Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) expressed her concern over President Joe Biden‘s position regarding Israel, warning him that it could cost him support among his base in 2024.
In an appearance on NBC News’s Meet the Press, Jayapal expressed her support for Biden but pushed back on his stance toward Israel. She warned that his strong support for the Middle Eastern nation could cost him support among much of his base, who she said are on a different page in regard to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
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“The president needs to be just as courageous on this issue so that we keep the unity within our country for the support of the incredible things he has done,” the Washington Democrat said. “He is, I think, you know, going to be challenged to explain an issue of this moral significance to people. The American people are actually quite far away from where the president and even Congress, the majority of Congress, has been on Israel and Gaza. They support the right for Israel to defend itself, to exist, but they do not support a war crime exchanged for another war crime. And I think the president has to be careful about that.”
She went on to stress her personal relationship with Biden and make a personal appeal for him to rethink his stance on the issue.
“I would call him to bring us to a higher place … to really call to the American people on a moral issue of this nature. And then I think we can go forward and talk about the incredible things that he has done, but I am certainly concerned about his approach to this,” she continued.
WATCH: @RepJayapal (D-Wash.) has been “one of President Biden’s biggest supporters” but worries that his response to Israel will cost him support from Arab and Muslim voters.
“I am certainly concerned about his approach. … He needs to call us to a higher moral place.” pic.twitter.com/VT4jTCmgG6
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) October 29, 2023
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Jayapal tempered her message by expressing her full support for Biden’s presidential reelection campaign and denouncing Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) for announcing a run against him.
Biden’s staunch support for Israel has exposed fault lines within the Democratic Party, as younger, progressive representatives continue to denounce Israel’s behavior in the conflict and call for more support for the Palestinian cause.
