Amidst the relentless Israeli bombardment
pushing Gaza to the edge of a dire humanitarian crisis, U.S. President Joe
Biden is facing minimal pressure domestically to curb Israel's military
retaliation against an unprecedented attack by Palestinian Hamas militants.
For now, Biden seems to have granted
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu considerable autonomy to continue his
offensive against Hamas. However, the looming threat of a ground invasion,
which could result in a higher civilian death toll, might compel the president
to reconsider this stance.
While Biden staunchly affirms unwavering
support for Israel, he has encountered sporadic dissent from the left wing of
the Democratic Party regarding his acceptance of Israel's severe crackdown in
the densely populated Gaza Strip. Prominent Democrats have effectively
contained intra-party opposition, aiming to project unity, despite some
progressive voices urging Israel to exercise restraint to prevent significant
civilian casualties during its conflict with Hamas.
Internationally, there has been a mounting
outcry, but Biden's allies are cautious about giving Republicans an opportunity
to accuse him of undermining the military response of the U.S. ally, Israel.
Such accusations could pose a political threat as he approaches re-election in
2024.
Republicans have largely rallied behind any
military action Israel chooses to take, especially after the deadliest attack
on Israeli soil in decades, resulting in over 1,000 deaths and numerous
abductions, including Americans, into Gaza.
Graphic images and harrowing accounts of
atrocities committed by Hamas militants as they rampaged through Israeli towns
have limited criticism of Israel and Biden's approach primarily to a specific
segment of the American left. However, with Israeli airstrikes claiming more
than 1,000 lives in Gaza and the prospect of a ground invasion looming, these
dissenting voices could intensify in the days ahead.
While Democratic leaders condemn Hamas and
pledge support for Israel, some have subtly emphasized the importance of Israel
adhering to the laws of war. U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks, a senior
Democrat, stated, "We stand by Israel and provide them with what they need
to defend themselves," but emphasized the necessity of safeguarding
Palestinian lives amid the conflict with Hamas, who often use ordinary
Palestinians as human shields.
Despite these tensions within the
Democratic Party, overall public sentiment in the United States still heavily
favors Israel. Nevertheless, recent polls indicate that Democrats are slightly
more sympathetic toward the Palestinians than Israel.
Biden, a long-time friend of Israel, has
promised unequivocal assistance to the country. He has refrained from
explicitly urging Israel to restrain its response, a departure from the typical
statements made by previous administrations during similar crises.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken came
closest to such an appeal during his visit to Israel when he expressed hope
that Israel, as a democracy, would take every possible precaution to avoid
harming civilians. Israeli officials maintain that they make efforts to
minimize civilian casualties.
While Biden has had private discussions
with Israeli counterparts expressing concerns, his administration acknowledges
the need for Israeli assertiveness, especially in the early stages of the
conflict.
Since the Saturday attack, Israel has
placed Gaza, home to 2.3 million people, under total siege and launched a
devastating bombing campaign that has razed entire neighborhoods.
Biden, who initially kept the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict at arm's length, now finds himself thrust into a
significant Middle East conflagration. Striving to avoid alienating pro-Israel
voters ahead of the upcoming election, he faces a delicate balance. The powerful
pro-Israel lobby, led by AIPAC, wields substantial influence in U.S. politics
and has historically supported Netanyahu, leading Biden into a tenuous wartime
alliance.
While Biden garners praise for his
steadfast support for Israel, the crisis has also drawn criticism for not
giving sufficient attention to the plight of Palestinians, whose aspirations
for statehood have dimmed under Israeli occupation.
Khaled Elgindy, a former Palestinian
negotiations adviser now at the Middle East Institute in Washington, criticizes
the administration's approach, stating, “Their guiding philosophy on this issue
has been, for the past three years, to do as little as possible.” Jeremy
Ben-Ami, president of the liberal advocacy group J Street, echoes these
sentiments, asserting that the administration's efforts in addressing
Palestinians' needs have been insufficient, lacking a broader vision to tackle
the underlying conflict, which has now erupted in unimaginable horror.
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