Bobby Ghosh, Columnist

Biden’s Response to the Israeli Crisis Is Late and Lame

But the U.S. still has a crucial role to play in preventing a war in Gaza.

May 13, 2021 at 11:50 AM UTC

Bobby Ghosh is a senior editor in the digital weekend team. Previously, he was a columnist at Bloomberg Opinion, where he wrote mostly about international affairs and culture.

So much for hope.
Photographer: Drew Angerer/Getty Images North America

Provide news feedback or report an error

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

This article is for subscribers only.

With the conflagration between Israel and Hamas turning white-hot on Wednesday, the White House roused itself into something resembling action. But it was all very late — and very lame.

There was a flurry of phone calls: President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (and for good measure, with Netanyahu); and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan spoke with Qatar’s foreign minister.