A leading progressive Democrat warned President Biden that his excessive support for Israel could cost him politically among some liberals.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, expressed concern Sunday that if Biden does not recalibrate his approach, he could suffer a hemorrhage of support.
“The president needs to be … courageous on this issue so that we maintain the unity in our country to support the extraordinary things he has done,” Jayapal said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” when asked about fears of a backlash from Muslim and Arab Americans and other progressives over the comments. him until now.
“The American people are actually quite far from where the president and even Congress — the majority of Congress — are in Israel and Gaza,” the police claimed. “They support the right for Israel to defend itself to exist, but they do not support the exchange of war crimes for other war crimes.”
Jayapal insisted that he had “been one of President Biden’s biggest supporters” and particularly praised him for his domestic efforts to uplift the working class.
Rep. Washington progressive Pramila Jayapal emphasized her support for the president Sunday but warned him to rework his policy on Israel’s war. Ken Cedeno/UPI/Shutterstock
He also voiced confusion at Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) recently announced his primary campaign against the 80-year-old incumbent.
“Everyone has the right to run, but I’m sorry, I don’t know what he’s running that’s different from what President Biden is running,” said Jayapal.
Jayapal, 58, has faced controversy in the past for his stance on Israel.
President Biden visited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Oct. 18. AFP via Getty Images
“As someone who has been on the streets and participated in many demonstrations, I want you to know that we have fought to make it clear that Israel is a racist state,” he said during a progressive conference in Chicago in July.
His remarks at the time were in response to pro-Palestinian protesters disrupting the conference.
“That the Palestinian people have the right to self-determination and autonomy, that the dream of a two-state solution is slipping away from us, that it cannot happen…” he said, drawing applause from the crowd.
Washington Democrats have since pushed back on his remarks, which drew blowback from both sides of the aisle.
“I explained that what I meant was that Israel’s existence is completely legitimate, and I think the world has seen it as legitimate,” he explained. “However, there is racism within [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s government, and there are racist policies that the government has implemented.”
The president has strongly supported Israel in public, but behind the scenes his administration has reportedly urged the war-torn country to minimize civilian casualties. AP
Jayapal further argued that one should be allowed to issue legitimate criticism of Israel without being labeled antisemitic.
Israel has begun an expanded ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu confirmed Saturday.
Since Hamas’s October 7 surprise attack inside Israel, more than 1,400 Israelis and 33 Americans have been killed.
Gaza’s Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health estimates nearly 8,000 Palestinians have died in the conflict so far. Some experts question that estimate, given Hamas’ track record as a terrorist group.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
