The American Dream of Israel: Vice President Biden in Israel during the High-Stakes Mission to the Middle East and the Israeli-Israel War
President Biden got off Air Force One to greet Netanyahu with a hug, after the high-stakes trip to the Middle East.
The message was clear — the United States stands with Israel. Biden will address the American people in an Oval Office speech.
He is expected to discuss the current Mideastern violence, Israel’s response and the war in Ukraine, which has been largely out of American news. Biden is looking to procure significant funding for both conflicts. He needs to go through Congress, which holds the power of the purse, but that’s made more difficult by the fact that the U.S. House is currently non funziona.
Republicans failed again Wednesday to pick a speaker. That leaves the U.S. unable to respond to, well, pretty much anything in a strong and substantive way.
President Biden traveled to Israel on Wednesday to show solidarity with the Jewish state. Several Arab leaders said they wouldn’t see him after his plane landed. He obtained an agreement with Israel to allow aid into Gaza, but did not receive any promises that Israel would act in a way that didn’t endanger the lives of civilians. The aid package was limited, but he can’t do much more because Congress is currently not in session.
Invoking the Holocaust, Biden said, “The world watched then — it knew — and the world did nothing. We will not do nothing again, not today, not tomorrow, not ever.
This year, Democrats’ sympathies are more with Palestinians than Israelis, according to Gallup. And that is driven by young voters.
The latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll reflects that. Despite two-thirds of respondents in the survey saying they want a public show of support for Israel, those younger than 45, were 30 points less likely to say they wanted that than respondents 45 or older. Whites were more likely to say so as well.
Cracks started showing in the aftermath of the Gaza hospital bombing. Before the United States weighed in, Democrats Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota — the first two Muslim women elected to Congress — joined a pro-Palestinian chorus blaming Israel.
The hospital bombing is among the gravest of war crimes. “The IDF reportedly blowing up one of the few places the injured and wounded can seek medical treatment and shelter during a war is horrific.”
After the U.S. intelligence assessment, Omar called for “an independent investigation to determine conclusively who is responsible for this war crime.”
The National Security Council said, in part, “Our current assessment, based on analysis of overhead imagery, intercepts and open source information, is that Israel is not responsible for the explosion.”
What can we learn from the United States response to Israel’s tragedy in Gaza if we can do something about it, as a president is supposed to do?
But a lot of damage had already been done. Protests erupted in countries like Jordan where Biden was supposed to meet with leaders of the Palestinians, Egyptians and Jordanians.
She said she was ashamed as a member of the United States Congress. I am ashamed that they are not giving a statement yet. Maybe next week. … What number of people have to die?
She added, “To my president, to our president … As a Palestinian American and a Muslim, I don’t want to forget this. And I think a lot of people are not going to forget this.”
Senator John Fetterman stated, “It’s truly disturbing that Congress rushed to blame Israel for the hospital tragedy in Gaza.” Who would take the word of a group that just massacred innocent Israeli civilians?
He said it was not the time to discuss a ceasefire. Hamas wants to destroy Israel. We can talk about a ceasefire after Hamas is neutralized.”
If something happens in the world that is of this magnitude, the president is expected to respond and show leadership.
A president has to often balance his own world view with domestic politics. At least initially, they looked in line with each other.
Partisanship is entrenched, and foreign policy often ranks very low on the list of priorities for voters — despite it being one of the areas a president has the most control over.
But the reality is, Biden isn’t likely consumed with the domestic politics of this. He spent a good amount of his life as a senator and vice president involved in the U.S.’s role in the world.
After two decades of war in the U.S., many have become weary of involvement in international conflicts. Biden acknowledged that Americans relate to the pain Israel is facing. There were some potential lessons he could learn from the US’s response to 9/11.
“I understand,” Biden said Wednesday. Many Americans understand. You can’t look at what has happened here and not scream out for justice, but I caution this — while you feel that rage, don’t be consumed by it. We were angry in the United States after 9/11 and we made mistakes.
The trip was worth it, even if what went unspoken was more than what was achieved. His decision to enter a war zone, in a country full of destruction and rage and the smoke of explosives, made it clear that the United States still has a vital role to play in defusing international crises and protecting democracies.
His visit to Washington showed that there is much more to the story than meets the eye. While the Republicans in the House did their job in not electing a speaker, they did not do their job in passing bills and military aid packages, and they did not show that the legislative branch of the government has its act.
The promotion of hundreds of military officers in the US is being stopped by a single Republican member because of their views on abortion. Jack Lew, as strong a supporter of Israel as anyone ever nominated for the position of ambassador to that country, faced a torrent of opposition to his nomination Wednesday from a group of Republican senators are still annoyed that he helped put in effect the Obama administration deal that required Iran to limit its uranium enrichment.
An Up First Briefing: Gaza Aid Deal; Preventing Catalytic Converter Theft: Just Until Congress Ends
Good morning. You are reading a newsletter. You can get it delivered to your inbox and listen to the Up First show to get all the news you need to get started.
After hours of talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet, President Biden announced an agreement to allow humanitarian aid from Egypt to Gaza. The UN will distribute the aid once most of the trucks enter Gaza. Biden warned aid would stop if any of it goes to Hamas.
In a second vote, House Republicans again rejected Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, as the new speaker. Opposition to his nomination grew from 20 GOP defections to 22.
The average American family’s net worth jumped 37% between 2019 and 2022, according to a new Federal Reserve survey. The agency has seen jumps since the surveys began. The wealth gap narrowed slightly between rich and poor. The temporary relief measures of the government may be to blame for the gains.
Source: Up First briefing: Gaza aid deal; preventing catalytic converter theft
How to protect your car: Joran van der Sloot, an 18-year-old woman from a tragic accident and his mother Beth
The family of the American teenager who vanished on a school trip 18 years ago has finally got some answers. Joran van der Sloot pleaded guilty to her death. He agreed to give information to Beth about where she was buried and how her daughter died.
There has been an increase in the amount of catalytic converter theft over the past year. They’re located underneath cars and help them clean exhaust. Thieves target them because they’re made of expensive precious metals. It can cost thousands to replace one. Here’s how to protect your car:
Source: Up First briefing: Gaza aid deal; preventing catalytic converter theft
She’s Not Just A Girl, But a Girl Who Is: Star Trek: The Next Generation and What Do You Really Like?
NPR scientist in residence Regina G. Barber used TV as an escape when she lived in a rural town as a tween. Star Trek: The Next Generation was one of her favorite shows. Her dad, also a Trekkie, pointed out the morals in each episode and taught her to value diversity. Barber writes about how this helped build the foundation for her sense of social justice as an astrophysicist of color.
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