Recently, the United States has shown two surprising moves in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which seem to have "punished" Israel. This anomaly has attracted attention and discussion. On the surface, these two initiatives may seem insignificant, but they have far-reaching implications.
1. Announce a visa ban on Israeli settlers
Recently, the United States announced a visa ban on Israeli settlers who have been subjected to atrocities against Palestinian civilians. This move has been called by some as the "most severe punishment", although in practice, such a ban on the entry of Israeli settlers may not have much effect. But the United States** has given it special attention and propaganda.
In my opinion, this move reflects the two intentions of Biden in the United States. First of all, it is to appease America's own people. Recently, Muslim groups in eight large states in the United States launched a "abandon Biden" campaign, which directly affected Biden's reputation and governance plan. In order to win back popular support, Biden needs to take some "thunder and rain" measures to show criticism of Israel's excessive use of force, which has also become one of the measures to appease public opinion.
Secondly, it is to improve the international image of the United States. Accusations of Israel's excessive use of force have sparked concern and condemnation from the international community. The United States, as a world power, has to act to a certain extent in response to the criticism of the international community in order to restore its prestige and credibility. Therefore, by imposing a visa ban on Israeli settlers, the United States is trying to send a message to the international community that they are dissatisfied with Israel's behavior and have taken certain punitive measures.
2. Pacify the shaken international image and interest considerations
In the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Israel's war actions have intensified, and countries around the world have expressed strong concern and condemnation of its actions. Following the ceasefire lapse, Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip has escalated, failing to provide a safe route for the evacuation of civilians, despite verbal calls for the evacuation of civilians. Such acts are considered to be a re-victimization of Palestinian civilians caught in the crossfire.
As Israel's most important ally, the United States obviously cannot impose excessive restrictions on the Israeli army, but it cannot sit idly by. Therefore, the United States has taken some limited measures to appease its own shaky international image and to safeguard its interests in the Middle East.
It is undeniable that such "punitive" measures imposed by the United States on Israel may have a limited impact on Israel in practice. But from another point of view, it is also a manifestation of compromise and mediation in the United States.
1. The "clever pacification" of the United States
For the United States, such "punitive" measures are not real sanctions, but more like a "clever appeasement". The intention of the United States is not to substantively stop Israel's actions, but to create an image of apparent achievement. They seem to be making their positions and attitudes clear, while at the same time sending a message to the international community and the people at home that we are paying attention and we are working hard, even if such efforts may be superficial.
To a certain extent, this kind of appeasement has a certain significance for the United States itself. Domestically, such statements can soften discontent and criticism, and serve to stabilize the domestic situation. In the international arena, such statements can send a message to the international community that the United States does not fully support Israel's moves, and at the same time serve as a warning to Israel to avoid unjust treatment of Palestine.
2. The weakening of the actions of the two countries and the concerns behind them
Despite the fact that the actions of the United States are billed as the "most severe punishment", this "most severe" label seems somewhat exaggerated in the light of the events as a whole, as well as in contrast to Israel.
Although Israel had carried out attacks on Allah and resulted in the deaths of Lebanese soldiers, it had to apologize to the Lebanese side in the international arena. This shows that Israel has certain misgivings and concessions in its actions. Similarly, on the US side, while a visa ban on Israeli settlers was announced, its practical effect was not considered significant.
This shows that, despite some actions by both sides, they have not actually been able to achieve sanctions that are highly influential against each other. This may be due to the fact that there are too many common interests and interdependences between the two countries, or perhaps because both sides are well aware of the importance of cessating the conflict and seeking reconciliation.
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is the focus of the world's attention, and the attitude and actions of the United States, as one of the most important external players in it, have attracted much attention. The "punitive" actions shown by the United States in this conflict may be superficially effective, but in reality have limited impact on both sides. This abnormal performance has sparked speculation and thinking, and we can't help but wonder why the United States made such a moveWhat's the purpose behind it?
From my point of view, the strategic intent of the US move is clear. First of all, to a certain extent, it is aimed at appeasing domestic and international concerns and demonstrating its concern and actions for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Secondly, it is also to safeguard its own interests, balance the situation in the Middle East and shape its own international image.
However, we should not be too optimistic about this "punitive" measure, because its practical effect is limited. The settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict involves complex political, historical, and regional turmoil, and requires the joint efforts and compromise of all parties. Some of the actions of the United States may be superficial gestures, but they also reflect its concerns and efforts on this issue. For the Palestinian victims, these measures may not have materially changed their situation, but for the international community and the United States itself, it is an expression of a degree of response and concern.