According to a new survey, about one-third of Democratic voters think Joe Biden ought to take a “harder” stance against Israel.
Months after the catastrophic October 7 onslaught by Hamas, which killed over 1,200 Israelis and captured over 200 more, Biden has persisted in stating that his support for Israel is “ironclad.”
Israel has been conducting a self-defense operation in Gaza since the incident on October 7.
Famine has begun in Gaza, an area controlled by Hamas, as Israel has persisted in its self-defense operation.
The president urged Israel to call for a ceasefire and stated his disapproval of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “approach” to counterterrorism.
Regarding the Israel and Hamas fighting, a Politico/Morning Consult poll that surveyed 6,004 registered voters from April 5th to 7th revealed that 33% of Democratic voters think Biden has not been tough enough on Israel, while 8% think he has been too tough. Meanwhile, 42% of Democratic voters said Biden’s strategy is just right.
Only 12% of Republicans and 19% of independents said Biden ought to take a more rigid stance against Israel when questioned.
A total of 34% of voters think Biden has been too soft on Israel, while 17% think he has been too hard.
By way of comparison, 16% of Democrats said they sympathized more with Israelis and 22% with Palestinians when asked which group they felt greater compassion for. The percentage of those who feel empathy for both sides is 44%.
However, whereas only 25% of independents felt the same way about Israelis, 46% of Republicans did. Out of all registered voters, 7% of Republicans and 13% of independents identified as more sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.
The publication of the survey follows Iran’s Saturday night and early Sunday morning firing of long-range drones against Israel. Over 300 Iranian drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles were launched at Israel. However, most of these were intercepted by Israel’s air defense systems.
37% of Americans said Biden should urge Israel to end its military operation in Gaza, while 23% thought he should push Israel to reduce its military measures, according to a recent CBS News/YouGov survey. Meanwhile, 28% of Americans supported maintaining current military activities, while 12% supported Biden’s call for Israel to further up its military presence.
