The White House faces growing pressure from Capitol Hill as lawmakers, even some of President Biden's allies, call for stronger action on the Gaza humanitarian crisis.
This is where you have to be careful with how people view the words they’re using versus how you or others might view them. I don’t think Biden would say that describing himself as “a zionist” means he’s in favor of a Palestinian genocide. But there are people who use that word that way, especially Israeli far right extremists, so it’s a word I think he really should have stayed away from using. Another example that might help you see what I mean is looking at Rashida Tlaib (pro-palestinian democrat) who is catching flack for her “from the river to the sea” comment. Now she prefers a one state solution with equal rights for all (Biden and mainline democratic position is a two state solution, which I personally think is more feasible as well since both Palestinians and Israelis seemed determined to have theocratic aspects to their government which could never really be compatible). I don’t believe for a second that she thinks that comment means she supports the killing or removal of all Jewish people in Israel, but there are people like Hamas who absolutely use the phrase that way, so it probably wasn’t the wisest way to describe her position. Biden not known for careful word choice unfortunately, which is really needed in a situation like this.
If Biden and democrats were some genocidal maniacs on par with Netanhayu, why does the Israeli far right and Netanhayu constantly work to undermine Biden and democrats and support republicans and Trump? I’m not saying Biden is at the exact place policy wise you or I would probably prefer, but conflating very different positions isn’t helpful and might undermine your goals.
This is where you have to be careful with how people view the words they’re using versus how you or others might view them. I don’t think Biden would say that describing himself as “a zionist” means he’s in favor of a Palestinian genocide. But there are people who use that word that way, especially Israeli far right extremists, so it’s a word I think he really should have stayed away from using. Another example that might help you see what I mean is looking at Rashida Tlaib (pro-palestinian democrat) who is catching flack for her “from the river to the sea” comment. Now she prefers a one state solution with equal rights for all (Biden and mainline democratic position is a two state solution, which I personally think is more feasible as well since both Palestinians and Israelis seemed determined to have theocratic aspects to their government which could never really be compatible). I don’t believe for a second that she thinks that comment means she supports the killing or removal of all Jewish people in Israel, but there are people like Hamas who absolutely use the phrase that way, so it probably wasn’t the wisest way to describe her position. Biden not known for careful word choice unfortunately, which is really needed in a situation like this.
If Biden and democrats were some genocidal maniacs on par with Netanhayu, why does the Israeli far right and Netanhayu constantly work to undermine Biden and democrats and support republicans and Trump? I’m not saying Biden is at the exact place policy wise you or I would probably prefer, but conflating very different positions isn’t helpful and might undermine your goals.