Joe Biden has been accused by a member of Congress from his own party of supporting “the genocide” of the Palestinians. Rozina Sabur writes from Washington.
Rashida Tlaib is among left-wing Democrats who have become increasingly vocal in their criticism of the US president as they demand a ceasefire in the conflict. Ms. Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American in Congress, released a video on Friday saying: “Joe Biden supported the genocide of the Palestinian people.
“The American people will not forget. Biden, support a ceasefire now. Or don’t count on us in 2024.”
The US president is in the midst of a festering division within his party over its position on Israel, similar to the debate consuming Sir Keir Starmer’s Labor Party.
The Democratic divide falls largely along generational lines, with older Democrats, including Mr. Biden, staunchly supporting the Jewish state while younger, more progressive members have focused on the plight of Palestinians.
But even Dick Durbin, 78, the second-highest ranking Democrat in the US Senate, has supported a ceasefire, further increasing pressure on Biden.
Mr. Biden has sought to balance the scales by supporting Israel while emphasizing its obligations under international law, calling for a humanitarian “pause” and expressing concern about Palestinian victims.
Ms Tlaib’s video begins with Mr Biden saying the US stands with Israel, followed by images of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and bleeding children. As her video hints, Biden’s stance could hurt his 2024 re-election bid as a poll shows the president’s support among Arab-American voters has fallen amid the conflict.
Biden’s bid will be determined by the outcome of a handful of battleground states, including Ms. Tlaib’s home state of Michigan, which has a large Muslim and Arab-American community.
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