‘Stop It Now’: Jill Biden Privately Urges an End to Conflict in Gaza
‘Stop It Now’: Jill Biden Privately Urges an End to Conflict in Gaza
The president recounted the first lady’s concerns as he was pressed about the war at a meeting with Muslim community members.
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Serious question- what could\would Biden do to end the conflict?
Even if the president could somehow by executive order alone withdraw all material support from Israel, or even threatened to- do people think Netanyahu would just say 'uncle' and just pull out and let aide into Gaza because the US said so?
I dunno, let's try. Biden's problem is less that he can't stop Israel and more that he's not even trying. Even if he shut off the tap and they continued without missing a beat, that at least removes him as a supporter of the genocide.
Also, Israel has stopped wars before because the American president told them to. Hell, Biden himself has exercised this influence.
In May 2021, Israel bombed the strip for 11 straight days, killing more than 100 Palestinians, including 66 children. Over that same period, Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups in Gaza fired more than 4,000 rockets at Israel, killing 14 civilians. Then as now, Netanyahu rejected calls for a ceasefire – from Hamas, as well as from France, Egypt and Jordan.
But guess who he couldn’t reject? Yes, the president of the United States. “We need to accomplish more,” pleaded Netanyahu when Biden called him on 19 May, according to the journalist Franklin Foer. The president’s response? “Hey, man, we are out of runway here. It’s over.”
Two days later, a ceasefire was announced. And, less than a month later, the Israeli prime minister had been ejected from office.
He can veto bills funding Israel and the current aid Israel is getting is through executive powers passed previously.
There are also laws on the books that disallow aid to countries with human rights violations that are easy to invoke.
Biden can also unilaterally put sanctions/tariffs on Israel.
There's no somehow about it, he can stop funding today.
And will that do something? Almost certainly because the US is Israel's largest supporter (by a long shot). Bebe can, of course, ignore this. However, that'd destroy Israel's economy.
He could have his state department label the IDF as a terrorist organization and have US diplomats stop blocking UN resolutions.
Then Iran just kicks down the doors in Israel.
I thought op was asking a serious question, but now it was more of an opening the door type scenario for typical r/politics users to shill for Israel.
Israel relies on the the fear machine they themselves created. When Israel says Iran will destroy them, they mean that they are planning on destroying Iran after Palestine. When you hear Israel talk about terrorist killing children and raping women, it is because they are the ones killing children and raping women. I mean yeah, they might have to send money to terrorists every so often to sacrifice a few of their own but then they get free reign to go kill 100x or 1000x that afterwards. The US politicians supporting their efforts have no shame for the money they receive from the Israeli lobby, and if you question the conflict of interests they can just have you painted as an antisemite.
typical r/politics users
Aaah I see. I came here from all and was surprised at the tone of the comments in here.
Yes, very sad. Anyways.
do people think Netanyahu would just say ‘uncle’
No, but if their national security was contingent on it I do think the Israelis would suddenly work out a way to get rid of Netanyahu after all.
Nothing
The current Israeli government (made up of a bunch of religious fanatics and fascists) is very unpopular, the only thing keeping them in power is the war. Also, the war itself is extremely popular in Israel.
This government has already made moves which seriously hurt Israel's democracy, economy and security, months before the war even started.
As the commander in chief he already has the power to stop arms transfers. Full stop. This is legally justified by laws on the books that America cannot be complicit in genocide, which is clearly what’s happening in Gaza.
With America applying pressure and cooperating with the UN, peacekeeping troops could be on the ground in a matter of days to prevent further civilian casualties and ensure an end to the famine. Bibi is a genocidal maniac, but I’m not sure he’d risk slaughtering NATO troops, as that’s quite a step beyond aid workers.
So yeah, Biden single handedly does have the power to end this bloodshed. Will he? Hell no. Biden has proven many times throughout his career he is an extreme Zionist. He’s on Bibi’s side, which is why the US state dept is going to such great lengths to provide Israel cover.
As the commander in chief he already has the power to stop arms transfers. Full stop.
lol- you really don't know how any of this works.
Ok, tell me more about your expert knowledge of the Arms Transfer Control Act of 1976. Or stfu.
lol again- because that's not the part I was loling about before. You don't understand how US support for Israel works if you think stopping arms transfers would have a meaningful effect on the Gaza conflict.
If it won't have any effect then what's the problem?
I guess you missed where I said 'material support'.
Can you think of any 'material' other than arms that might matter to Israel?
I don't care.
Biden wants my vote, those are the terms. If he thinks he can win without it or a loss to Trump isn't a big deal then he can just keep doing what he's doing.
Right on- thanks for surrendering your choice to me.
Serious question- what could\would Biden do to end the conflict?
Stop selling them weapons.
He barely mentioned conditioning support and they said they'll let in aid. Netanyahu depends on US support to wage his genocide. You refuse to even call it a genocide, which explains why you're pretending that Biden's hands are tied.
I'm with you. And anyone who seriously considers that hypothetical should think long and hard about how the rest of the region would respond if we suddenly stopped arming Israel. Imagine what Iran would do on day 1 if they woke up to a headline that said, "US cuts support for Israel."
I see that scenario ending catastrophically.
Maybe they shouldn't provoke everyone else in the region then.
Israel bombed an Iranian Embassy--and Iran is just expected to shrug it off? No we can't possibly think of cutting military support to the country literally using their military to commit a genocide and attack it's neighbors. Its neighbors might fight back and that would be bad!
Israel is behaving like the school yard bully whose "Dad is a lawyer!" except in this case their dad is also an enabler.
I don't disagree, but you're not going to like how the other kids in the school yard handle the situation either.
It would also be a huge boost for countries like Russia and China. Both strategically, and as a new customer for weapons.