Biden Faces Party Divide as Antisemitism Speech Looms

Democratic lawmaker Jake Auchincloss urges President Biden to condemn the left-wing of his party on antisemitism, as Biden faces pressure from both sides on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

President Joe Biden is grappling with a growing divide within the Democratic Party as he prepares to address the surge in antisemitism during a speech on Tuesday. Representative Jake Auchincloss has called on Biden to unequivocally condemn the left-wing of the party, while other lawmakers and voters express concerns over Biden's stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Biden has faced intense criticism from progressives within his party over the U.S. alliance with Israel amid the ongoing war with Hamas. Some members of the left flank have accused Biden of supporting the wrong side and urged him to adopt a more critical stance towards Israel. In a recent CNN interview, Biden vowed to withhold weapons from Israel if it proceeded with its invasion of Rafah, Hamas' last stronghold in Gaza.

However, this announcement was met with backlash from some Democrats, including Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, who described it as "deeply disappointing." Others, such as Representative Pramila Jayapal, supported Biden's decision, calling it an "important turning point" in the conflict.

The divide within the Democratic Party is particularly evident among younger voters. Some young Democrats have expressed frustration with Biden's position on Israel, arguing that he is appeasing the left-wing of the party at the expense of Israel's security. Others, however, have emphasized the importance of supporting Biden despite their disagreement with his stance on the issue, citing concerns about the potential consequences of a Trump presidency.

David Jacobson, a Democratic voter in Pennsylvania, expressed disappointment over Biden's decision to withhold military aid to Israel, accusing him of bowing to political pressure from the party's left wing. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Alex Toren, another Democratic voter, acknowledged his disagreement with Biden on Israel but stressed that the stakes in the upcoming election were too high to consider not supporting the president.

The Biden campaign has declined to comment on the growing rift within the party. As Biden prepares to deliver his speech addressing antisemitism, he faces the daunting task of trying to bridge the divide and maintain the unity of his diverse political coalition.