By Luis De Jesus
May 7, 2024, 7:48 PM EDT
US President Joe Biden reaffirmed his commitment to Israel on Tuesday during a speech at the Holocaust Memorial Museum at the US Capitol in Washington to remember the victims of the systematic genocide perpetrated by the Nazi regime during World War II. .
He stressed that his commitment to the security of the Jewish people and Israel’s right to exist as an independent state is unwavering, even when there are disagreements with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his policies that have affected the population of the Gaza Strip.
During his speech, Joe Biden also condemned the “fierce rise in anti-Semitism in the United States” and warned about the persistent hatred rooted in many hearts around the world, the Efe news agency published.
In addition, he made mention of the attack carried out by the Islamist group Hamas on October 7, emphasizing that this terrorist act resulted in the loss of 1,200 Israeli lives. He stressed the importance of remembering who was responsible and reaffirmed his commitment to keeping that memory alive.
In the United States “there is no link for anti-Semitism”
The US president also addressed recent protests at US universities against the conflict in Gaza and emphasized that there is no place for anti-Semitism on any campus or anywhere in the United States.
Biden expressed his solidarity with the Jewish community and assured that, as president, they will not be alone.
He also adopted a harsh discourse regarding the protests, considering them violent and anti-Semitic, despite the fact that the majority have taken place peacefully. This position, Efe noted, has reflected the pressure he faces before the November elections, for which he seeks the support of the young vote protesting in the universities, as well as the independent electorate, more favorable to Israel.
Meanwhile, his future election rival, former President Donald Trump, has used the protests to question Joe Biden’s support for Israel. The Republican’s campaign released a video that intersperses images of the protests on campus with statements by the Democrat and fragments of his visit to Israel, in an attempt to discredit the current president’s position.
In this politically delicate context, Biden seeks to balance support for Israel with the defense of human rights and freedom of expression, facing criticism from both his opponents and his supporters.
Keep reading:
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• The Israeli army orders the evacuation of 100,000 people in Rafah due to a possible military operation
• Israel will continue negotiations with Hamas for a ceasefire while bombing areas of Rafah