Punditry StaffThe Biden Administration just reversed its policy with regard to a ceasefire in Gaza for humanitarian access after standing firm on the issue in spite of thousands of civilian deaths. What happened for this 180 degree reversal? Did Arab Americans scare Biden because they hold the key to winning in three swing states in Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania? We wonder.
It is a fact that Arab American voters have an impact on who wins in all three swing states. It is also a fact that the President has refused to pressure Israel in halting its devastating air campaign against Gaza, which took the lives of over 7,000 civilians in three weeks of incessant bombings. This happened after Biden questioned civilian deaths in Gaza.
Furthermore, it is a fact that the President met with Arab American and Muslim leaders in the White House to finickle his way out of trouble for backing the destruction of Gaza in spite of civilian casualties.
Had he taken a more sensible position to protect civilian life of Palestinians as he did to protect Israeli civilian life, he would have appeared more balanced.
TEMPERING HIS POSITIONS
The President is also tempering his position on Gaza. In a call with Netanyahu, he apparently asked the prime minister of Israel to permit humanitarian aid to go through. Or, at least, this is what the White House is telling us. Reality on the ground is not supporting this spin.
Even National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is weighing in on this issue.
Nina Lakhani of The Guardian wrote:
Whether this will help the President re-election chances remains unclear. Questioning the number of dead Palestinians, while ignoring calls for a ceasefire, are not helping him. The optics of the President’s absolute support for Israel amid a carpet bombardment of Gaza, where thousands of civilians met their death, looked terrible.
Had he taken a more sensible position to protect civilian life of Palestinians as he did to protect Israeli civilian life, he would have appeared more balanced. We say he even killed his chances of trying to bring peace to the region after this war. Why? Because he poisoned the well of neutrality by ignoring the plight of the Palestinian civilians.
Did Arab Americans scare Biden with their votes in key States? The answer is a definite yes. He rushed into blind support for the Gaza bombing without calculating the fallout from his unfortunate decision.
Did Arab Americans Scare Biden?
Punditry Staff
