Concern is mounting on the left that the Israel-Hamas war could potentially cost President Joe Biden the election in November.
“If this war keeps going on, then it will continue to be a major problem,” one unnamed House Democrat told The Hill.
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“The sooner Biden can break from [Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] in a major way, then the better off he will be politically. It’s not just the progressives who are angry about the U.S. support of the Gaza operation — it’s now broader than that,” the Democrat added.
It’s true that not just “progressives” are angry over the war. Whereas 50 percent of Americans backed Israel’s war in a Gallup poll conducted in November, now only 36 percent of Americans support it. Moreover, those who oppose it include a majority of both Democrats (75 percent) AND Independents (60 percent).
New Gallup polling shows that US popular support for Israel’s military action in Gaza has flipped on its head, with most Americans (55%) now disapproving. Super-majorities of both Democrats (75%) and Independents (60%) now disapprove of Israel’s actions.https://t.co/Ff2p8sJFoTpic.twitter.com/XaJ2mhPhRo — Dylan Williams (@dylanotes) March 27, 2024
This distaste for the war has manifested itself in protests and organized ballot box boycotts.
“Last week, [the president] was interrupted during two campaign stops: one in Raleigh, N.C., and one in New York City, when he was alongside former Presidents Obama and Clinton for a major donor event,” The Hill notes.
“And groups such as Abandon Biden and Our Revolution have organized efforts in states with high concentrations of Arab Americans, Muslim Americans and young people — including Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota — to encourage people to write ‘uncommitted’ or ‘Gaza’ on their ballot to send a message to Biden ahead of November,” according to the outlet.
Biden’s $500,000/seat NYC fundraiser with Obama, Clinton, heckled by a protester yelling “GENOCIDE!” at the stage.pic.twitter.com/wKyxHHTZqG — 1776 (@TheWakeninq) March 29, 2024
The Biden administration has for its part continued to incessantly pressure Israel to avoid civilian causalities and stay out of Rafah, but this hasn’t been enough for Democrats.
Last month a group of Senate Democrats led by Sen. Chris Van Hollen penned a letter to the president begging him to “establish a framework for U.S. recognition of a nonmilitarized Palestinian state.”
“Given the severity of the current crisis, this moment requires determined U.S. leadership that must move beyond facilitation,” they wrote. “As such, we request the Biden Administration promptly establish a bold, public framework outlining the steps necessary for the U.S. to recognize a nonmilitarized Palestinian state, which includes the West Bank and Gaza, to be governed by a revitalized and reformed Palestinian Authority.”
“The diplomatic steps that you and your Administration have taken have been of utmost importance, and we urge you to do even more. We believe it is critical at this moment for the United States to signal our willingness to lead a regional peace initiative that would eventually result in U.S. recognition of a nonmilitarized Palestinian state, as well as Israel’s full integration into the region,” they added.
Republicans for their part staunchly oppose even the idea of a two-state solution because, they argue, there’s no peaceful party in Gaza with which to pursue such a potential remedy.
Saying “two-state solution” over and over does not actually manifest a peace partner with which Israel can make a deal. Foreign policy isn’t Beetlejuice. A Palestinian state would be a terrorist entity on Israel’s borders. — Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) December 15, 2023
There is a peculiar Western disease in which leaders think that diplomacy is its own end, and that words can simply bring realities into being. Nope. In fact, idiotic refusal to face reality costs thousands of lives. — Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) December 15, 2023
Meanwhile, the Biden administration is considering selling more fighter jets, missiles, and munition kits to Israel — another big no, no for Democrats.
“Democrats already criticized the first two [previous] arms sales to the Israeli military, which bypassed congressional approval, arguing the process undermines transparency and calling it a blank check for Netanyahu,” according to The Hill.
None of this looks good to the administration’s critics.
“Very anxious,” one Senate Democrat aide said about the party’s mood behind the scenes. “The question is: When can you bring this conflict to an end? Democrats want to end this as soon as possible, because it’s the right thing to do and it’s a political necessity.”
Even Sen. Bernie Sanders sees the writing on the wall.
“Yeah, I am [worried about November],” he recently told MSNBC. “The polling is very clear: The Democratic base wants to stop funding Netanyahu’s war machine. So if your question is: ‘Is it going to hurt the president unless he turns this around?’ Yeah, it will.”