Biden caught in fiery Democratic debate on Israel.
President Joe Biden Balances Support for Israel
President Joe Biden is working diligently to navigate the complex dynamics surrounding Israel, aiming to please all sides involved. Amid a meeting with the country’s president and a phone call with its prime minister, the White House found itself facing questions about remarks from a progressive Democrat.
Clear Stance Against Antisemitism
“When it comes to antisemitism, the entire Biden-Harris administration has been clear that when Israel is singled out because of anti-Jewish hate, that is unacceptable,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said earlier this week. “We’ve been clear on speaking against antisemitism.”
However, the controversy arose when Jean-Pierre did not explicitly condemn the comments made by Congressional Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) at a conference in Chicago. Pro-Palestinian protesters had disrupted the conference, prompting Jayapal to speak out.
Striving for Balance
Jayapal stated, “We have been fighting to make it clear that Israel is a racist state.” She quickly apologized for her comments, which the White House welcomed. Nevertheless, this ongoing controversy has Biden working to find a balance between celebrating Israel’s status as a U.S. ally and addressing the concerns of progressives.
This balancing act was evident throughout the week. Biden met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in person, taking photos together, while also holding a phone call with right-leaning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
One of Netanyahu’s recent initiatives involves overhauling Israel’s judicial system, a plan that has divided the country. Biden urged him not to rush the process and emphasized his commitment to negotiating a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict during his meeting with Herzog.
When asked about Netanyahu visiting the White House, Biden simply replied, “We’re talking.”
The situation escalated further in Congress. Herzog became the first Israeli president since his father in 1987 to address a joint session, marking Israel’s 75th year of independence. However, Jayapal, along with progressive representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Jamaal Bowman, Ilhan Omar, and Cori Bush, chose to skip the address. Jewish lawmaker Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has been critical of Israel, also declined to attend.
Rebuke and Support
Despite Jayapal’s controversial comment, all of the House’s Democratic leadership rebuked her, and Republicans forced a vote affirming that Israel is not a “racist or apartheid state.” The measure passed overwhelmingly, with Jayapal herself supporting it.
Nevertheless, some Republicans have accused Biden of being too accommodating toward progressives and not supportive enough of Israel. However, Biden’s overall comments expressed firm support for Israel, as did the overwhelming House vote, even among Democratic representatives.
Firm Support for Israel
“This is a friendship, I believe, that’s just simply unbreakable. Unbreakable,” Biden emphasized. ”And together, working to bring more stability and integration in the Middle East. And a lot of hard work. We’ve got a lot more to do, but there’s progress.”
Democratic strategist Michael Stratton commended Biden’s handling of the situation, acknowledging the complexity of the relationship with Israel. Stratton highlighted Biden’s unique skills in keeping all parties at the table.
On the domestic front, Stratton attributed the controversy to the Democratic Party’s broad base of voters, stating, ”The bigger the tent, the broader the voices.”
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