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Biden and Gaza [1]
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Date: 2023-11-29
A New York Times article (Nov. 28) says “Biden’s words and actions after the Oct. 7 attacks” made many in the Arab and Muslim community feel like they and the civilians in Gaza were “an afterthought.” Accordingly, leaders in the community met with Biden for an hour on Oct. 26 and made their views known.
They told him that his embrace of Israel after the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks was seen by many as permission for Israel’s bombing in Gaza. They said the president’s statement casting doubt on the death toll among Palestinians was insulting. “He recognized there may have been missteps on the rhetoric,” said the chief executive of Emgage, a group that mobilizes Muslim voters. “He listened, he did show empathy and he promised to do better, particularly on humanizing Palestinians.”
Later, on Nov. 27, Biden emphasized his role in achieving a pause in the bombing of Gaza and the release of hostages:
“I have remained deeply engaged over the last few days to ensure that this deal—brokered and sustained through extensive U.S. mediation and diplomacy—can continue to deliver results.” www.whitehouse.gov/...
One reason Biden will probably continue to emphasize his concern for the people of Gaza and other Palestinians is that his support from Arab Americans (who form a swing vote in battleground states) has “plummeted.” He has also angered minorities, progressives, and other groups by refusing to call for a ceasefire.
A nationwide poll found trends that must have alarmed the White House:
Support for President Biden in the upcoming election has plummeted among Arab American voters, dropping from 59% to 17%, a 42% decrease from 2020. Biden’s approval rating has also dropped precipitously from 74% in 2020 to 29% in 2023, reflecting trends across the American public as a whole. Arab Americans account for hundreds of thousands of voters in several key election states, like Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, where the 2024 election battleground will play out.
At the UN on Nov. 28, the US explained the administration’s policy for the future of Gaza. Among the key elements, which should please those who have not completely given up on Biden:
no forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza — not now, not after the war. No use of Gaza as a platform for terrorism or other violent attacks. No reoccupation of Gaza after the conflict ends. No attempt to blockade or besiege Gaza. No reduction in the territory of Gaza.
Adding pressure for action by the administration, thirteen senators (including Tammy Baldwin, Tim Kaine, and Chris Van Hollen) wrote to Biden on Nov. 20:
This humanitarian crisis will precipitate a significant, and preventable loss of human life if not addressed immediately. More than half of Gaza’s hospitals have shut down, desalination plants are struggling to remain operational, and the last operative flour mill has been shut down due to a lack of fuel.
The senators also wrote:
We hope you’ll join us in encouraging our ally Israel to take immediate steps to help provide critical humanitarian aid to the innocent civilians in Gaza, including re-opening the Kerem Shalom border crossing to allow life-saving water, food, and fuel to reach vulnerable civilians. www.juancole.com/...
Although this may not have been a response to the senators’ letter, Biden stated on Nov. 27 that the U.S.
has led the humanitarian response into Gaza, building on years of work as the largest funder of humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people. www.whitehouse.gov/…
Secretary of State Blinken has also improved his references to the Palestinians. At a meeting in Tokyo on Nov. 8, he said it was time to consider the conditions for the future of Gaza:
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