Biden pushing Israel to slow down killing his pali friends and upsetting godless
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-israel-netanyahu-significant-de-escalation-gaza-conflictBiden tells Israel's Netanyahu he expects 'significant de-escalation' of Gaza conflict
Israel has been responding to rocket attacks from Hamas
By Adam Shaw | Fox News
Biden joked about running over a reporter who asked about Israel
President Biden on Wednesday told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he expects "a significant de-escalation" as part of the move to a potential cease-fire between Israel and Hamas – as he faces pressure from the left of the Democratic Party on the conflict.
Biden spoke to Netanyahu early Wednesday, and the White House said the two "had a detailed discussion of the state of events in Gaza, Israel’s progress in degrading the capabilities of Hamas and other terrorist elements, and ongoing diplomatic efforts by regional governments and the United States."
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"The President conveyed to the Prime Minister that he expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire," the White House said.
Israel has been responding to rocket attacks from Hamas with measures of its own, including airstrikes of key Hamas targets. It has faced criticism for the reported 200+ Palestinians killed, as well as strikes such as that on an evacuated media building – although the Israel Defense Force said that it was being used by Hamas, with media outlets being used as cover.
The Biden administration has been supportive of Israel so far, giving clear backing for Israel's right to defend itself, and emphasizing that Hamas is a terrorist organization.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted Thursday that there are "fundamental differences between a terrorist organization, Hamas, that is indiscriminately raining down rockets -- in fact, targeting civilians -- and Israel's response defending itself, that is targeting the terrorists." Biden similarly said that Israel "has a right to defend itself."
But the Associated Press reported that top Biden administration officials have told the Israelis privately that time is not on their side in terms of international objections to nine days of Israeli airstrikes and Hamas rockets, and that it is in their interest to wind down the operations soon.
Biden is increasingly facing pressure from the left of his own party to ramp up pressure on the U.S. ally, with a number of Democrats complaining that Biden has not been tougher against Israel. A number have objected to a pending $735 million sale of precision-guided missiles to Israel. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas said he has "serious concerns about the timing of this weapons sale, the message it will send to Israel and the world about the urgency of a cease fire."
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Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has blamed "right-wing extremists in Jerusalem" for the violence, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has been critical of Biden's support for Israel.
Diplomatic efforts accelerate for Israel-Hamas ceasefire as violence continuesVideo
"Blanket statements like these [with] little context or acknowledgment of what precipitated this cycle of violence - namely, the expulsions of Palestinians and attacks on Al Aqsa - dehumanize Palestinians [and] imply the US will look the other way at human rights violations. It’s wrong," she tweeted last week.
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"By only stepping in to name Hamas’ actions - which are condemnable - [and] refusing to acknowledge the rights of Palestinians, Biden reinforces the false idea that Palestinians instigated this cycle of violence," she added. "This is not neutral language. It takes a side - the side of occupation."
On Tuesday, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., appeared to have a heated conversation with Biden as he arrived in Michigan on Tuesday. Tlaib, who has Palestinian heritage, has been a vocal critic of Israel and of the administration's response to the conflict.
"If you support a cease-fire, then get out of the way of the U.N. Security Council and join other countries in demanding it," she said in a tweet on Monday directed at the president and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
"Apartheid-in-chief Netanyahu will not listen to anyone asking nicely," she continued. "He commits war crimes and openly violates international law."
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Moments later, Biden praised Tlaib as he spoke in Dearborn.
"I want to say to you that I admire your intellect, I admire your passion, and I admire your concern for so many other people. And it's from my heart," Biden said. "I pray that your Grandma and family are well, I promise to do everything you see that they are in the West Bank."
Fox News' Peter Hasson and Caitlin McFall contributed to this report, as well as The Associated Press.
Adam Shaw is a reporter covering U.S. and Europe
