Biden's web of conflict: Does the Israeli war affect his re-election?

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Wall Street Journal
15 Apr 2024 15:45
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The Wall Street Journal says that the Israeli genocide, Biden's policy, and Iran's latest attack tipped the scales of his re-election, as Biden scurries to secure approval.

President Joe Biden during his arrival on Air Force One at Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware, Friday, April 12, 2024. (AP)

When Iran published images of hundreds of attack drones to be launched against "Israel", spiking gas prices and tensions in the Middle East, US President Joe Biden found himself navigating more dangerous waters as he tried to tug the tightrope between managing the Israeli war on Gaza and his re-election.

The Iranian retaliatory operation came at a time when Biden had been urging "Israel" to scale down on its brutal conduct in Gaza, a move supported by his adversary, Donald Trump. However, the political situation shifted following Iran's response, with Republicans calling for an immediate counterattack, and Biden's administration advocating for a democratic response.

As a result, conflict catches Biden amid the risk of a wider war against Iran, and that of a possible refusal of a ceasefire in Gaza by Hamas, specifically amid Biden's insistence on providing "Israel" with more military aid despite the growing civilian death toll and the rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis.

Commenting on the situation, Ari Fleischer, who served as press secretary for Republican President George W. Bush, said “Turmoil, violence and a growing sense that international events are out of control hurt incumbents,” as opposed to "peace and quiet".

Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt stated that Biden's chosen course of action reflects the public's demands, saying, “After two decades of failed wars, Americans want a president that shows strength through diplomacy, keeps America out of direct involvement, and our military out of harm’s way,” and revealing that this is what Biden was embodying.

However, Biden is still treading water as critics coined him "Genocide Joe" for his support "Israel", even with Trump facing an abundance of lawsuits that implicate him with several charges including sexual assault and fraud.

For now, Biden's fight for office is not only endangered by "Israel" and its brutal genocide in Gaza but also by his supportive policies that have contributed to the murders of tens of thousands of Palestinians in six months only.

Biden's approval rating in free fall over handling of war on Gaza

According to three surveys done exclusively for Newsweek by Redfield & Wilton Strategies, US voters' dissatisfaction with US President Joe Biden's participation in the situation has increased dramatically since December.

The first survey of 1,500 eligible voters from around the country was conducted on October 29, 11 days following Biden's outspoken support of the Israeli occupation's war on Gaza, or as he likes to call it "self-defense".

The survey found that 37% of voters approved of his behavior and 35% disapproved.

Another poll on December 8 found that his approval rating spiked to 39%, compared to 33% who did not approve.

However, "much has happened since then," according to Newsweek.

Biden's complicity in the war on Gaza has further contributed to his disapproval rating, with 22% saying the President was greatly responsible, 23% saying "fairly" responsible, and 21% saying "somewhat responsible" for the war.

Over a quarter (23%) of Generation Z voters (born between 1997 and 2012) held Biden primarily accountable for the humanitarian crisis, and 22% of millennials (1981-1996) blamed him the most.

Osamah F. Khalil, a US foreign relations and Middle East expert, told Newsweek that youth and minorities, in particular, believe Biden's administration is complicit in the genocide.