In a rare criticism of the Biden administration’s handling of Israel, Tim Kaine, the Democrats’ vice presidential nominee in 2016 and a significant figure in the party’s foreign policy discussions, expressed dissatisfaction following a Gaza strike that killed seven aid workers.
Kaine emphasized that the current American stance toward Israel is ineffective, citing the recent attack on World Central Kitchen workers as a prime example that highlights growing frustration within the party.
While acknowledging President Biden’s efforts to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to open border crossings for humanitarian aid, Kaine criticized the delay in such action, asserting that it should have been implemented earlier. He advocated for prioritizing defensive weapons for Israel while withholding offensive weaponry that could harm civilians and aid workers.
Biden (Credits: CNN)
The criticism from Kaine aligns with renewed pressure on Biden from longstanding critics of the Israeli government, such as Senator Bernie Sanders. Sanders suggested a more assertive approach by tying humanitarian aid delivery to Israel to the continuation of military aid, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The issue of unconditional aid to Israel has become contentious within the Democratic Party, with progressives like Representative Pramila Jayapal advocating for separating the vote on Israel’s aid from assistance to other countries like Ukraine. Jayapal argued that sending more weapons to Israel would send a negative message, especially in the aftermath of the deaths of aid workers.
Sanders acknowledged the frustration among Palestinian Americans and young voters with Biden’s handling of the Israel-Palestine conflict but cautioned against exacerbating the situation by voting for alternatives like Donald Trump or third-party candidates. Instead, he urged support for progressive candidates who are challenging the status quo and emphasized the importance of grassroots efforts to influence policy on Israel.
