President Joe Biden's policy on Israel is causing deep divisions in the Democratic Party, according to a new poll.
An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll released on Thursday shows that while 50% of his party approves of how he has handled the war between Israel and Hamas, which started when Hamas terrorists attacked the Jewish state on Oct. 7, 46% disapprove of how he has handled the conflict.The survey of 1,239 adults conducted from Nov. 2-6 also showed that Democrats are split on whether the U.S. is giving too much or the right amount of support to Israel amid the conflict.
When looking at the Democrats who disapprove of Biden's handling of the conflict, a similar number say Israel and Hamas have"a lot" of responsibility for the current war, at 56% and 55%, respectively. Among Democrats who approve of Biden's handling of the war, only 32% say Israel has"a lot" of responsibility for the conflict compared to 76% who say Hamas has"a lot" of responsibility for the current war.
Biden has been a supporter of Israel's right to defend itself after the terrorist attack last month, but has also pushed for a humanitarian pause to give aid to people in Gaza. His stance supporting the Jewish state has caused an uproar from some in the left wing of his party.Rep. Rashida Tlaib has been the most vocal opponent of Biden's Israel stance from within his party, including claiming that he is"cheering on" Israel's"ethnic cleansing.
Tlaib's various controversial comments have garnered condemnations from members of both political parties and a censure in the House of Representatives.