Republicans say Biden is being tougher on Israel than Hamas during college riots.
Republican senators have accused President Biden of showing more criticism towards U.S. ally Israel than the anti-Israel and antisemitic riots that have emerged from protests on some college campuses nationwide. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., expressed his concerns during a press conference, stating that Biden is exerting more pressure on Israel than on Hamas or pro-Hamas groups present on American campuses.
Cotton pointed out what he referred to as “antisemitic elements” within the Democratic Party that he claims have been allowed to thrive under Biden’s administration. Biden has openly criticized Israel and highlighted disagreements between the U.S. and Israel publicly, particularly as Israel continues to combat Hamas in Gaza.
President Biden and his team have emphasized their worries about Israel’s efforts to minimize civilian casualties while fighting Hamas. Biden even went as far as threatening that U.S. policy towards Israel would hinge on the country reducing civilian deaths after seven aid workers were killed in an Israeli strike.
The initial encampment protesting Israel’s actions began at Columbia University in New York City last month and escalated over two weeks, leading to demonstrators taking over a campus building. This prompted the university to bring in the New York City Police Department (NYPD), resulting in approximately 300 arrests at both Columbia and City College overnight between April 30 and May 1.
Following the events at Columbia University, there have been around 47 anti-Israel protests at the top 50 universities in the U.S. as ranked by the U.S. News and World Report in 2024.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., stated that Biden could swiftly put an end to these protests by calling universities and threatening to cut their federal funding. Kennedy criticized Biden, mentioning poor approval ratings and suggesting that the president is hesitant to upset the Hamas faction of the Democratic Party.
Sen. Tom Cotton described the anti-Israel protests on college campuses as “little Gazas” filled with antisemitic sentiments and support for Hamas. Cotton urged Biden to condemn the “Hamas campus sympathizers” and support Israel’s efforts to defend itself without hesitation.
A White House spokesperson, Andrew Bates, released a statement affirming President Biden’s opposition to antisemitism and violent rhetoric. Bates emphasized the importance of peaceful and lawful protests, condemning the violent takeover of buildings and the promotion of hate speech.
Despite these statements, President Biden has not directly condemned the protests and riots nor shown any indication of federal intervention. Sen. Cotton has continued to urge various government departments to address and counter the escalating protests and riots, including revoking visas and investigating funding sources behind the movements.
Cotton was supported in his stance by fellow Republican Senators such as James Lankford, Rick Scott, Joni Ernst, John Cornyn, and Roger Marshall, all echoing the calls for action against the anti-Israel protests on college campuses.
