What is Biden thinking about Bibi?

The curious imbalance in the U.S.-Israel relationship, considered. APRIL 2, 2024  |  [VIEW IN BROWSER](  |  [SUBSCRIBE](     President George H.W. Bush and Secretary of State James A. Baker III at a news conference in 1991. Dirck Halstead/Getty Images In this newsletter, FP’s executive editor, Amelia Lester, connects different stories to explore a theme in geopolitics. Last week, the United States took what Alia Brahimi of the Atlantic Council [describes]( as a “highly unusual step” at the U.N. Security Council. After nearly six months of an Israeli military campaign in Gaza, it abstained in a vote calling for a cease-fire. The move was notable because, as Brahimi writes, “despite representing the world’s preeminent military power, on whom Israel depends for weapons, funds, and diplomatic cover,” U.S. President Joe Biden has shown little resistance to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s sustained bombing campaign, with his administration relying instead on “performative workarounds, airdropping aid, and building a floating pier” off Gaza’s shore. There is a historical analogy Biden could learn from, Brahimi argues. Back in 1991, President George H.W. Bush was firm in conditioning aid for Israel on respect for international law. “Washington should summon similar resolve today,” she writes. Not so fast, Carnegie’s Aaron David Miller and Adam Israelevitz might [counter](. In their analysis of why Biden hasn’t done more to pressure Israel, Miller and Israelevitz suggest “the trauma inflicted by Hamas … [has] impacted the home front as no other conflict has,” and that, moreover, Biden may be playing a long game with Netanyahu, since “he’ll need Israel for whatever post-conflict arrangements are worked out for Gaza,” the authors argue. “In very simple terms, does Biden want to make a point—or a difference?”—Amelia Lester P.S. FP’s Spring 2024 magazine releases next week. This issue, readers will gain a thorough look at a country with the world’s fastest-growing major economy and an important upcoming national election: India. It has never been more pivotal to understand the dynamic country of 1.4 billion people—and FP’s print issue offers a variety of insightful perspectives. Right now, [save on Annual plans]( and access every feature, essay, and more from the upcoming Spring 2024 issue, plus the full 53-year magazine archive and on-demand interviews with world experts.   [FP Live]( The Return of Great Powers April 2 | 11 a.m. ETIs 2024 going to be like 1939? Several trends today share parallels with the onset of World War II, CNN reporter Jim Sciutto argues in his new book, The Return of Great Powers: Russia, China, and the Next World War. Sciutto, drawing on more than two decades of reporting around the world to chart out the dangers of a growing alliance between Russia and China, will join FP’s Ravi Agrawal to share themes and ideas from his book. [Register now](. The Moscow Concert Attack and the Threat of ISIS On DemandOn Friday, March 22, four armed gunmen carried out an attack on a suburban concert venue in Moscow, killing at least 133 people. It was one of the worst terrorist attacks in Russia in decades. U.S. officials say the atrocity was the work of Islamic State in Khorasan, or ISIS-K. Colin P. Clarke, a senior research fellow at the Soufan Center and a regular contributor to Foreign Policy, joined FP Live to discuss what their attack meant for terrorism on a global scale. [Watch]( the conversation now, or [read]( the edited transcript. Richard Haass on Foreign Policy in an Election Year On DemandAs U.S. President Joe Biden increasingly turns his attention to the campaign trail, how will two major conflicts in Europe and the Middle East play into his foreign policy? How much will the White House adjust its thinking based on public opinion? Richard Haass is a former head of the State Department’s policy-planning team and led the Council on Foreign Relations for two decades. He joined FP’s Ravi Agrawal for a wide-ranging conversation about Biden’s foreign policy. [Watch]( the conversation now, or [read]( the edited transcript.   Unlimited analysis, arguments, ideas and more. [Read anywhere. Cancel anytime.](   New and Noteworthy - Russia’s Oil Refineries: In recent weeks, Ukraine has targeted a core pillar of Russia’s war efforts: oil. Long-range drone attacks on Russian oil refineries have knocked out anywhere between 400,000 and 900,000 barrels a day of refining capacity, leaving dents on both Russia’s energy sector and budget. Yet the campaign is not without risks, FP’s Keith Johnson [reports](, with experts suggesting it could lead to both Russia and global actors sidestepping sanctions on oil more strategically. - Family Feud: Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has made damaging accusations against current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., raising tensions ahead of the next national elections in 2028. However, the situation extends beyond politics; Duterte’s daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, is Marcos’s current vice president. Considering the differences in how Marcos and the elder Duterte approach foreign policy, all eyes—especially from Washington and Beijing—are watching the [potential family feud unfold](. - Germany’s New Far Right: The burgeoning right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has found significant electoral success in the German county of Sonneberg. “Although members say they strongly reject what Nazi Germany stood for, a regional chair of the party, Björn Höcke, is [on trial]( for concluding a 2021 speech with the phrase ‘Everything for Germany’—a slogan widely used by the Nazis,” Stefanie Glinski [writes](. In a dispatch for Foreign Policy, Glinski reports on the rise of the AfD directly from the remote mountain region.   