Israel / Gaza: Faced with Joe Biden's support for Israel, Democratic front cracks in Congress
New York Democratic MP Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks of Americans' “complicity” with Israel.
Here in the House of Representatives, July 23, 2020 (Image illustration).
AP
Text by: RFI Follow
7 mins
At the UN, this Monday, May 17, the United States again opposed the adoption of a Security Council declaration, which called for "
an end to violence
" and "the
protection of civilians
".
The text had been drafted by China, Tunisia and Norway, and Washington simply indicated that it could not "
support, for the moment, an expression
" of the Security Council.
This rather cautious position of the US administration is starting to provoke reactions from the left of the Democratic Party.
Publicity
Read more
With our correspondent in Washington
,
Anne Corpet
The US Secretary of State said this morning that the United States would support any initiative for a ceasefire between Israelis and Palestinians. But at the end of the day "
it's up to the two warring parties to make it clear that they want to reach a ceasefire
," said Antony Blinken, who once again stressed Israel's right to defend itself against it. Hamas attacks.
The United States remains very concerned about the escalation of violence. Hundreds of people were killed or injured, including children who were removed from the rubble. We are also concerned that journalists or health workers have been put at risk. Palestinians and Israelis, like everywhere in the world, have the right to live in safety. It is not an Israeli privilege or a Palestinian privilege, it is a human right. That is why we are working intensely behind the scenes to try to end this conflict. President Biden is in contact with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas. I spent my time coming here to Copenhagen, on the phone with regional officials from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar,but also with my French counterpart, to discuss the urgent need to end the violence, and we will continue to do so
Antony Blinken: “The United States remains very concerned about the escalation of violence…
The cautious stance of the US administration is starting to elicit reactions from the left of the Democratic Party.
More Democrats Criticize Joe Biden
More and more elected Democrats criticize the attitude of Joe Biden.
The Democratic Party is starting to crack over this.
This Sunday 28 Democratic senators signed a platform calling for an immediate ceasefire between Palestinians and Israelis.
But the majority leaders in the Senate and in the House refrained from putting their names on this text.
►Also read: Israel / Gaza: at the UN, China regrets the “obstruction” of the United States
Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi believe, like Joe Biden, that Israel has a right to defend itself against rocket fire from Hamas.
The US Secretary of State argues that the US is acting behind the scenes, the administration believes it would be counterproductive to publicly condemn Israel.
But this position is strongly criticized by the left of the party, which would like to see the president put pressure on Israel to stop the deadly air raids on Gaza.
"Complicity" of the Americans
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke of the “complicity” of the Americans. Another elected Democrat in the chamber spoke of a war crime after the bombing of
the building that housed media
in Gaza. "
This is happening with the support of the United States,
" denounced the young progressive parliamentarian Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Saturday, tweeting the video of the strike having pulverized the building which housed the premises of the Qatari news channel in Gaza. Al-Jazeera and the American news agency Associated Press.
This is happening with the support of the United States.
I don't care how any spokesperson tries to spin this.
The US vetoed the UN call for ceasefire.
If the Biden admin can't stand up to an ally, who can it stand up to?
How can they credibly claim to stand for human rights?
https://t.co/bXY99O3Wqp
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 15, 2021
These tensions within the Democratic Party come as Congress has until May 25 to vote on a $ 735 million arms sale to Israel.
It is unlikely that a resolution will be voted to oppose it, but this will undoubtedly give the left elected officials the opportunity to continue to publicly express their anger.
US President Joe Biden announced that he would meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu during the day about the ongoing escalation of violence.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
United States
Israel
Palestinian territories
Israelo-Palestinian conflict
On the same subject
Israel / Gaza: at the UN, China regrets the "obstruction" of the United States
Israeli-Palestinian conflict: media targeted in escalation