On Friday, July 12, President Joe Biden sat down for an interview with Speedy Morman of Complex Networks. During their nearly 20-minute conversation, Morman and the President discussed several pertinent political matters, including the Biden administration’s continued support of Israel. More specifically, the Syracuse University graduate asked the former Vice President, “Why is your and the United States’, at the current moment, support for Israel so strong?”
“Look, Israel…If there weren’t an Israel, every Jew in the world would be at risk. An so, there’s a need for it to be strong,” Biden answered.
“After World War II, [there’ a need] for Jews to have a place that [is] their own. But you don’t have to be a Jew to be a Zionist.”
The Biden administration’s support for Israel has come into focus in recent months, sparking dissent from college campuses to Capitol Hill. Since the attacks of October 7, the U.S. has provided Israel with more than $25 billion in emergency aid. However, more members of Congress have become vocal in their desire to curtail the nation’s aid to Israel as the death toll in Palestine nears 40,000 and more than two million people have been displaced from their homes. Furthermore, the World Food Programme reports that 96% of the population is facing acute food insecurity as health services in the region falter.
“I do not support unconditional military aid that further escalates the already horrific humanitarian situation. It’s unconscionable to provide a blank check to the Israeli military while the genocide of Palestinians continue,” U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar said.
“The mere notion or suggestion of conditioning U.S. military aid to Israel was unthinkable seven months ago – politically unthinkable…This is a generational change,” U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez added in a separate statement.
President Joe Biden has pushed back against those who feel his administration’s decision to aid Israel makes him an enemy to Palestine. In fact, he told Morman that he’s done “more for the Palestinian community than anybody.”
“By the way, I’m the guy that did more for the Palestinian community than anybody. I’m the guy that opened up all the assets. I’m the guy that made sure that – I got the Egyptians to open the border to let goods through, medicine, and food,” the President said.
“I have been very supportive of the Palestinians, but Hamas, they’re a bunch of thugs.”
Contrary to the President’s assertion, some Americans feel the opposite. A recent YouGov poll commissioned by Americans for Justice in Palestine Action (AJP Action) found that 20% of potential voters in battleground states are “less likely” to show up at the ballot box in November due to the President’s handling of the ongoing conflict.
“What this opinion poll suggests is that Biden cannot continue to ignore the convictions and demands of a large segment of the Democratic electoral base if he wants to preserve his chances of winning,” AJP Action Executive Director Osama Abuirshaid said.
“A large percentage of Democrats oppose his handling of the Israeli war in Gaza. A larger percentage of them want to see a change in his policy and an immediate and permanent cease-fire.”
