US President Joe Biden raised a record $25m (£19.8m) on Thursday night at a fundraiser attended by Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and other high-profile figures.
Biden and Obama traveled to New York on Air Force One, the presidential plane, to attend the late night show Host Stephen Colbert hosts the show at Radio City Music Hall, and tickets to the event reportedly cost between $250 and $500,000.
But the scene was disrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters, who called the US president a “war criminal” and accused Biden of having “blood on his hands.”
Upon arriving at the event, the three leaders were met by hundreds of protesters protesting Biden’s stance on Israel’s bombing of Gaza, chants of “Genocide Joe must go!” rang out across New York City. As internal discussions unfolded, protesters interrupted speeches by all three presidents to denounce Biden’s support for Israel. Israel has killed more than 32,000 people in Gaza since a Hamas attack on October 7 that killed 1,200 Israelis.
One protester shouted: “You’re crazy!” Another yelled: “Shame on you, Joe Biden, you’re funding genocide in Palestine” – before she was led away by security.
Two former presidents chimed in on behalf of their predecessors to defend the White House’s handling of Israel’s war in Gaza. “One of the realities of being president is that there is a lot of joy and beauty in the world, but there is also a lot of tragedy and cruelty,” said Obama, who is known for his oratory skills.
He added that people “often understandably want to feel purity in decisions”. “But the president doesn’t have that luxury.”
Todd Landman, professor of political science at the University of Nottingham, said I: “Destruction is a common feature of these events.
“Obama tried to help Biden, saying hard decisions were unpopular and talking about the complexity of the situation, but people just want an end to the violence, that’s all. It shows that a significant number of voters are willing to speak out against what’s happening in Gaza – which Whether that will erode votes in the election remains to be seen.”
A Gallup poll A survey released on Wednesday showed that 55% of Americans disapprove of Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, up from 45% who disapproved in November, a month after Israel began its operations. Among Democratic voters, the proportion is even higher, with 75% of respondents expressing a negative view of Israel’s actions.
The U.S. abstained from voting on a recent UN Security Council motion calling for a temporary but “immediate” ceasefire, which was passed after being defeated.
U.S. officials have repeatedly called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to invade Rafah in southern Gaza, an area previously designated as a safe zone by the Israeli military.
Thomas Gift, associate professor of political science at University College London I: “Biden is caught in a Catch-22 of Israel’s war with Hamas.
“The diversity of the Democratic Party ensures that any move by Joe Biden towards him in any way will easily trigger a political backlash. There is certainly a risk that unless Biden puts more pressure on Israel to reduce its bombing campaign, the progressive left will be stay at home.
“At the same time, Biden could lose votes in the Jewish community by not fully supporting Israel.”
Elsewhere in New York on Thursday, embattled former President Donald Trump, Biden’s Republican challenger in November’s election, attended a wake for a dead police officer.
While Trump has maintained a narrow lead over the US president in polls despite facing a series of criminal court cases, Biden’s support has surged. get along with In key battleground states, the latest data shows the candidates are neck-and-neck.
Meanwhile, Republican voters tend to be more supportive of Israel. A Gallup poll showed that Republicans still support Israel’s military attack on Gaza, but support for Israel fell to 64% from 71% in November.
Trump was criticized earlier this month for comments he made about Jewish Democrats. America First Radio show: “Any Jew who votes Democratic… [hates] Everything about Israel. “
the former president told an Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom In an interview: “You have to end your war, you have to end it, you have to finish it.”
“On Israel, Trump said he wanted them to ‘get the job done,'” Mr. Landman said. It was a classic macho response, but Trump is erratic and goes with the flow, so you can’t Read too much into anything he says. “
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