Joe Biden's Strategic Journey to Israel: Unveiling Game-Changing Goals

President Joe Biden agreed to make an unprecedented visit to Tel Aviv only after receiving a clear commitment from his Israeli counterpart to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. This trip not only serves as a significant demonstration of support for Israel amidst the recent Hamas attacks but also serves as Biden's strongest advocacy for alleviating the plight of civilians and facilitating the safe exit of those wishing to leave Gaza.

The upcoming visit later on Tuesday evening highlights the crucial diplomatic efforts between President Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who have engaged in discussions for forty years. This emphasizes the careful equilibrium Biden aims to maintain.

The lives of numerous civilians, including Americans, are in jeopardy due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the coastal Palestinian enclave. Israeli troops are positioned along its borders, indicating an imminent ground invasion.

There were no official instructions from the US regarding Israel's invasion timing until Biden's departure from the region. However, American officials, who have been engaged in discussions and preparations for the president's visit, understand that Israel should wait, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

The sources stated that one of Biden's primary goals during his visit to Tel Aviv on Wednesday is to ensure that humanitarian plans for Gaza are approved and put into effect before the invasion commences.

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Although Biden has not explicitly called for a ceasefire, he has been increasingly vocal about the need to safeguard civilian lives, particularly during his discussions with Netanyahu. Given his aversion to Zoom calls and his firm belief in the significance of face-to-face interactions, Biden's visit to Israel could offer him a more effective platform to express his thoughts to the Israeli leader, whom he feels he shares a profound understanding with.

Ultimately, Biden and his senior aides recognize the importance of personally engaging with Netanyahu in order to exert influence over him and his team. This necessitates offering unwavering backing for Israel's right to self-defense and the eradication of Hamas.

However, they are also well aware that public backing for Israel is limited and temporary, especially if innocent Gaza civilians suffer the brunt of Israels retaliation against Hamas. Consequently, the President must exercise caution and find the right balance in his response.

Described as an attempt to maintain a close working relationship amidst an anticipated challenging period, this posture has been labeled by an official as the act of "embracing them closely".

During a recent statement on Monday evening, spokesperson John Kirby from the National Security Council emphasized that Biden's primary focus upon arriving in Israel would be on the essential requirement for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza, along with ensuring the safe passage of innocent individuals.

He said the US had not sought assurances from Israel about the timing of its ground invasion ahead of Bidens trip.

"Were not dictating terms or operational directions to the Israelis," Kirby said.

Biden's aides confirmed that he was keen on making the journey to Israel after receiving an invitation from Netanyahu over the weekend. It was evident that he would eventually undertake the trip to show his unwavering support for a country he deeply cherishes. On Monday, he held discussions about the trip at the White House with his key national security and intelligence advisers.

Meanwhile in Tel Aviv, Secretary of State Antony Blinken held an extensive meeting with Israeli officials to address the issue of allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza and avoiding harm to civilians during Israel's response to the recent acts of terrorism. Despite the unpredictable nature of Blinken's schedule this week, the meeting lasted much longer than anticipated, lasting approximately seven and a half hours with Israel's war cabinet. This lengthy duration emphasized the magnitude of the task at hand, as both US officials and their Israeli counterparts met separately in different rooms, exchanging documents in an effort to finalize the wording of an agreement.

The proposals encompassed the establishment of safe zones and aid corridors. Following extensive negotiations, Blinken announced Biden's upcoming trip on Wednesday, revealing that the United States and Israel have reached an agreement to create a comprehensive plan facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, with the involvement of donor nations and multilateral organizations. Those familiar with the situation stated that former US Ambassador David Satterfield, appointed as the president's envoy for humanitarian assistance in the Middle East, will spearhead the transformation of this conceptual agreement into a concrete plan.

The objective is to have the majority of the plan prepared before Biden's arrival. However, officials recognize that it will be a challenging task that will also require the agreement of other parties involved. There is still a considerable amount of concern that despite the extensive consultations Blinken had with Israeli officials and others, certain aspects may not come together smoothly.

Blinken's diplomatic efforts in the Middle East this week provided a glimpse of what to expect in Biden's upcoming discussions. While his meetings with Arab leaders were deemed somewhat productive by US officials, they were far from reaching a definitive conclusion.

US officials were particularly irritated by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's public criticism of Blinken. During their meeting in the presidential palace in Cairo, al-Sisi, a strong leader, addressed Blinken, saying, "You mentioned that you are of Jewish descent, while I, as an Egyptian, have grown up alongside Jewish individuals in Egypt. I must emphasize that they have never faced any kind of oppression or persecution. In both recent and distant history, Jews have never been targeted in our region."

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's delay in meeting with Blinken was not well received by US officials, although it was somewhat anticipated. Following his meeting with Sisi, Blinken contacted Biden to provide an update, highlighting the unanimous stance of Arab leaders regarding the crucial need for a humanitarian aid plan.

Biden, having engaged in extensive conversations with leaders in the region, was cognizant of the situation and instructed Blinken to return to Israel and collaborate with Israeli counterparts to achieve the desired outcome.

On Monday, Biden, canceling his scheduled trip to Colorado in order to stay at the White House, personally spoke to Sisi over the phone - a crucial element, officials emphasized, in finalizing arrangements for the visit.

The visit to Tel Aviv by the president is the most prominent show of support this week. However, the decision to also visit Amman, the capital of Jordan, highlights the White House's strategic approach of balancing public and military support with the recognition of the crucial role Arab partners play in President Biden's approach. During the Amman visit, President Biden will hold meetings with Sisi, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Ahead of Biden's visit, King Abdullah issued a stern warning on Tuesday, emphasizing that the relocation of Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt is an absolute "red line." He stated unequivocally that neither Jordan nor Egypt will house any refugees.

"This is a red line, as I believe it is a deliberate attempt by some familiar elements to instigate problems on the ground," he asserted during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.