US President Joe Biden is under pressure from the Democratic Party’s progressive wing to more vehemently condemn Israel’s genocide in Gaza, but he fears “huge Jewish influence,” according to a White House aide.
National Security Council policy adviser Sterlin Waters made the remarks to an undercover reporter for Project Veritas, a conservative outlet known for its hidden-camera sting operations. The video was published by the outlet on Tuesday.
Biden’s position on Israel is the result of careful “political calculations,” Waters told the reporter.
Waters said Biden and his top aides need to tell Israeli leaders that “you’re not going to continue to lie, and bomb, and kill all these kids without facing serious consequences” to conciliate progressive voters.
However, if Biden did this he would anger the “huge, powerful Jewish influence in Republican and Democrat politics” and face a smear campaign ahead of November’s presidential election, Waters said.
“If Biden won again he could be much more forthright about saying ‘No’,” Waters continued. “[But] that is a second-term decision.”
At present, Biden is robustly supporting Israel in its genocide against Palestinians.
On Monday, he vowed to continue providing “ironclad” support for the Israeli regime.
Addressing a Jewish American Heritage Month event at the White House, Biden said, “We want [the Gaza-based resistance movement] Hamas defeated. We're working with Israel to make that happen."
Later on, Biden told reporters that “we stand with Israel to take out [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar and the rest of the butchers of Hamas.”
Biden also keeps sending weapons to Israel and last week moved forward with a new plan to transfer $1 billion in arms to Israel.
The new package includes the potential transfer of about $700 million for tank ammunition, $500 million in tactical vehicles and $60 million in mortar rounds, according to the officials.
They said the Biden administration’s notice to lawmakers isn’t the final, formal notification before a sale.
It is not clear when the arms would be sent to Israel.
Israel unleashed its US-backed war on Gaza on October 7, 2023.
Since the onset of the war, Washington has equipped Tel Aviv with thousands of tons of lethal military aid. It has also struck down several United Nations Security Council resolutions that have called for the implementation of an immediate ceasefire in the brutal military onslaught.
Israel has displaced around 80% of the population of 2.3 million in Gaza since early October. The regime has killed more than 35,600 people there since.
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