Exercise Your Mind The United States and United Kingdom on March 25 announced new sanctions and criminal charges against a hacking group linked to which country’s government? - Iran - China - North Korea - Russia You can find the answer to this question and learn more at the end of this email.   Most Popular [Andrew Sweetman, a deep-sea ecology professor at Scotland’s University of Edinburgh, explains how samples are obtained from the deep ocean as part of research to see the effects that mining will have on the environment, seen in the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean in June 2021. ]( [Washington Wants In on the Deep-Sea Mining Game]( The scramble for critical minerals is heating up under the sea, but lawmakers fear the United States could be left behind. By Christina Lu [Humanitarian aid is airdropped over the Gaza Strip on March 25.]( [12 Palestinians Drown While Trying to Reach Airdropped Aid]( Humanitarian organizations argue that truck deliveries into Gaza are safer, cheaper, and more effective. By Alexandra Sharp [Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshii Toranaga in Shogun. ]( [TV’s New ‘Game of Thrones’ Is Set in 17th-Century Japan]( “Shogun” is an update of a 44-year-old series perfectly suited to today’s tastes. By Jordan Hoffman [Flowers are seen left outside the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, near Moscow, on March 25, following a terrorist attack that left at least 143 people dead. ]( [Moscow Terrorist Attack Undercuts Putin’s Strongman Image]( Russia’s security services are stretched, distracted, and politicized, experts say. By Amy Mackinnon [Washington Wants In on the Deep-Sea Mining Game]( The scramble for critical minerals is heating up under the sea, but lawmakers fear the United States could be left behind. By Christina Lu [12 Palestinians Drown While Trying to Reach Airdropped Aid](Humanitarian organizations argue that truck deliveries into Gaza are safer, cheaper, and more effective. By Alexandra Sharp [TV’s New ‘Game of Thrones’ Is Set in 17th-Century Japan](“Shogun” is an update of a 44-year-old series perfectly suited to today’s tastes. By Jordan Hoffman [Moscow Terrorist Attack Undercuts Putin’s Strongman Image](Russia’s security services are stretched, distracted, and politicized, experts say. By Amy Mackinnon   From Around FP - New and Improved: Foreign Policy’s redesigned [events page]( is new and improved. Explore all that’s to come in April and May on the revamped site, including FP’s 6th annual [Her Power Summit]( and an essential discussion about [AI and the future of defense](, in partnership with The Palantir Foundation for Defense Policy & International Affairs. - An Exclusive Look at China: [China Brief](, a weekly newsletter on how Beijing is conducting its domestic and foreign policy written by [FP’s James Palmer](, has gone (mostly) subscriber-only. For many years, Palmer has produced insightful coverage of the country. Sign up to get [one free edition per month](, or unlock full access to China Brief and keep your finger on the pulse of the current geopolitical moment with an [FP subscription](. - Memory Politics: Voices that once celebrated German memory culture as a model for other democracies now declare that it has gone badly off the rails. What is going on? FP columnist Adam Tooze dives into the history behind Iran and the German-Israeli relationship—and how that is transforming today—in his [latest Chartbook newsletter](.   Are you interested in learning more about FP Analytics’ cutting-edge research services, hosting an FP Virtual Dialogue event, or building a podcast with FP Studios? [Explore partnership opportunities](. Answer: B. China. Despite a yearslong campaign to collect sensitive information, Chinese foreign interference often isn’t very effective, as it prioritizes volume over quality, FP’s James Palmer [writes]( in China Brief. [Subscribe to Foreign Policy]( [Save up to 50%]( [Choosing an annual plan for your FP subscription allows you to save up to 50%. For nuanced perspectives and insightful geopolitical analysis, subscribe today.]( [SUBSCRIBE NOW](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn]( You’re receiving this email at {EMAIL} because you signed up for FP's This Week newsletter. [MANAGE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES]( | [VIEW OUR PRIVACY POLICY]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE]( Interested in partnering with FP on events, podcasts, or research? [Explore FP Solutions](. [Foreign Policy]( is a division of Graham Holdings Company. All contents © 2023 Graham Digital Holding Company LLC. All rights reserved. Foreign Policy, 655 15th St NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC, 20005.