U.S. Politics
Whether the Biden administration can accomplish its goal of helping rebuild Gaza after the latest conflict while bypassing Hamas is highly unlikely, according to experts on the region.
“Policy Order #109 had one clear purpose—to leverage the Cambridge City Council to advance the narrow political interests of advocacy groups whose sole purpose is the demonization, isolation and eventual destruction of the State of Israel,” said Rob Leikind of the American Jewish Committee.
Bringing his bill to a vote, said Sen. Ted Cruz, would reveal if Democratic lawmakers stand firm in support of Israel or veer to the hard left.
Sources say that Thomas Nides, a former Obama administration official, has been picked by the president to serve as U.S. ambassador to Israel.
“Let me be clear: The House Republican Conference condemns this language,” says House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that in total, America will provide $360 million in support for the Palestinians and that America will “work with partners to ensure that Hamas does not benefit from these reconstruction efforts.”
He leaves at the behest of U.S. President Joe Biden to discuss follow-up efforts to consolidate the ceasefire and reduce the risk of the conflict reigniting in the coming months.
It is also likely to focus on strengthening ties between Israel and Muslim countries; and attempting to foster unity between Palestinian factions in Gaza and the West Bank, adversarial relationships that instigated the hostilities that began in full on May 10.
Michael Ratney served as consul general in Jerusalem under former President Barack Obama, and later, as a special envoy to Syria.
The United States “has a deep and consistent interest” in doing its best to “take down this terror—this campaign against Israel, the ‘Little Satan’—that ultimately could grow into an Iranian campaign against the ‘Great Satan,’ the United States.”
A guide to the Biden administration’s first moves and initial set of senior officials.
They have been calling into question this ironclad support for Israel. In recent months, legislation has been by Democrats such as Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) to condition U.S. aid to Israel over its policies towards the Palestinians.
