In recent days, a growing chorus of Democratic voices have been speaking out against Israel’s response to the crisis in Gaza. From Democratic lawmakers to prominent public figures, many are warning that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government’s actions are unacceptable and must be scaled back.
Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a longtime critic of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, wrote an open letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to take action. The letter, co-signed by representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Betty McCollum and others, said that Biden must “condition future U.S. military aid to Israel to show a commitment to Palestinian human rights.” The signatories also asserted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government was guilty of “indiscriminate attacks” which have killed and injured innocent civilians, and urged increased diplomatic efforts to halt the violence.
In addition to President Joe Biden, many prominent Democratic figures have spoken out against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and its stance on Gaza. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned that U.S. funding to Israel should be conditioned on its adherence to human rights laws and the protection of civilians. House Majority Whip James Clyburn noted that the idea of a “two-state solution” to the crisis was becoming increasingly untenable, and argued that “American diplomatic leadership is necessary to break the cycle of violence and to promote human rights and basic decency.”
Meanwhile, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright wrote a strongly worded op-ed in The Washington Post, arguing that U.S. aid to Israel must be conditioned upon its respect for human rights. Albright also argued that a “two-state solution” would be the only viable way forward in order to restore a sense of security and stability in the region. Similarly, United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield also called for restraint from the Israeli government and cautioned that “any attempt to expand sovereignty in the West Bank without negotiating a peace agreement would be deeply destabilizing and unrepresentative of American values.”
The messages from these prominent Democratic voices send a clear signal to President Joe Biden and the U.S. government that Israel’s conduct in the crisis is unacceptable. While President Biden has stated his support of Israel’s security and right to self-defense, he must also make it clear to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that such tactics can no longer be tolerated. Through increased diplomatic efforts and the threat of withholding U.S. aid in certain circumstances, President Biden and other Democratic leaders can play a key role in de-escalating the violence in the region and improving the situation for both Israelis and Palestinians.