In a recent development, a leading progressive Democrat has issued a warning to President Biden, suggesting that his unequivocal support for Israel could lead to a political fallout among liberal factions.
Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), voiced her concerns on Sunday, indicating that Biden's stance on Israel could potentially lead to a loss of support. "The President needs to be courageous on this issue so that we keep the unity within our country for the support of the incredible things he has done," Jayapal stated during her appearance on NBCs Meet the Press.
She was responding to questions about potential backlash from Muslim and Arab Americans, as well as other progressives, over Biden's remarks to date.
According to Jayapal, there is a significant disconnect between the American public's perspective on the Israel-Gaza conflict and the stance adopted by the President and the majority of Congress. "They support the right for Israel to defend itself to exist, but they do not support a war-crime exchange for another war crime," she asserted.
Despite her critique of Biden's foreign policy, Jayapal emphasized her role as one of the President's staunchest supporters, particularly praising his domestic efforts to uplift the working class. She also expressed confusion over Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) recently announcing his primary campaign against the incumbent president. "Everyones got the right to run, but Im sorry, I have no idea what he is running on that is different from what President Biden is running on," Jayapal pondered.
Jayapal, who has previously faced controversy over her views on Israel, reiterated her stance during a progressive conference in Chicago in July. "As somebody whos been in the streets and participated in a lot of demonstrations, I want you to know that we have been fighting to make it clear that Israel is a racist state," she declared, responding to pro-Palestinian protesters who had interrupted the conference.
However, she later clarified her comments, which had sparked criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. "I clarified that what I meant is that the existence of Israel is absolutely legitimate, and I think the world has come to see it as legitimate," she 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."
Jayapal further argued that it should be possible to criticize Israel without being labeled antisemitic.
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