Netanyahu’s visit, new US proposals, and threats to international justice

Screenwriter: Marwan Tubasi

The announcement by US House Speaker Mike Johnson of a possible visit by Benjamin Netanyahu to the US Congress has caused many repercussions on multiple levels, including US domestic policy, Israel’s internal position and the US’s relations with its Arab allies.

In the hours after ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan announced his request for arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Yoav Galant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, U.S. lawmakers rushed to find ways to attack the ICC, just as the International Court of Justice is hearing cases against occupying powers.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson himself announced that he would work to pass legislation to impose sanctions on the ICC.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken testified before a Senate subcommittee that he was prepared to work with all members of Congress on a bipartisan basis to impose sanctions on the ICC, threats that are designed to try to delegitimize the ICC, undermine the principles of justice and democracy that the United States pays lip service to on the one hand, and impose ready-made charges of anti-Semitism on these and other institutions.

Netanyahu’s visit is highly anticipated, following his controversial visit to Congress in 2015, and comes at a sensitive time when Israel’s war of genocide and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people is undergoing a significant and dangerous escalation. Especially with war crimes being committed in Gaza and West Bank refugee camps, and the occupation threatening to destroy all forms of life, this has heightened the importance and understanding of the scale and impact of this potential visit, which could take place soon.

Although the details and date of the invitation have not yet been determined, the Biden administration is trying to create an atmosphere today to develop a US proposal with the “Contact Group” of Middle East allies and proxies, aimed at developing a unified policy for the management of the Gaza Strip after the so-called “second day”, according to an official of the Biden administration. This could mean a replay of the problems and tragedies of post-occupation Iraq, the appointment of an American governor in Gaza, a “second prime minister” agreed by the Contact Group after exerting various forms of political pressure and taking measures on the ground against the Israeli resistance. Our people and its political leadership are aimed at integrating into the genocidal aggression in Gaza.
This is done in an effort to circumvent the history, significance and representative essence of the PLO, its path of international legitimacy, and our people’s right to self-determination and to establish an independent, democratic, sovereign state based on the unity of land, people and a single cause.

On the other hand, in terms of the visit, at the internal level of the United States, Netanyahu’s visit is expected to exacerbate these already existing partisan divisions. Republicans who tend to unconditionally support Israel will see the visit as a confirmation of their policies and use it to strengthen their position against the Biden administration, which faces criticism from within the Democratic Party, which is divided horizontally on the issue of Israel. The relationship with Israel between its supporters and the progressive wing of the party, which calls for a more radical stance on Israel and defines relations with Israel. This may lead to increased tensions and protests on the streets of the United States, especially by pro-Palestinian groups, who believe that the US support for Israel complicates the efforts needed to immediately stop the aggression of the occupying power to achieve peace and achieve peace. Popular street demonstrations have expanded in size, and protests by student movements at universities have escalated.

Netanyahu’s speech could also have an impact on the upcoming election campaigns of both parties, as politicians from both parties may use it to strengthen their standing among voters. Republicans may use the event to enhance their image as defenders of a close strategic ally, while progressive Democrats may use it to emphasize the need for a more balanced and more critical U.S. foreign policy toward Israel, which will affect the chances of a bad Biden gaining support over a bad Trump.

As for the Israeli party landscape, the visit could strengthen Netanyahu’s political standing, something he needs as he faces internal opposition and a worsening party crisis. Successfully securing strong U.S. support would help confirm the legitimacy of his leadership and solidify his position as a leader who maintains strong ties with Israel’s most important ally.

On the other hand, it could lead to an increase in political divisions within the Israeli occupation state. The opposition may see the visit as a diversion from contentious internal issues, such as the ongoing investigations against Netanyahu, the proposed judicial reforms, the existing disputes between the current security and political levels, and the ongoing mutual accusations between them.

At the regional level, Netanyahu’s visit is likely to deepen suspicion and tensions between the United States and its Arab allies. In particular, those Arab countries that have recently normalized relations with the Israeli occupation, such as the UAE and Bahrain, may find themselves facing internal pressure from groups opposed to normalization on the one hand, and tensions with some Arab countries that oppose Israel’s aggression in Gaza on the other. But there is no doubt that the visit is likely to further complicate the situation and cause dissatisfaction among Arab peoples who support the rights of the Palestinian people.

At the same time, this visit can be seen as a step towards strengthening the US-Israel strategic alliance to confront common threats in the region, first of all the existential threat in addition to the Iranian threat they constantly talk about, and reflects the ideological consistency around the Zionist vision and the implementation of the Greater Israel project. This may prompt some Arab countries to strengthen cooperation with the United States and Israel, or reassess their relations with the United States in accordance with their own strategic interests and international positions.

Finally, I believe the purpose of this visit is to influence the international community to hold Israel accountable for its human rights violations, genocide, starvation and displacement in Palestine, which leads to its impunity.
The common position of the United States and Israel rejecting the legitimacy of international justice, as in the case of the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, could make it more difficult to achieve international accountability and increase the complexity of the humanitarian and political situation in the region.

In short, Netanyahu’s possible visit to the US Congress reflects the political identification and attitudes of the great racist colonial ideas between the US and Israel, both visions essentially stemming from the intersection of political ideas based on ethnic cleansing, displacement, and racism. Despite the geographical distance, settler groups have replaced other indigenous peoples in both places, the US and Palestine.