Over the last few months, ever since the October 7th attacks, President Biden has incurred deep criticism for his actions during the Israel-Hamas war. Some have even threatened to withhold their votes as a result.
I get it – emotions are high. Over 25,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed, far too many of whom are infants and children. Gaza is in an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, and Muslims worldwide have been on edge for Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian attacks.
Yet President Biden isn’t the problem – he’s one of the few major players trying to get a solution.
Let’s start just weeks after October 7th when — on his way back from Israel — the President lobbied Egyptian President Abdul Fattah El-Sisi to open the Rafah border crossing with Gaza to let in food, medicine, and humanitarian aid. Then, just last month – thanks in large part to the President’s pressure on the Israeli government – Israel opened their Kerem Shalom border crossing with eastern Gaza, also allowing aid directly into the Strip. Though there must be much more assistance flowing into Gaza immediately, the aid that has gotten in has been almost solely because of President Biden’s tireless diplomacy.
In addition – even though many “ceasefire now” activists won’t admit it – the President (in conjunction with partners in Qatar and Egypt) already got a temporary ceasefire back in November, which saw the release of over 100 Israeli hostages and the entrance of hundreds of aid trucks into Gaza carrying critical food, medicine, cooking gas and humanitarian aid. The ceasefire broke only when Hamas launched rockets into Israeli territory. But even since that development, the President has continued his attempts to get an extended pause in fighting in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages.
Let’s just say for a moment that President Biden did call for an unconditional ceasefire, disowned Israel, and ended all military aid. What would change?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Prime Minister Netanyahu would continue his devastating onslaught on Gaza without the United States, to whom he has been an unpredictable partner. Israel has such a well-equipped military to the point that they could continue fighting even without the military aid the U.S. has given them since October 7th. The only thing that would change would be all U.S. leverage in the war would evaporate overnight – no more border crossings open for aid, no more ceasefire negotiations, nothing.
But now, let me directly address all those threatening to withhold their votes from President Biden, and ask a simple question:
Do you really think that Donald Trump would be better for Gaza?
The same Donald Trump that moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem?
The same Donald Trump that cut $200 million in aid to the West Bank and Gaza?
The same Donald Trump that wants to deport innocent Palestinian-Americans?
That Donald Trump?
Is that the man you want leading the United States through a time when the world is dealing with a postwar Gaza? President Biden has called – repeatedly – for a two-state solution. When Donald Trump was President, he rejected such an idea, putting forth a far more pro-Israel proposal. Without President Biden, there may never be a chance for an autonomous Palestinian state once the war ends.
Let me conclude by once again acknowledging the deep pain of the innocent people of Gaza. The plight of Palestinians – especially women and children – must not be ignored, and we have to do everything we can to end this cycle of violence and find a solution that respects the dignity of everyone in the region. However, letting Donald Trump win a second term is a dangerous and irresponsible move that will hurt not only the United States but also the people of Gaza. Joe Biden may not be perfect, but he’s trying to manage an intensely delicate diplomatic situation while respecting the dignity of all people.
Please vote wisely.
George Ovitt • Jan 29, 2024 at 7:15 pm
Readers of the Advocate might wonder why U.S. lawmakers are so lavish in spending on Israel’s defense (try increasing the child tax credit!), over $300 billion since 1946, twice what the second largest recipient–Egypt–received, and why with only 31% of Americans supporting Israel’s procurement of American weapons, Joe Biden and every other pol in DC is eager to write the IDF big checks.
One reason is that, by agreement, U.S. taxpayer dollars that are awarded each year ($3.8 billion in 2023, with another $14 billion in “emergency” aid, plus another $2 billion in “pre-paid” dollars for munitions) are sent right back to the U.S. aerospace and defense industries.
Under the auspices of the Foreign Military Financing program, Israel must use U.S. funds to purchase U.S. military hardware, such as the recent purchase of about 40 of Lockheed-Martin’s F-35 fighter-bombers (at $155 million a pop). Pretty sweet deal.
In turn, defense lobbyists spent over $70 million “lobbying” Congress last year.
You can look it up.
Isaiah H • Jan 29, 2024 at 9:44 am
This article is well written with compelling points, but I also feel as if there are clear points directly relating to the Israel-Gaza conflict that are left out. I believe that one of the key points that you leave out is Biden’s direct support FOR Israel, with the $14.3 billion dollars in aid that was sent last November saying that “Israel has the right to respond — indeed has a duty to respond — to these vicious attacks.” This $14.3b includes more than $10.6b directly to Israel’s defense department which has since used weapons that break international humanitarian law against Palestinians such as white phosphorus. Moreover the United States is one of 10 countries, including Israel, which have voted against a ceasefire in Gaza, not abstained, but against. To give an idea of how abhorrent this is, 153/193 countries voted in favor of a ceasefire.
Yes, simply calling for a ceasefire does nothing, but actively supporting a country in genocide only perpetuates the problem. Even just last week, the opinion piece on why you shouldn’t vote for Biden highlights the very specific problems with his presidency regarding Gaza. To not be redundant, simply look at Darin’s article from last week and the sources provided in it.
Regarding Donald Trump and the Republican Party, you present the idea of only choosing between Biden and Trump, when there are other options out there which should indeed be considered as well. You simply argue that we should choose the lesser of two evils while there are other candidates out there who may do an entirely better job handling the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Darin Eberhardt • Jan 28, 2024 at 9:57 pm
As you may know, Abhishek, I recused myself from editing your article because I had just argued a contradictory opinion. That being said, I obviously do have some serious ideological and factual issues with your piece.
My biggest issue (and the only one I’ll note here) is the claim that Biden withholding support would do nothing. This argument is wrong from a monetary perspective; it’s well documented that the US gives more military aid to Israel than any other country, and a vast portion of the weapons used by Israel are manufactured in the US. Even as evidence of war crimes committed by Israel came out of Gaza, Biden saw it fit to increase aid, a point noted by Josh Paul within the State Department and which led to his resignation. But even more critical than economic aid, Biden has reiterated repeatedly his diplomatic support for Israel. Pretending like Israel having essentially unconditional and unequivocal support from the largest military and economy in the world is no big deal is a denial of your own knowledge on world affairs and empirically denied by the US’s repeated vetoes of ceasefire resolutions at the UN which were otherwise overwhelmingly supported from the international community.
So no. Biden has the ability to make a big difference in what Israel is doing and is choosing not to. Where you see efforts for peace, I see poor attempts at politically saving face (and securing hostages which were taken originally for bargaining power – ie. Hamas succeeded in that regard – despite of course the obvious ethical issues). He did not pioneer the ceasefire that Netanyahu made clear was *temporary*, and despite your attempts at displaying Biden as the great negotiator, bombs are still dropping on Gaza as far as I can tell.