The United States is in a trying position with two of its most consequential foreign friends: Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Washington has provided broad military backing to both, even when their actions run counter to long-term US interests. A more clear-eyed approach is needed.

Over the last year, Netanyahu repeatedly defied US efforts to de-escalate the war in Gaza. Earlier last month he may even have intentionally scuttled US diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire. And in the past few days, he has backtracked after agreeing to a ceasefire in Lebanon, publicly embarrassing the Biden administration.

Now, he is forging ahead with a ground offensive against Hezbollah that will cut another swath of destruction into Lebanon. More than 1,000 civilians died in a series of strikes last week that ultimately assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah last week, according to Lebanese officials.

No one in Washington will mourn Nasrallah’s death or doubt Israel’s right to self-defense against Iran and Iranian proxies like Hezbollah. But Netanyahu’s decision to expand the war to Lebanon flies in the face of Biden’s multiple calls for restraint and diplomacy.

The United States simply can’t afford to back Israel in an escalating conflict that damages America’s global reputation, makes it a renewed target of terrorists or entraps it in a........

© The Guardian