Joe Biden - Pro-Israel?

Joe Biden has long held himself out to be a good friend to Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East.  Another thing that surprises me when people tell me how good Biden is for Israel, and how bad Trump was.  Go figure.

Trump moved the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Israel's capital city.  It is where Israel has said the embassy should be; as with every other country, the embassy should be in the country's capital.  Here was what Biden thought about it at the time, calling it "short-sighted and frivolous."  That's some friend.  Denying an important ally the right to decide its own capital.   

Then, we have the not insignificant issue of Biden restoring the funding to the Palestinian Authority.  That was something that Trump put a stop to, until such time as the PA leadership agreed to stop rewarding Palestinian terrorists who kill Jews.  But that was a non-issue for Biden, friend to Israel.  

Thomas Nides is the US Ambassador to Israel.  Following his boss' lead, Nides has repeatedly warned Israel about proceeding with their proposed judicial reforms.  (See the March 28, 2023 and March 30, 2023, 2 part post on "Israel's Proposed Judicial Reform - Would It Really Be The End Of Democracy In Israel?")  Think about that.  We have the United States admonishing the democratically elected government of Israel, about how to run their country.  

Nides has said that the US must prevent Israel from "going off the rails."  And he told the Netanyahu government to "pump the brakes."  The truth is, Biden, like many of his fellow Democrats, sees Netanyahu as just another Republican, and treats him and his ruling government accordingly.  Additionally, Netanyahu had a very good rapport with Trump, something that must eat at Biden.  

And, it is not just the public admonitions given to the Netanyahu government.  Netanyahu, Israel's longest serving Prime Minister, was again "reelected" by the Knesset, at the end of last year.  Ordinarily, we might have expected the President to invite the newly elected leader of such a close ally to the White House for an official state visit.  On July 17, Biden apparently spoke with Netanyahu or his aides, finally extending an invitation to get together.  But as of now, it is not at all clear that the invitation is for a formal White House dinner or meeting.  

It is possible that Netanyahu will only get an audience with Biden in a private meeting when the UN General Assembly convenes in New York in September.  Obviously, every world leader wants the prestige of a formal White House invitation.  And just as obvious, Biden does not want to extend that advantage to Netanyahu.  As the July 19 Wall Street Journal pointed out:  "The message to Israelis is that the US is with you but not your government.  It's the kind of thing we tell Cubans and Iranians, or at least we used to."

I do not agree that this Administration is "with" the Israeli people nearly as strongly and openly as was the Trump Administration.  And clearly they do not wish to be seen giving any public support for the Israeli government.  

I could do an entire post on all the anti-Israel people Biden has appointed to serve in his Administration.  And what has become of the Trump Abraham Accords?  Bahrain, the UAE, Sudan and Morocco, all agreed to increasingly normalized relations with Israel.  The ultimate goal was to get Saudi Arabia on board.  But Biden unwisely insulted the Saudis early on, calling the country a pariah state.  The result?  The Saudis turned towards China, which then brokered a deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, two former enemies.  Good job, Biden.  This is the president who claimed to have significant foreign policy experience.

Experience when you are so wrong is meaningless.  Experience when your leftist worldview tells you that a deal with Iran can be had is meaningless.  Experience when your leftist worldview tells you that Israel's democratically elected government needs to be criticized, while you pay the PA to fund terrorists is meaningless.  Biden has often been wrong.  (No, I'm no going to discuss Afghanistan in this post.)  Like his Democratic predecessor, Biden treats allies poorly, while trying to appease our enemies.  

Joe Biden - Mr. Nice Guy?

I've always perceived Biden to be a mean-spirited bully.  As a result, I have frequently been surprised by those who have told me how good it is to have a nice guy in the White House.  Joe Biden, Mr. Nice Guy.  Please.

It was quite a surprise when none other than Maureen Dowd, of the New York Times, told Biden it was time to acknowledge his seventh grandchild, Navy Joan Roberts.  Navy is the daughter of Hunter Biden and Lunden Roberts.  Hunter Biden claims it was just a fling he had with Lunden, initially denying paternity.  Until a test proved him wrong.  Then, Biden argued over child support.  What a nice guy - just like his Dad.

Following Dowd's lead, other columnists in other papers followed suit.  Here was Ingrid Jacques in the 7/13/23 edition of the USA Today:  "At Christmas, the Bidens hang stockings for six of their grandchildren - and even include ones for their dog and cat - yet ignore Navy altogether."  Too soon?  Navy is 4 years old!  Classy Hunter, classy Joe.  

Recall that at the ceremony swearing in his staff, Biden made these remarks:  "If you're ever workin' with me and I hear you treating another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone, I promise you I will fire you on the spot.  On the spot.  No if (sic) ands or buts.  Everybody, everybody, is entitled to be treated with decency and dignity.  That's been missing in a big way the last four years."  Good story, Joe.  Not true, but good story.

I'm not just referring to the way he spoke to White House reporter, Peter Doocy, calling him a "stupid son of a bitch."  I'm talking about the way he speaks to his own staff.  As reported by Axios on 7/10/23, Biden has quite the temper.  Again, obvious to all those who have been paying attention.  Here are some quotes attributed to Biden, as reported by Axios.  "G-d dammit, how the fuck don't you know this!?"  And:  "Don't fucking bullshit me."  And, "Get the fuck out of here."  Axios reported that even his aides avoided private meetings with him because of his temper.  

Is Biden the first president to curse?  Obviously not.  Is he the first to insult reporters?  No, again.  But given the way he has portrayed himself as Mr. Nice Guy, and given the mainstream media's description of him as kindly 'Uncle Joe," and given his own comments about how his Administration was going to be different from the prior four years, I would say to him:  "Stop B.S.'ing the American people.  Fess up to the mean-spirited bully that you are."