US considers rolling back Trump-era Israel-friendly policies

President Joe Biden is facing low approval ratings in an election year and an indication that he may be losing support from Progressive Democrats over his support for Israel.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

With the gap between the Biden Administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu widening in recent weeks, The Wall Street Journal reports a number of policy strategies the White House has considered to put pressure on Israel.

With US President Joe Biden facing low approval ratings and an indication that he may be losing support from Progressive Democrats over his support for Israel, the White House has toughened its tone, especially regarding civilian casualties in Gaza and voicing its disapproval over IDF operations in Rafah.

The Wall Street Journal reported that last month the Biden Administration was mulling revoking policies and legislation enacted during the Trump Administration that favored Israel.

Among these are continuing to label goods produced in Judea and Samaria as “Made in Israel” despite opposition from pro-Palestinian groups.

The second is declaring that settlements in Judea and Samaria don’t violate international law.

The third, which in some form was enacted through an executive order, was to impose financial and travel sanctions against Israelis the US believed encouraged violence against Palestinians.

Initially, the US was considering sanctioning two members of Israel’s government: Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

Instead, the Biden Administration announced sanctions against four individuals who live in Judea and Samaria instead of the government ministers.

Although Israel didn’t reverse the Trump-era policies or sanction government ministers, as Israel’s ally seeks to exert more pressure and disapproves of its current military actions, there is no guarantee that these considerations won’t be put back on the table.

Sources close to the White House have reported the US President’s growing frustration with Netanyahu.

The two didn’t speak on the phone for nearly a month from late December to late January in a conversation that concluded with President Biden hanging up the phone.

It was reported that Biden often disparages Netanyahu in private and referred to him as an “a@&hole.”