President Biden can allow Democrats in the House and Senate to take sharp public attacks on Netanyahu and convince the American public that he is one of the greatest obstacles to peace in an ongoing genocide that is increasingly unpopular across the political spectrum.

President Biden could also, you know, threaten to halt the shipment of arms, weapons, and money to Israel thereby ending this conflict overnight. However, that would require the US to act like a superpower and flex its considerable muscles in its lopsided relationship. (Wouldn’t it be pretty to think so?)

Until that day comes, the herpes that is Benjamin Netanyahu won’t disappear but at the very least there are still ways he can be somewhat tamed.