Watan-The magazine “Politico” published aIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu undermining President J report on the concerns of Democrats about oe Biden’s image among American voters.
In the report by Adam Cancryn, Jonathan Lemire, and Jennifer Harlan, they noted that the outbreak of war in Gaza six months ago was a kind of international crisis that Biden had informed American voters he was well-prepared to deal with.
As the war progressed and the United States attempted to prevent the conflict from escalating into a humanitarian catastrophe, a number of the president’s aides and allies became concerned about Biden’s handling of the war. Instead of bolstering his image as a seasoned global leader, his steadfast support for Israel risks making his argument that the upcoming elections are a choice between his competence and moral clarity and the chaos associated with former President Donald Trump.
These concerns reverberated through interviews with prominent officials in the Democratic Party and its representatives in the Senate, including Tim Kaine and Bernie Sanders. They represented an undercurrent in the White House’s decision last week to issue a clear warning to Netanyahu that American support could evaporate if they didn’t see a significant flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, especially after the Israeli airstrike that killed seven workers at a central Gaza food facility.
The warning marked a sudden shift in stance, a result of frustration over the past months of Netanyahu’s defiance of the American administration’s advice, coupled with Biden’s increasing personal anger over the mounting civilian casualties among Palestinians.
This anger signaled the president’s team’s view of domestic political problems stemming from the conflict that threatens to spill beyond the Democratic Party base.
The magazine quoted Matt Duss, former foreign policy advisor to former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, who now works at the Center for International Policy, saying Netanyahu’s stance “undermined his most important asset against Trump.” He said, “Biden, whether you agree with him or not, is a decent man, an empathetic man, an honest man, but this policy has been tough.”
This isn’t the first time Biden has been affected by Middle Eastern policy, as his decision to withdraw from Afghanistan in 2021 raised questions about planning and whether he fulfilled his promise to voters to end a long war in Afghanistan in a manner that made America a force for global stability, leading to a decline in his popularity since then.
While the comparison between the situations may not be exact due to the lack of American involvement in the Gaza war, there is concern among Democrats that the president faces a hurdle due to his handling of conflicts beyond the seas. Senator Kaine, a prominent Democratic senator on foreign affairs, said, “Biden’s call and insistence on Netanyahu to open another crossing from Israel and allow strong humanitarian aid is appreciated, but this should have happened months ago.” He added that Biden’s “current approach” is “ineffective.”
Despite reservations about Benjamin Netanyahu’s extremist government, Biden stood with him after the attacks on October 7, as his accounts and administration believed this bias would give them a chance to influence how Israel would carry out its counterattack and prevent a regional war. Over time, the White House began to criticize Netanyahu while continuing military support to Israel, viewing it as the correct approach.
The White House emphasized that the approach of delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza is the safest way to protect American interests in the region, alongside securing a ceasefire and ensuring the return of the remaining Israeli prisoners held by Hamas. Presidential aides say Biden influenced Netanyahu more than once during the war months, such as allowing humanitarian aid to enter and securing a temporary ceasefire that led to a prisoner swap.
After hours of tough warnings from Biden to Netanyahu and the latter’s commitment to open more land crossings for humanitarian aid to Gaza, following the attack on relief workers at the central world kitchen, many Democrats felt emboldened, saying the White House should adopt a firmer approach, and continuing to accept Netanyahu’s war-supporting positions will harm Biden’s goals at home and abroad.
Democratic Senator from Maryland, Chris Van Hollen, said, “What this exchange reveals is that when the president uses American influence to advance his demands, he gets results,” and “the United States will appear weak if we do not back our words with actions.”
In a statement, White House spokesman Andrew Bates said, “President Biden’s experience, ongoing pressure, relationships, and values have been instrumental in managing the difficult challenges of foreign policy in the Middle East and around the world.” He added that “President Biden’s leadership has achieved significant changes during the conflict, reducing tension, which is contrary to the ways his critics from the right could have achieved.
t he would do. Following the October 7 attacks, Netanyahu criticized and described Hezbollah as “smart,” with these statements alongside a volatile record in foreign policy serving as clear evidence about the candidate capable of handling challenging crises.
However, there are concerns within Biden‘s circles about the horrifying images coming out of Gaza every day, which might tarnish support for the president among voters. The clearest example is the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, which has angered sectors of Biden’s base: young voters, Arab and Muslim Americans, and progressives frustrated by the United States’ inability to stop the unfolding horror. Biden faces protests wherever he goes, and there are fears that the Democratic National Convention this summer could turn into an occasion to express anger over the war in Gaza.
There are signs of American voters turning away from Biden. In a poll conducted last month, the president’s approval rating was 47%, down from the 60% recorded in November. The satisfaction rate among independents did not exceed 21%.
Concerns about Gaza’s impact on the president’s prospects have leaked into Biden’s inner circles. A senior official said that in the days leading up to his confrontation with Netanyahu, there was concern about Biden’s ability to control the Israeli Prime Minister in a way that undermines the president’s claim to being able to solve tough crises. This would give Trump an opportunity to promote himself as a bold leader, albeit inconsistent on the world stage.
Evo Dahl, executive director of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, said, “I think there is a great awareness that the United States’ position on the war has damaged its international standing.”
In comparison, Trump struggled to present a vision for Israel and didn’t provide a detailed vision on how to end the war. He was previously a major supporter of Netanyahu, stating earlier that Israel was “losing the public relations war” and should end the mission quickly, without discussing how or what it meant for the Israeli detainees in Gaza.
Democrats and policy experts believe Trump would support Netanyahu in Gaza, further deteriorating the humanitarian situation.
Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and advisor, discussed displacing Gaza’s population and turning the sector into attractive beachfront housing.
Some Democrats have tempered their frustration with the president in hopes of his re-election, believing he would be well-positioned to achieve stability in the region. Sanders said, “What’s happening in Gaza cannot be described.”
The United States has plenty of options for action, from allowing the passage of a Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire to conditioning American support for Israel. Duss says, “I am encouraged because the president seems to recognize the need for a change in approach,” adding that the change is “slow but happening.”