2 weeks ago
Republican senators connected Wednesday accused President Biden of being much captious of U.S. state Israel than nan anti-Israel and antisemitic riots that person evolved retired of protests connected immoderate assemblage campuses crossed nan country.
"Joe Biden is putting much unit connected Israel these days than he is connected Hamas itself aliases connected nan pro-Hamas chapters connected America's campuses," Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said during a property conference.
Cotton said this wasn't surprising, citing what he said were "antisemitic elements" of nan Democratic Party that person been allowed to "fester and turn for years" nether Biden's watch. Biden has notably criticized Israel and fto disagreements betwixt nan state and nan U.S. beryllium known publically arsenic Israel continues to conflict nan violent group Hamas successful Gaza.
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Sen. Tom Cotton and different Republicans slammed President Biden for what they alleged was amended curen for anti-Israel rioters than U.S. state Israel. (Getty Images)
Biden and his administration's officials person connected respective occasions stressed concerns astir Israel's actions to curb civilian deaths arsenic it fights Hamas. The president moreover threatened that U.S. argumentation toward Israel would beryllium limited connected nan state minimizing civilian casualties aft 7 assistance workers were precocious killed by an Israeli strike.
An encampment protesting Israel's actions initially began astatine Columbia University successful New York City past month, escalating complete nan people of astir 2 weeks pinch demonstrators yet taking complete a field building. After nan building was taken over, nan assemblage opted to erstwhile again telephone successful nan New York City Police Department (NYPD), which arrested 108 people, giving each a trespassing summons.
Following nan opening of Columbia's encampment, which gained nationalist media coverage, location person been astatine slightest 47 anti-Israel protests astatine nan apical 50 universities, arsenic classed by nan U.S. News and World Report successful 2024.
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A student protester parades a Palestinian emblem extracurricular nan entranceway to Hamilton Hall connected nan field of Columbia University successful New York City connected April 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer/Pool)
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said Biden "could extremity this worldly connected a dime" if he chose, suggesting nan president could telephone universities and frighten their national backing to motivate them to break up nan unruly demonstrations.
However, he said, "It conscionable goes to show you that moreover aged group tin s--k," successful reference to Biden, who is 81 years old.
Kennedy besides pointed to mediocre polling for nan president, saying that Biden is not taking action because he is "scared to decease to alienate nan Hamas helping of nan Democratic Party."
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NYPD officers patrol arsenic anti-Israel protesters show extracurricular Columbia University’s field successful New York City connected April 18, 2024. (Peter Gerber for Fox News Digital)
Cotton excoriated nan demonstrations, describing them arsenic "little Gazas that person risen up connected campuses crossed America." He besides called them "disgusting cesspools of antisemitic hate, afloat of pro-Hamas sympathizers."
"Fanatics and freaks," Cotton added.
According to nan Arkansas senator, Biden needs to condemn nan "Hamas field sympathizers" without "equivocating astir Israelis fighting a righteous warfare of survival."
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White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said successful a connection Tuesday, "President Biden has stood against repugnant, antisemitic smears and convulsive rhetoric his full life. He condemns nan usage of nan word ‘intifada,’ arsenic he has nan different tragic and vulnerable dislike reside displayed successful caller days. President Biden respects nan correct to free expression, but protests must beryllium serene and lawful. Forcibly taking complete buildings is not serene – it is wrong. And dislike reside and dislike symbols person nary spot successful America."
President Biden speaks during a run arena astatine nan Martin Luther King Recreation Center successful Philadelphia connected April 18, 2024. (Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
However, Biden hasn't made nonstop comments condemning nan protests and riots and has not indicated immoderate national action.
Cotton reiterated his calls connected nan departments of State, Homeland Security, Justice and Education to reside nan escalating protests and riots. He urged them to revoke visas for students participating and deport them, analyse immoderate backing down nan protests, and extremity backing schools that "won't protect nan civilian authorities of their Jewish students."
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Cotton and Kennedy were joined by Republican Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma, Rick Scott of Florida, Joni Ernst of Iowa, John Cornyn of Texas and Roger Marshall of Kansas.
The White House did not instantly supply remark to Fox News Digital.
Julia Johnson is simply a authorities writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, starring sum of nan U.S. Senate. She was antecedently a authorities newsman astatine nan Washington Examiner.
Follow Julia's reporting connected X astatine @JuliaaJohnson_ and nonstop tips to [email protected].
