As the Arab-Israeli conflict continues to escalate, more Democratic US lawmakers are urging the Biden Administration to take a strong stance in response to the Israeli military’s actions.
Although the Biden Administration has consistently reiterated its support for the long-standing special relationship between the United States and Israel, many Democratic Party members are now calling for a more decisive approach.
Several Democratic senators, including Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, have expressed their concerns with the current situation. Warren in particular has urged President Biden to “condemn in the strongest possible terms the violence and human rights abuses of the Israeli government and immediately initiate an independent investigation into the Israeli military’s conduct.”
Similarly, other Democratic members of Congress have expressed their disappointment that the Biden Administration has not been more proactive in condemning the Israeli military’s actions. These members maintain that the United States should be promoting restraint on all sides, rather than simply providing blanket support for Israel.
In light of these diverging opinions, many members of the Biden Administration have argued that the current approach is the best way to protect the United States’ own security interests. National security adviser Jake Sullivan stated that, while the Administration is “deeply concerned by the violence” of the conflict, they also believe that “ensuring the safety and security of Israel is paramount” to those same interests.
The apparent inability to develop a consensus within the Biden Administration is likely to complicate the already-intense situation on the ground. With more Democratic lawmakers calling for a firmer stance on Israel, the pressure on the Biden Administration to take action is only likely to increase.
