Biden, Bennett statements prove: Actors in U.S. change, but the show must go on

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A sigh of relief was heard from the Israeli TV studios: The prime minister, who isn’t Benjamin Netanyahu (we’ve checked time and again and he’s definitely not Benjamin Netanyahu), walked into the White House and later left the building. During that time, he had his say in English and was even served coffee. (Check your records to find out what Netanyahu was served when he was there.)

While he didn’t receive a U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem as a gift, it wasn’t taken away from him. Most importantly, let’s not forget, he completed his main mission: Now everyone knows, without a doubt, that he’s not Benjamin Netanyahu. Ceci n’est pas une pipe – like it says in that famous surrealist painting.

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The reducing of the routine meeting in D.C. to the never-ending comparison between Bennett and his omnipresent rival Netanyahu reflects our zeitgeist. The media covers everything from the personal aspect, and the specter of the former prime minister looms.

Beyond these comparisons, however, content-wise it seems the statements delivered at the Oval Office after a private meeting – a very important meeting that stretched beyond the allotted time! (the oldest trick in the diplomatic book) – were taken straight from the State Department’s playbook. Because just like Agatha Christie‘s “The Mousetrap,” which has been running continuously since 1952 (except for a forced hiatus during the pandemic), even in the play “U.S.-Israel Relations” the actors may change, but the show must go on.

Biden called Bennett a friend to convey a message of revived solidarity. He repeated the cliche about the United States’ obligation to Israel’s security, and he mentioned, once again, that his country will continue to support Israel’s Iron Dome antimissile system. (The more he reiterates his promise, the more a question is raised on when it was ever doubted.) And most important is the headline for Bennett: Biden said that if the diplomatic channel with Iran fails, “other options” are available.

Biden also expressed support for advancing Israel’s covert relations with Muslim countries and paid a debt to the Palestinians by mumbling the worn-out message that the United States aspires to “advance peace and security and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians” – with a slight emphasis on the “and.”

Biden also mentioned every Israeli politician’s favorite treat – the United States will examine the possibility of waiving tourist visas for Israelis. The only moment that was slightly different this time was when Biden threw shade at right-winger Bennett by saying that Barack Obama should also be thanked for paving the way for current U.S. policy in the region. Bennett gasped behind his mask.

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Bennett’s statement was also predictably boring, which as usual wasn’t meant for the president’s ears but for the American media: The United States is our closest ally, Jerusalem is our eternal capital, Israel is a small country surrounded by enemies (veteran Biden surely doesn’t need Bible or history lessons), so this is why preserving Israel’s military edge and preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons is crucial. This is exactly what Netanyahu would have said.

It’s all identical, except for a pompous quote from the Bible. The small nuances can be found in Bennett’s message that he’s bringing a new spirit to the negotiating table, and even more interesting are Bennett’s comments that Israel isn’t asking the United States to fight its battles, it’s only asking for the means and American support.

It’s clear that this message was crafted for the zeitgeist. In a world where the United States aspires to fewer “boots on the ground,” it’s good to remember that Israel gets by without these American boots and doesn’t increase the U.S. death toll, as opposed to some of its other allies.

On a personal level, Bennett and Biden conveyed, as expected, a friendship that will obviously be analyzed time after time. Regarding the content, nothing was new in this exchange of messages.

Still, the two leaders did achieve something. In recent years, Israel gradually lost the Democratic Party’s support, a process that peaked when Netanyahu endorsed Donald Trump. Bennett and Biden, however, showed that they’re trying to rehabilitate the bipartisan support.

One group that was again overlooked was the Palestinians. They were briefly mentioned by the president, who didn’t seem eager to discuss the issue, which wasn’t mentioned at all by the Israeli prime minister, who declared in The New York Times that he has no intention of dealing with the Palestinians.