Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) said policy differences toward Israel between her and President Biden won’t stop her from supporting him in the November general election. “Of course,” Omar said Tuesday, …

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) said policy differences toward Israel between her and President Biden won’t stop her from supporting him in the November general election.

“Of course,” Omar said Tuesday, when asked by CNN’s Abby Phillip on “NewsNight” whether she would vote for Biden if the election were held that day, in a clip highlighted by Mediaite. “Democracy is on the line, we are facing down fascism.”

“And I personally know what my life felt like having Trump as the president of this country, and I know what it felt like for my constituents, and for people around this country and around the world,” Omar continued. “We have to do everything that we can to make sure that does not happen to our country again.”

  • Natanael@slrpnk.net
    24·
    8 months ago

    https://www.axios.com/2024/03/14/us-settler-sanctions-west-bank

    The U.S. Department of Treasury announced new sanctions Thursday against two illegal outposts in the occupied West Bank that were used as a base for attacks by extremist Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians, three U.S. officials told Axios.

    Why it matters: It is the first time U.S. sanctions are being imposed against entire outposts and not just against individuals.

    The move comes as the Biden administration ratchets up pressure on the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over a range of issues, including settler violence against Palestinians and the war in Gaza. There were nearly 500 Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians between Oct. 7 and Jan. 31 of this year, according to the UN humanitarian office (OCHA).

    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-israel-gaza-finish-problem-rcna141905

    PALM BEACH, Fla. — Former President Donald Trump declared Tuesday that Israel must “finish the problem” in its war against Hamas, his most definitive position on the conflict since the terror group killed 1,200 Israelis and took more than 200 hostages on Oct. 7.

    That month, his campaign also said that, if elected again, he would bar Gaza residents from entering the U.S. as part of an expanded travel ban.

    Is this good enough for you?

    • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
      45·
      8 months ago

      Flashback: On Feb. 1, President Biden signed an executive order allowing the U.S. to impose new sanctions on Israeli settlers — and potentially Israeli politicians and government officials — involved in violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank.

      I remember when Biden sanctioned the few individuals…

      Even a comment I made back then, but it would be a hassle to find it.

      I said it was better than nothing, and if Biden actually sanctioned the politicians and government officials behind this shit, I’d unironically stand up and clap.

      But that sanctioning random settlers literally accomplishs nothing. So I dont know why people want to brag about it.

      I still dont know why someone would act like this means anything, and I’m still desperately waiting for the chance to be proud of Biden.

      • Natanael@slrpnk.net
        33·
        8 months ago

        He’s doing a lot of diplomacy behind closed doors, a bit too much for my taste even, but that’s how he’s always worked and he’ll keep doing that, so there’s not much visible but the few public statements. I think he needs to do more, but he’s very risk averse and the problem is that if he just straight up blocks all support for Israel then that could cause chaos (risk for war in the region, loss of internal support, etc).

        • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
          55·
          8 months ago

          but he’s very risk averse

          If he was averse to risk, he’d stop doing all this shit his voters hate less than a year out from an election…

          He’s being dangerously risky right now, and we’re all fucked if it turns out he made a bad judgement call and loses the election.

          he just straight up blocks all support for Israel then that could cause chaos (risk for war in the region, loss of internal support, etc).

          At the same time, Biden says trump is incredibly dangerous, and him becoming president again could be the end of American democracy.

          And I agree with that.

          Which is why I think Biden putting Israel over America is so fucking stupid.

          America isn’t responsible for the safety of Israel. If America stopped protecting them at the UN, and the UN forced them to stop their genocide…

          That wouldn’t be the end of Israel, just the end of their current genocide.

          If Israel got attacked after that and invaded, then aid to Israel would be a different story and the rest of the UN would be helping.

          You’re arguing from this false stance where Joe Biden is the only thing keeping Israel a state right now, and ignoring that his support of Israel could very well lead to the actual end of American democracy.

          The president of America’s priority should be America, not if a foreign country might have to stop their genocide.

          Like, if Biden was stopping a genocide, that would be different.

          Do you legitimately not understand any of that?

          • Cryophilia@lemmy.world
            61·
            8 months ago

            he’d stop doing all this shit his voters hate less than a year out from an election…

            There’s not as many people who think like you as you think there are.

            • juicy@lemmy.today
              31·
              8 months ago

              We have states with 20% of voters choosing uncommitted. What are you on about?

              • Cryophilia@lemmy.world
                2·
                8 months ago

                80% > 20%

                And that’s of Democrats who voted in the primary.

                There’s just way more supporters of Israel than there are people who dislike genocide. Biden has to be careful to not lose their votes.

                • HACKthePRISONS@kolektiva.social
                  22·
                  8 months ago

                  I was under the impression that refusing to do the right thing because you’re scared of the consequences was the definition of cowardice.

                • juicy@lemmy.today
                  11·
                  8 months ago

                  You can’t assume the 80% of people who voted for Biden would abandon him the minute he withdrew his support of genocide. They might as easily believe the fud I keep hearing here that an uncommitted vote is tantamount to a vote for Trump.

                  • Cryophilia@lemmy.world
                    1·
                    8 months ago

                    Likewise, not all of the 20% would withold their votes if he continues to support Israel.

                    But regardless of the actual number, it’s pretty clear that “votes at risk if I continue to support Israel” is a much smaller number than “votes at risk if I denounce Israel”. The resulting political calculus is unavoidable. Biden can work for a ceasefire, but acting or speaking in direct opposition to Israel is a terrible idea.