By James M. Dorsey
US, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators appear optimistic after two days of Gaza ceasefire talks. Even so, US officials are considering confronting Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu publicly should the talks ultimately fail.
Long frustrated with Mr. Netanyahu’s refusal to heed US advice, President Joe Biden is considering shelving his bear hug approach for a more assertive attitude should the US-Qatar-Egypt mediated talks fail, according to US officials.
For now, the officials’ remarks seem more like a stick than a carrot intended to coax Israel and Hamas to show the flexibility necessary to sustain the ceasefire talks and conclude them with an agreement that holds out the promise of a permanent end to the ten-month-old war.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to arrive in Israel on Sunday in what is either a sign of progress in the Doha talks or an effort to step up the pressure on Mr. Netanyahu.
Either way, the stakes are high. Please read further, watch the video, or listen to the podcast at https://jamesmdorsey.substack.com/p/us-mulls-confronting-netanyahu-if