NatSec Brief: October 18, 2023
Biden’s October 18
Visit to Israel:
An Opportunity to
Change Policy on Iran
Jacob Olidort
Director of Research
President Joe Biden arrived in Israel on Wednesday, October 18. The visit is the latest demon-
stration of staunch U.S. support for Israel as it seeks to eliminate the threat from Hamas, the ter-
rorist group that carried out the horrific October 7 attack. But Hamas alone is not responsible
for that attack; it would not have been possible without Iranian support. In addition to U.S. sup-
port for Israel’s operation in Gaza and defending Israel against spurious accusations of war
crimes, like the recent hospital explosion in Gaza, President Biden should use his visit to Israel
as an opportunity to announce a change in U.S. policy on Iran—away from accommodation and
toward regime collapse.
What Happened?
• U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that President Biden will be visiting Israel
this Wednesday, October 18, to “demonstrate his steadfast support for Israel in the face of
Hamas’s brutal terrorist attack and to consult on next steps.” He outlined five goals for Presi-
dent Biden’s visit:
» “Reaffirm the United States’ solidarity with Israel and our ironclad commitment to its se-
curity;”
» “Underscore our crystal-clear message to any actor, state or non-state trying to take ad-
vantage of this crisis to attack Israel: Don’t” – adding that it is for this reason that the
United States deployed two aircraft carrier groups and “and other military assets to the
region;”
» “Coordinate closely with our Israeli partners to secure the release of hostages taken by
Hamas;”
» “Receive a comprehensive brief on Israel’s war aims and strategy;” and
» “Hear from Israel how it will conduct its operations in a way that minimizes civilian casu-
alties and enables humanitarian assistance to flow to civilians in Gaza in a way that does
not benefit Hamas.”
• Upon arriving in Israel, and examining evidence from the October 17 explosion at Al-Ahli
hospital in Gaza City, President Biden clearly stated that that Israel was not responsible, tell-
ing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “I was deeply saddened and outraged by the explo-
sion of the hospital in Gaza yesterday, and based on what I’ve seen, it appears as though it
was done by the other team—not you.”
