JERUSALEM—The ongoing wars in Ukraine and Israel, sparked by Russia’s invasion and Hamas’s attacks, respectively, are raising concerns about the Biden-Harris administration’s stance towards Israel’s struggle against Iran-backed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Experts specializing in the Middle East and Russia have highlighted the contrasting approaches of the administration in these conflicts.
David Wurmser, a former senior adviser for nonproliferation and strategy for former Vice President Dick Cheney, told Digital that the U.S. strategy towards Ukraine and Israel significantly differs.
“The United States has never indicated any legitimacy for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While a ceasefire might be pursued, there is no appeasement of Russia’s purported grievances or demands,” Wurmser stated. “Conversely, regarding the Palestinians, the October 7 attack was condemned as a tragedy, and Israel’s immediate defense was acknowledged. However, the core of U.S. policy swiftly, and increasingly so, shifted towards recognizing a legitimate basis for Palestinian claims as a contributing factor to these events.”
Many Middle East experts perceive the Biden-Harris administration’s attempts to cater to Palestinian demands and push Israel towards a two-state solution, a stance that existed even before the Hamas invasion on October 7 and the massacre of nearly 1,200 people in Israel.
The language employed by Biden and Harris regarding Ukraine and Israel also reveals a discrepancy. In September, after Russian missiles killed over 50 people in a training facility and hospital attack, Biden declared, “Make no mistake: Russia will not prevail in this war. And on this tragic day, and every day, the United States stands with them.”
Such terminology emphasizing victory is largely absent when Biden and Harris discuss Israel’s ground wars against Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The administration even threatened Israel with punitive measures if the Jewish state invaded Rafah, the last Hamas stronghold. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disregarded these threats and ultimately defeated Hamas in Rafah last month.
Last month, during a discussion of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Victory Plan, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Biden announced their “resolve to support Ukraine in its efforts to secure a just and lasting peace.” In the same statement, these Western leaders stressed “ending the war in Gaza,” a message perceived by Israel as urging them to retreat from their anti-terrorism war.
The Israel Defense Forces haven’t completely eradicated all Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, and Hamas leadership remains committed to their war of obliterating the Jewish state.
Critics of the Biden-Harris approach argue that the contrasting U.S. policies and rhetoric towards the wars in Ukraine and Gaza/Lebanon aim to hinder Israel’s path to victory and its efforts to re-establish deterrence. Experts emphasize that Ukraine hasn’t faced the same offensive war restrictions from Biden and Harris.
Wurmser noted that “Ukraine has not endured a relentless attempt from the outset of the war to halt the conflict in a way that allows its enemy to consolidate gains and secure victory. Only recently has the United States begun to express a preference for, but has not imposed material pressure for, Ukraine to move towards a ceasefire. The situation for Israel is different. From the initial week of the war, the United States has sought to restrain Israel and push for a ceasefire.”
He added, “From the start of Hezbollah’s attack on Israel on October 8, the United States urged Israel to minimize its response and pursue a ceasefire. Following the Houthis’ blockade of Israel’s southern port in late October 2023, their missile and drone attacks on Israeli cities, and attacks on Israeli and international shipping, the United States pressured Israel to defer to the United States for guaranteeing its interests—which the U.S. subsequently failed to do. After Iraqi militias launched missiles and drones into Israeli cities and ports in November 2023, the United States again encouraged Israeli passivity but failed to provide Israel with security.”
Iran’s regime backs and funds the Houthi movement in Yemen and pro-Iran Iraqi militias.
However, Biden and Harris have restricted Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles. Zelenskyy appealed to the White House in a late September meeting, requesting that Biden and Harris enhance Ukraine’s capacity to defeat Russia by lifting the ban on long-range missiles capable of striking Russian territory.
Former U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency officer Rebekah Koffler told Fox News Digital that the “Biden-Harris team has been attempting to appease Iran by trying to micromanage Israel’s war fighting campaign, where Israel is working to eliminate an existential threat. This incompetent approach — constantly pressing Netanyahu to implement a ceasefire, preventing him from finishing the job — is inviting escalation from Iran. Iran is emboldened, having witnessed that Biden-Harris don’t have Israel’s back. Iran has gotten so out of control that they’ve targeted Netanyahu’s home — think about that. The Ayatollahs clearly feel that Biden-Harris are on their side.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei taunted the U.S. and the Jewish state with a threat on Saturday, reacting to the actions of both countries. Iran’s regime vowed to launch a third attack on Israel in retaliation for Israel’s October 26 attack on Iran, which targeted That Israeli attack was a response to a wave of over 200 missiles launched from Iran into Israel on October 1.
The U.S. State Department referred Digital to the White House for comment. The White House and the Harris campaign declined to respond to Digital’s press inquiries.
Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.