Stefanik Slams Biden's 'Equivocal' Israel Support, Attributes it to Failing Polls

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) criticized President Biden's "weak" and "failed" leadership on Israel, citing it as a factor contributing to his declining approval ratings.

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), the third-highest ranking Republican in the House, has delivered a sharp rebuke of President Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, attributing it to his waning popularity.

During an appearance on "Fox News Sunday," Stefanik defended her recent speech to the Israeli Knesset, in which she excoriated Biden's "betrayal of the importance of the U.S.-Israel alliance."

"The world needs to know, and Israel needs to know, that the House Republican majority stands strongly with Israel," Stefanik said. "This equivocation, this weak, failed leadership that we are seeing from Joe Biden, that’s not where the American people are, that’s not where the United States Congress is."

Stefanik pointed to the House legislation that rebuked Biden for pausing a shipment of bombs to Israel as evidence of the Republican Party's unwavering support for Israel.

"Debate over the bill showed Washington's deeply fractured outlook on the Israel-Hamas war," she said. "The White House and Democratic leadership scrambled to rally support from a House caucus that ranges from moderates frustrated that the president would allow any daylight between the U.S. and Israel to progressives outraged that he is still sending any weapons at all."

The bill passed with the support of 16 Democrats, demonstrating the Republican Party's ability to influence House votes, despite not controlling the majority.

Stefanik further denounced the alleged equivocation from Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's call for replacing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"That is not the type of leadership we need to be seeing from the highest levels of the United States of America," she said. "House Republicans stand strongly with Israel at their time of existential need."

Stefanik's comments come amid ongoing cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas, led by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. The conflict has resulted in thousands of casualties and widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip.

Despite concerns raised by Amnesty International about the potential misuse of U.S. weapons, Stefanik maintains that Israel respects human rights and uses its weapons responsibly.

"Hamas uses civilians as shields, while Israel has great respect when it comes to human rights," she said. "That’s why the United States stands fully with Israel, and that’s why they need to be a voice of truth, as antisemitic propaganda are being shared around the world by perpetrators who support this terrorism."

Stefanik's strong stance on Israel reflects the Republican Party's longstanding support for the Jewish state. It also underscores the growing rift between the two major American political parties on foreign policy, with Republicans taking a more hawkish approach and Democrats advocating for a more nuanced and multilateral approach.