Liberals raged online after Joe Biden said “Israel has a right to defend itself” as tensions between Israel and Palestinians reach a boiling point, with rockets and bombings exchanged between the two.
Democrats applauded Biden after it was reported that the administration would reverse a Trump-era policy and provide $235 million in aid to Palestine in an attempt to strengthen relations. “U.S. foreign assistance for the Palestinian people serves important U.S. interests and values,” Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said. “It provides critical relief to those in great need, fosters economic development, and supports Israeli-Palestinian understanding, security coordination and stability.”
However, many critique the administration’s decision as violence in the region continues to escalate, after the Israeli government moved to evict Palestinian families from their homes near the Old City in Jerusalem, setting off more civil conflict with riots and clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians.
RAW FOOTAGE: This is the moment the Iron Dome intercepted a barrage of rockets over Tel Aviv and central Israel. pic.twitter.com/8jl8OTgWCl
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 11, 2021
Since Monday, at least 1,200 rockets have been fired into Israel by Palestinian militants in Gaza, each followed by Israeli retaliatory airstrikes. When asked about the escalating violence, Biden said “Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory.” At a White House press conference yesterday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the administration condemns the “ongoing rocket attacks by Hamas and other terrorist groups, including against Jerusalem.”
JUST IN – Biden: "Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory."pic.twitter.com/ot5YFBSynS
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) May 12, 2021
The position taken by the Biden administration left Twitter leftists who support the #FreePalestine movement enraged, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who tweeted “Blanket statements like these w/ little context or acknowledgement of what precipitated this cycle of violence – namely, the expulsions of Palestinians and attacks on Al Aqsa – dehumanize Palestinians & imply the US will look the other way at human rights violations. It’s wrong.” Many other leftists joined in the outrage.
Blanket statements like these w/ little context or acknowledgement of what precipitated this cycle of violence – namely, the expulsions of Palestinians and attacks on Al Aqsa – dehumanize Palestinians & imply the US will look the other way at human rights violations. It’s wrong. https://t.co/afCgoGdiMG
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 12, 2021
HE DOESN'T EVEN MENTION PALESTINE TALK ABOUT ONE-SIDED
SHIFT BIDEN TO THE LEFT? HOW ABOUT YOU SHIFT YOUR ASS FROM BENEFITING FROM SUPPORTING AN IMPERIALIST REGIME https://t.co/IkoCR6dmOe
— Ilya Dyachuk (@IlyaIDK) May 12, 2021
Liberals that voted for the “progressive” Biden administration don’t forget that the administration is no better than Trump & has always been a supporter of the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Call your congress members & pressure them to speak up about #Palestine. pic.twitter.com/YKQ5MLnFWf
— ELTAYEB (@therealeltayeb) May 11, 2021
Similar leftist outrage caused New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang, to issue an apology after he tweeted in support of Israel following the escalating conflict. When the liberals expressed outrage Yang flipped his stance, noting that he felt that his “tweet was overly simplistic in my treatment of a conflict that has a long and complex history full of tragedies. And they felt it failed to acknowledge the pain and suffering on both sides.”
— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) May 12, 2021
Biden recently spoke on the phone with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the conflict as noted in a statement released by the White House in which they claim Biden “condemned the rocket attacks by Hamas and other terrorist groups, including against Jerusalem and Tel Aviv” and “conveyed unwavering support for Israel’s security and for Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself and its people.”
Among the many outraged voices on the left would be that of radical leftist Linda Sarsour, who called the release a “Trash statement from Joe Biden who picked up the phone to call a fascist to tell him he supports an Apartheid State. Joe Biden couldn’t bring himself at the very least to condemn the murder of Palestinian children at the hands of the State of Israel but hey, what’s new?”
Trash statement from Joe Biden who picked up the phone to call a fascist to tell him he supports an Apartheid State. Joe Biden couldn’t bring himself at the very least to condemn the murder of Palestinian children at the hands of the State of Israel but hey, what’s new? pic.twitter.com/qdDzGhPtjZ
— Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour) May 12, 2021
As the left continues to struggle with growing evidence of “Biden’s Remorse,” it is unclear whether the President will walk back his statements signifying the administration’s support of Israel to the pleasure of his voter base.