After repeated promises from Biden administration that a cease-fire is close, war in Middle East is escalating
After months of public optimism about the prospects of a ceasefire, Biden administration officials have soured on the prospects of an end to the war between Israel and Hamas.
“We aren’t any closer to that now than we were even a week ago,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby admitted to reporters on Wednesday. He called the prospects of a completed deal “daunting.”
“No deal is imminent,” one U.S. official told The Wall Street Journal. “I’m not sure it ever gets done.”
Israelis point the finger at Hamas for killing six hostages earlier this month, including a U.S. citizen. Arab officials lay blame on Israel for explosive pagers and walkie-talkies and airstrikes aimed at killing Hezbollah fighters for making the prospect of a multi-front war more likely.
“There’s no chance now of it happening,” an Arab official said after the recent campaign against Hezbollah. “Everyone is in a wait-and-see mode until after the election. The outcome will determine what can happen in the next administration.”
Members of the rapid response unit respond to more Hezbollah rocket attacks on Kibbutz Manara. (Kibbutz Manara Rapid Response Unit)
For Biden, a former chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who ran on his diplomacy chops, failure to
