Biden receives criticism for supporting Israel while showing concerns for Gaza
President Biden is grappling with a challenging balancing act, juggling his administration’s support for Israel with mounting concerns for the safety of Gaza’s civilians as violence continues to surge.
Biden’s visit to Israel took an unexpected turn when plans to meet with Arab leaders in Jordan were postponed following a devastating explosion at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza. This incident triggered conflicting claims, with Gaza authorities attributing it to an Israeli airstrike and Israeli officials pointing to a failed Hamas rocket.
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The White House has come under increasing scrutiny from various quarters, including Arab American groups and certain administration staff, expressing frustration with its approach to the conflict. While Biden initially expressed robust support for Israel in the wake of the attacks, his stance drew praise from many Democrats and Republicans alike.
A Yahoo News/YouGov poll revealed that 52% of Democrats find Biden’s response to be “about right,” with only 15% deeming it “too pro-Israel.” However, 41% of Republicans felt that the response was “not pro-Israel” enough. This indicates a growing emphasis on “helping to protect Israel” in U.S. policy towards the Middle East, with 67% of Americans considering it an essential goal, marking a 12-point increase since May 2021.
Despite these statistics, the White House faces pressure from House Democrats advocating for a ceasefire in the region. The administration’s position was met with disagreement when members of Congress called for a ceasefire without explicitly endorsing the administration’s support for Israel. The State Department even discouraged diplomats from calling for de-escalation.
Protests, including one led by the group “Jewish Voice for Peace,” took place in front of the U.S. Capitol and the White House, demanding a ceasefire. Arab American leaders, like Warren David, expressed outrage at the administration’s rhetoric, highlighting the potential harm to the image of Arabs in the United States.
Inside the White House, concerns of retaliation at work for questioning Israel’s conduct have surfaced, particularly among Muslim staffers. The administration’s response was to organize a call to address these concerns with high-level Muslim appointees.
Biden addressed concerns regarding his administration’s diversity, emphasizing an open and collaborative approach to policy and strategy, involving Muslim and Arab American team members. However, during an event at Northern Arizona University, Vice President Kamala Harris faced jeers from an attendee who shouted, “Stop making bombs,” reflecting the sentiment among younger voters opposing the U.S. sending military aid to Israel.
Biden also condemned the apparent Islamophobic murder of a 6-year-old Arab child in Chicago and called for unity against hate. Despite these challenges, the president was set to meet with leaders from Jordan, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority, but this meeting was postponed. Biden expressed hope for future consultations and direct engagement with these leaders.
During an event in Tel Aviv with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden expressed doubt about the cause of the hospital explosion and cited data from the Defense Department. However, the National Security Council stated that, based on various sources, Israel was not responsible for the explosion.
While in Tel Aviv, Biden announced that Israel and Egypt would permit $100 million in humanitarian aid to be moved into Gaza and the West Bank, drawing a parallel between the current situation and the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. He called for a quest for justice without being consumed by rage.