President Joe Biden has faced criticism from both pro-Israel supporters and critics for his response to the increase in antisemitism in the United States. Despite this, he has managed to quell some of the backlash for the time being.
During a Holocaust remembrance ceremony at the Capitol, President Biden denounced the recent surge of antisemitism and reiterated his administration’s backing for Israel, despite mounting tensions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This comes after calls for the president to take a stronger stance against antisemitism and hate speech following violent pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses in the country.
While Democratic Reps. Ritchie Torres and Jared Moskowitz, both known for their support of Israel, commended Biden for his clear condemnation of antisemitism, some lawmakers, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, were unaware of the event or had not seen the president’s remarks. Sanders, who has advocated for a reevaluation of U.S. support for Israel, warned of potential foreign policy challenges for Biden.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell criticized local leaders for not enforcing law and order amid protests, and there are concerns that the Biden administration is withholding ammunition shipments to Israel as it prepares for a military operation in Gaza, leading to further backlash from lawmakers.
Sen. John Fetterman expressed disagreement with the decision to withhold ammunition and urged a reversal of the move. Sen. Roger Marshall praised Biden’s words but questioned the alignment of his actions with his rhetoric, particularly regarding the diversion of weapons meant for Israel.
Overall, President Biden’s response to rising antisemitism has garnered mixed reactions from lawmakers, with some praising his condemnation of hate while others questioning the consistency of his actions in supporting Israel.
