Biden’s Trip to Israel Carries Risks for U.S. Policy—and His Own Legacy
WASHINGTON—With Israel on the brink of a ground invasion of Gaza, President Biden will visit the beleaguered nation with the aim of reinforcing American commitment to its security and addressing the spiraling humanitarian crisis in Gaza brought on by the war with Hamas. His decision to travel to Israel in the middle of its war with Hamas is fraught with diplomatic, political and security risks. As concerns intensify that the conflict could spread through the region, the U.S.
hopes Biden’s trip will serve as a warning to any third parties—whether other nations or militant groups like Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah—that the U.S. was prepared to act if they join the conflict. By traveling to the region, the president is putting his credibility on the line and appearing to step deeper into the conflict, even as Biden and top administration officials asserted that U.S.
combat troops wouldn’t be sent into another war. Biden is also expected to push for the release of hostages held by Hamas—a top priority. U.S.
officials have been working through Qatar and other nations that speak to the Islamist militant group, which took power in the Gaza Strip in 2007. But some fear his visit and any appearance of support for Israel’s potential ground operation to root out Hamas could end up complicating those efforts. While it is not uncommon for presidents to travel to war zones, the nature of the trip itself is unusual.
The White House typically organizes trips to war zones under a strict information embargo, as was done with his trip this year to Ukraine. The terms of that embargo typically mean the news media agree to report on the visit only after the president’s arrival. Biden’s trip also poses a political challenge as he seeks a
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