A top progressive Democrat is warning President Biden that his effusive 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 lose support.
“The president needs to be … brave on this issue so that we maintain unity within our country to support the incredible things that he has done,” Jayapal said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” when asked about the concerns of a backlash from Muslims and Arab Americans and other progressives for his comments to date.
“In reality, the American people are quite far from where the president and even Congress (the majority of Congress) have been on Israel and Gaza,” the politician said. “They support Israel’s right to defend itself to exist, but they do not support an exchange of one war crime for another war crime.”
Jayapal stressed that she has “been one of President Biden’s biggest supporters” and particularly praised him for his domestic efforts to lift up the working class.
Washington progressive Rep. Pramila Jayapal emphasized her support for the president on Sunday but warned him to rethink his policy on Israel’s war. Ken Cedeno/UPI/Shutterstock
He also expressed bewilderment at Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.)’s recent announcement of his primary campaign against the 80-year-old incumbent.
“Everyone has the right to run, but I’m sorry, I have no idea what he is running for that is different from what President Biden is running for,” Jayapal reflected.
Jayapal, 58, has encountered controversy in the past for his stance on Israel.
President Biden visited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on October 18. AFP via Getty Images
“As someone who has been in the streets and participated in many demonstrations, I want you to know that we have been fighting to make clear that Israel is a racist state,” he said during a progressive conference in Chicago in July.
His comments at the time came in response to pro-Palestinian protesters who disrupted the conference.
“That the Palestinian people deserve self-determination and autonomy, that the dream of a two-state solution is slipping away from us, that it doesn’t even seem possible…” he said, drawing applause from the crowd.
The Washington Democrat has since walked back her comments, which sparked strong reactions from both sides of the aisle.
“I clarified that what I meant was that Israel’s existence is absolutely legitimate, and I think the world has come to see it as legitimate,” he explained. “However, there are racists within the [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu government, and there are racist policies that the government has been carrying out.”
The president has strongly supported Israel in public, but behind the scenes his administration has reportedly urged the war-torn nation to minimize civilian casualties. AP
Jayapal went on to argue that one should be allowed to make legitimate criticisms of Israel without being branded an anti-Semitic.
Israel has launched an expanded ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu confirmed on Saturday.
Since the Hamas surprise attack on October 7 inside Israel, more than 1,400 Israelis and 33 Americans have been killed.
The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry estimates that nearly 8,000 Palestinians have died in the conflict so far. Some experts have questioned the estimate, given Hamas’ history as a terrorist group.
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