The Israeli-Israeli War in the Middle of the Night: A Democratic Perspective on the U.S. War with Israel and its Role in the Gaza Strip
Democrats in Congress, torn between their support for Israel in its war with Hamas and concern about civilian suffering in Gaza, are struggling with how far to go in calling for measures to mitigate civilian casualties as the left wing of the party escalates pressure for a cease-fire.
In recent days, several House and Senate Democrats have urged temporary humanitarian pauses to facilitate aid deliveries of food, water and fuel to the Gaza Strip, echoing the Biden administration. To keep a dire humanitarian crisis from getting worse, and to try and negotiate the release of more than 200 hostages, including Americans, who are being held in the Gaza Strip, is why the pauses are necessary.
The bombing needs to go on for a while. You’ve got to take care of the immediate disaster. Israel’s got to change its strategy,” Senator Bernie Sanders, independent of Vermont and a prominent Jewish progressive, said in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. “I don’t know how you can have a cease-fire — permanent cease-fire — with an organization like Hamas, which is dedicated to turmoil and chaos and destroying the state of Israel.”
The comments drew a backlash from some progressive activists that highlighted the cross pressures Democrats are dealing with on the issue. Their dilemma is similar to the one President Biden is facing as he faces growing hostility in his support of Israel from the left side of the party. Democrats will be heavily reliant on strong support and turnout among their liberal core supporters in their push to hold the White House and the Senate, and win control of the House, in the 2024 elections.
Richard J. Durbin of Illinois last week became the first Democratic senator to call for a cease-fire, which he said he would support under certain conditions, including Hamas first agreeing to release hostages. His decision reflected a shift underway on Capitol Hill that has coincided with changes in Mr. Biden’s public messaging on Israel.
Mr. Biden declared that the United States stood in solidarity with Israel. But in the last several days, he and top administration officials have emphasized their efforts to persuade Israeli officials of the need for humanitarian pauses to allow the United Nations to deliver aid to civilians.
The change in tone comes as progressive polls indicate that a majority of Democratic voters favor a cease-fire, as well as evidence that younger people and people of color are critical of the Biden administration’s stance on the war.
Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, has made several controversial comments about the war. She defended her comments and said she was using her freedom of speech.
Democrat Naomi Tlaib During a debate on “From the river to the sea”: Israeli and Palestinian actions on September 7, 2023
International law defines genocide as a crime committed with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, in times of war or peace. The top officials in Israel have said that they are not targeting the Palestinians.
The video featured protesters in Michigan chanting “From the river to the sea”, a reference to territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea that many regard as calling for the eradication of Israel.
“None of us, especially elected leaders, should amplify language that inflames a tense situation & makes it harder for our communities to find common ground,” wrote Ms. Slotkin, a centrist who is Jewish. If I knew the phrase I used had hurt someone, I would apologize and get rid of it. I’d ask the same from you.”
This is meant to eradicate Israel and Jews. The only way to save lives and secure peace is to liberate Gaza from Hamas and bring back the hostages.
Ms. Tlaib said the slogan was an attempt to call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexisting. In a statement, she also accused her colleagues of focusing on pillorying her at the expense of saving lives.
The House is poised to censure Michigan Democrat Tlaib for her comments about Israel and Palestinians.
The measure accuses Tlaib of “promoting false narratives regarding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the state of Israel.”
During debate of the resolution, Ms. Tlaib grew emotional on the House floor as she reiterated her calls for a cease-fire, defended her criticism of the Israeli government and pleaded for sympathy for the plight of the Palestinian people.
The Representative of Minnesota stood up and comforted her, as she said that the Palestinian people are not disposable. The cries of the Palestinians and Israelis sound alike to me.
The debate pitting mainstream Democrats against the most progressive ones in the House, many of them women of color, was held on the floor of the House. Representative Ayanna S. Pressley, Democrat of Massachusetts, defended Ms. Tlaib and called the resolution “blatantly Islamophobic, anti-democratic and an utter waste of time.” Ms. Pressley, who is Black, argued that the measure was brought by Republicans “obsessed with policing progressive women of color.”
The only Democrat to vote in favor of the resolution was Brad Schneider, and he accused Ms. Tlaib of trying to gaslight the world and give cover to those using the slogan.
“I will always defend the right to free speech,” Mr. Schneider said in a statement. Tlaib can say what she wants. But it cannot go unanswered.”
The First Days of Congress: Censure Resolutions for the House of Representatives (Congressman Mike McMills, R.C.T. 1998)
In its first week of legislative business after a month of paralysis because of the chaotic speaker’s race, the House considered two censure resolutions back to back. At least three more censure resolutions have been introduced.
He doesn’t think it’s his job to censure someone because he doesn’t agree with them. “Let the Ethics Committee look at it. I will not be voting for a motion to censure unless it is very serious conduct.
It is rare for a member of Congress to be censured, which amounts to a public reprimand one step below expulsion. Before June, the House had censured its own members just 24 times in the chamber’s history. In the last few months, censure resolutions have been used to trade criticism and blame.
The measures are privileged under House rules, meaning that they take precedence over other legislative business and are not subject to the discretion of congressional leaders.