War in Israel a new front in US election campaign
Hamas assault on Israel has opened up a new front in the US election campaign as Republicans accuse President Joe Biden of being soft in his defense of Israel and in his handling of Iran.
«I think this is a great opportunity for our candidates to contrast where Republicans have stood with Israel — time and time again — and Joe Biden has been weak,» Ronna McDaniel, chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, said Saturday on Fox News.
Americans will choose a new president and control of Congress in November 2024, with Biden, 80, seeking another term in a race that looks likely to pit him against former president Donald Trump as the Republican candidate.
Trump used the stunning Hamas attack by land, sea and air at dawn Saturday to target Biden.
«The Israeli attack was made because we are perceived as weak and ineffective and with a very weak leader,» he said.
Other Republican presidential hopefuls, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former vice president Mike Pence, also dimissed Biden as weak.
A stern-faced Biden gave a short speech from the White House on Saturday to stress firm US support for Israel.
«Today, the people of Israel are under attack, orchestrated by a terrorist organization, Hamas,» Biden said.
«In this moment of tragedy, I want to say to them and to the world and to terrorists everywhere that the United States stands with Israel.
We will not ever fail to have their back.»
Republicans zeroed in on a recent decision by the Biden administration to release $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue frozen in South Korea in exchange for the release of five Americans who were being held prisoner in Iran.
Tehran is the main sponsor of Hamas, which the United States and other countries classify as a
