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War in Israel and Gaza [Palestinians are mourning by the bodies of relatives who were killed in an Israeli bombardment, at the al-Aqsa hospital in Deir Balah in the central Gaza Strip, on April 28, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas. (Photo by Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)] View All 247 Images “It begins to chip away at the bedrock principle of the U.S. providing strong sustained supp ort for Israel,” says Bruen of the decision. “It will be a weak link that adversaries in the region are going to try and exploit. But at the same time, it was probably necessary given the amount of political pressure that Biden's under at home and the election that is in the offing.” While a recent POLITICO-Morning Consult poll found that 33% of Democratic voters felt that Biden wasn’t being tough enough on Israel,” it also found that 42% said his approach was “just right,” showing that he faces risks in altering course. Indeed, some moderate Democrats for whom support for Israel is inviolate are bristling at Biden’s more aggressive posture. Related: Israel Tempers Cease-Fire Deal Expectations, Begins Rafah Strikes “Hard disagree and deeply disappointing,” Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a staunch Israel supporter, wrote on social media. “As the leader of the free world, America cannot claim that its commitment to Israel is ‘iron-clad’ and then proceed to withhold aid from Israel,” wrote Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York, adding that the “mixed messaging makes a mockery of our credibility as an ally. No one will take our word seriously.” Bruen says pledging unwavering support only to then place conditions on it risks the appea rance of making decisions based upon “whichever direction the political winds are shifting.” “We want to have learned the lesson by now that you cannot have your diplomatic cake and eat it too. When it comes to these major crises, you have to pick a course.” It’s an issue that Republicans are also sure to raise during the presidential campaign. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell sent a letter to Biden expressing alarm, saying the decision calls "into question your pledge that your commitment to Israel's security will remain ironclad." READ: Protests Threaten Campus Graduations "This news flies in the face of assurances provided regarding the timely delivery of security assistance to Israel,” the two GOP leaders said. Khaled Elgindy, senior fellow and director of the Program on Palestine and Palestinian-Israeli Affairs at the Middle East Institute, predicted that, as the tension continues to grow over the decision, the U.S. is likely headed for a showdown between Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He suggests Netanyahu – who has shown little inclination to back down from his plans for a ground incursion in Rafah – might try to test the limits of the administration. Netanyahu warned Thursday in a video o n social media that Israel was strong enough to fight alone. “If we have to stand alone, we will stand alone,” he said. Importantly, though, the White House has presented its decision to hold back some offensive weapons not as an order but instead as a choice. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Thursday said Israel has to make “a choice” on whether it will “smash” into Rafah and trigger a decision from the U.S. to withhold additional weapons shipments. “We’re going to be watching what the Israelis do here, what their decision-making looks like going forward,” Kirby said. Biden told CNN on Wednesday that Israel has used the 2,000-pound bombs – the type included in the arms shipment that was paused – to kill Palestinian civilians. U.S. officials ha ve urged Israel to offer a plan to safeguard civilians before heightening its operations. Related: 4 Takeaways From Biden’s Speech on Antisemitism at the Capitol Also notably, Biden in his latest remarks said the U.S. would continue to provide defensive weapons that guard against incoming missiles and rockets. Elgindy underscores the importance of the administration making the distinction in the types of weapons being withheld, saying it gives them the ability to argue they are not abandoning Israel’s security. He says that as long as the issue remains a partisan d ivide, Biden will be able to weather the storm, addin g that as long as his party is unified behind him, “he can withstand a Republican onslaught, which will just be rhetorical.” On the other hand, Bruen says that Biden has played the cards he had poorly and that he is now in a lose-lose situation “where it is hard to see how, whether it's the electorate or within his own party, he comes out of this with anything other than a disastrous result.” Tags: Israel, Gaza, Palestine, world news [View this email in your browser](:~2KLoS~:~xguew~:~79997lld9999999hsbmoputhsiecwmbxjlk01~:~4371~:~lzalghaaashacmaaasrlcm~:~8bSDT2js~:~8575081213887975948796865899qaflp5is7ddn4~:~906/nVsxiWkc5E-remo) :~2KLoS~:~xguew~:~79997lld9999999hsbmoputhsiecwmbxjlk01~:~4371~:~lzalghaaashacmaaasrlcm~:~8bSDT2js~:~8575081213887975948796865899qaflp5is7ddn4~:~906/nVsxiWkc5E-remo :~WRT0F~:~xc~:~79997lld9999999hsbmoputhsiecwmbxjlk01~:~1403~:~lzalghaaashacmaaagsluz~:~YRZFBG~:~8575081213887975948796865899qaflp5is7ddn4~:~785/hwkOduSxQBm-remo :~Daodz~:~fndwmbcg~:~79997lld9999999hsbmoputhsiecwmbxjlk01~:~6843~:~lzalghaaashacmaaaszcsz~:~M2tBe~:~8575081213887975948796865899qaflp5is7ddn4~:~795/PatCiOE7DBwz-remo :~FXftM~:~tkjv~:~79997lld9999999hsbmoputhsiecwmbxjlk01~:~0384~:~lzalghaaashacmaaaalrmr~:~M4VNZOe~:~8575081213887975948796865899qaflp5is7ddn4~:~293/O2Gjn5Mr-remo } } Want to change how you receive these emails? 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