President Joe Biden today, October 18, landed in Tel Aviv, Israel, as part of a whistlestop tour intended to show support for the US ally following Hamas’ attack earlier this month. Visits with foreign leaders during times of war pay dividends for politicians in terms of optics but come with significant risk – even more so when diplomatic subtlety is required. Whether the president will be able to avoid both the pitfalls of a nation at war and his own notorious record of gaffes has become a question on which more than just his failing reputation rests.
The president was greeted at Ben Gurion airport by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. As per earlier statements by the commander-in-chief, his purpose in the divided region is to “stand in solidarity in the face of Hamas’s brutal terrorist attack and to consult on next steps.” Certainly, by many of…
