President Joe Biden on Monday said Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not doing enough to secure the release of hostages in brief remarks made after the recovery of the bodies of six who were captured by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, including U.S. citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
Biden made the remarks ahead of his Monday rally in Pennsylvania with Vice President Kamala Harris, who Republicans have suggested was influenced by concerns of antisemitism within the Democratic Party when she passed over Governor Josh Shapiro and instead picked Governor Tim Walz to complete her presidential ticket.
In a moment captured by media, Biden was asked whether Netanyahu is “doing enough” to secure the release of hostages from Gaza.
“No,” said Biden.
Q: Do you think Netanyahu is doing enough?
BIDEN: No pic.twitter.com/IGz44B6M3B
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 2, 2024
It was later claimed by CNN the statement put Biden and Netanyahu at odds, with a senior Israeli source reportedly telling the outlet the president’s statement was “remarkable” after both the United States and Israel agreed to terms, but Hamas “continues to oppose any deals.”
When asked about the status of an agreement to secure the release of hostages, the president told reporters the Biden-Harris administration is “very close to that,” but when asked to explain his confidence, replied, “Hope springs eternal.”
Biden also indicated he spoke to the Goldberg-Polin family, who he suggested remain resolute in their advocacy for the release of surviving hostages.
“I’ve spoken to the American hostage, I’ve spoken to his mom and dad, and they’re not giving up,” said Biden. “They’re going to continue to push as hard as they can.”
Biden’s suggestion Netanyahu should be doing more to achieve an end to the hostilities may improve the Biden-Harris administration’s popularity among Democrats, as polling found just 13 percent of the party’s voters expressed any level of confidence in the prime minister’s leadership.
It also comes as Harris has reportedly nearly lost the Muslim vote to Dr. Jill Stein, the Green Party presidential candidate, according to polling commissioned by the controversial Center for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which was designated a terrorist organization by the United Arab Emirates in 2014.
That survey found 29.4 percent of American Muslims support Harris, while 29.1 percent support Stein.
An additional 11.2 percent support former President Donald Trump, while pollsters found Dr. Cornel West at 4.2 percent of support, and 16.5 percent of Muslim American voters still undecided.
Republicans have suggested it was concern over these voters and their perception of the governor that precluded Harris from selecting Shapiro, who is Jewish and a vocal supporter of Israel, as her vice presidential nominee.
U.S. Senate nominee Dave McCormick said it was “hard to imagine” Shapiro’s faith and support for Israel “didn’t somehow factor into the decision,” while Republican House candidate Alfe Goodwin recently told The Pennsylvania Daily Star the Harris campaign likely considered Michigan unwinnable with the inclusion of the governor.
“With Governor Shapiro, because he is pro-Israel… forget Michigan, right?” Goodwin explained, “[Harris] knew that she could forget Michigan with Shapiro. It just wasn’t going to happen.”
Shapiro has denied antisemitism played a role in the Harris campaign’s decision.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
