ANALYSIS – While some conservatives have seemingly joined the far-left in blaming Israel for its response to Hamas terror – I'm talking about you, Tucker Carlson – most Republicans have the moral clarity to defend Israel and condemn Islamist terrorism.
Meanwhile, as Newsweek notes: “The conflict between Israel and Hamas appears to be tearing the American hard left apart … and this could pose a problem for Biden and the Democrats.”
In this case, even the infamous four-member far-left ‘Squad' of female socialist U.S. representatives is split.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, known as AOC, has criticized the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which she and the three other ‘Squad' congresswomen – Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts are members for promoting a pro-Palestinian rally days after the brutal Hamas terror attack. (RELATED: US Capitol Overtaken)
Newsweek noted:
After the October 7 Hamas attacks, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) published a statement blaming “Israel's apartheid regime.” They promoted a pro-Palestinian rally days after, prompting criticism from Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jamaal Bowman, and Shri Thanedar, who renounced his DSA membership. However, prominent Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar have criticized President Biden's reaction to the conflict [for being too pro-Israel].
Representative Thanedar of Michigan bashed the DSA after the New York City chapter backed the pro-Palestinian rally.
“After the brutal terrorist attacks on Israel, which included the indiscriminate murder, rape, and kidnapping of innocent men, women, and children, I can no longer associate with an organization unwilling to call out terrorism in its forms,” Thanedar wrote on X.
“Sunday's hate-filled and antisemitic rally in New York City, promoted by the NYC-DSA, makes it impossible for me to continue my affiliation,” he said.
But then, after an explosion near a Gaza hospital was falsely blamed on Israel and casualty numbers grossly exaggerated, Tlaib, who is Palestinian American, bashed Israel and Biden. (RELATED: Establishment Media Spread Hamas Lie About Israel Attacking Hospital)
Even after most saw the overwhelming evidence that an errant rocket fired by the Hamas ally Palestinian Jihad had hit the hospital site, Tlaib didn't walk back her remarks.
“As an American, not just as a member of the United States Congress, I am ashamed,” she said, per ABC News. “…How many more have to die?”
She added, “To my president, to our president … I want him to know, as a Palestinian American and somebody in Muslim faith, I'm not going to forget this. And I think a lot of people are not going to forget this.”
Newsweek continued:
Political expert Thomas Gift told Newsweek comments from some members of the House's progressive “squad” could “paint all Democrats with a broad, anti-Israeli brush” while drowning out the moderates and swing voters. 53% of Democrats polled said the U.S. should not send resources to Israel, while 47% said it should. Caught in the middle is Biden, who faces a resolution from 15 Democrats calling on his administration—who has unapologetically supported Israel—to work out an immediate ceasefire.
What happens now? Divisions on the left could pose a problem for Democrats more broadly—and for President Biden. “Like every other hot-button issue, the Israel-Hamas war has the potential to hurt Democrats insofar as they allow the far-left to define their agenda,” Thomas Gift, the founding director of the Centre on U.S. Politics at University College London, told Newsweek. President Biden granted some progressives' wishes by acknowledging he would engage in cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas only if the militant group released hostages.
This is why we see Joe Biden pressuring Israel behind the scenes to hold back on a full-scale ground invasion of Gaza, even as he publicly states he is wholeheartedly backing Israel.
Far-left Democrats, reported The Washington Post, said they are open to Biden delivering such a message in public or in private.
“I know exactly how the Biden administration operates,” said Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), a former Congressional Progressive Caucus chairman. “You're probably never going to hear it out loud, but he'll say it in the private conversations he has with Israel.”
Meanwhile, in public, Team Biden says differently.
The Post added: “A recent State Department memo, first published by HuffPost and confirmed by The Washington Post, warned U.S. diplomats against using the phrases “de-escalation/ceasefire,” “end to violence/bloodshed” and “restoring calm,” saying the words did not comport with U.S. policy, which recognizes Israel's right to mount a military operation in Gaza in response to the attacks.”
Will this tightrope balancing act work for Biden? Maybe. Maybe not.
NPR reported:
The latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll reflects that. Despite two-thirds of respondents in the survey saying they want a public show of support for Israel, those younger than 45, were 30 points less likely to say they wanted that than respondents 45 or older. Non-whites were 20 points less likely than whites to say so as well.
That is something Biden's campaign is likely sensitive to, especially considering Biden has never been a favorite of the young, progressive left.
This stark divide on the left could hurt Biden and Democrats in 2024.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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