More Dems support Biden on Mideast
WASHINGTON — Democratic views on how President Joe Biden is handling the decades-old conflict between Israelis and Palestinians have rebounded slightly, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
The shift occurred during a time in which Biden and top US officials expressed increased concern about civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip, emphasized the need for a future independent Palestinian state and helped secure the release of hostages held by Hamas during a temporary truce.
Fifty-nine percent of Democrats approve of Biden’s approach to the conflict, a tick up from 50% in November. His latest standing is roughly equivalent to Democrats’ 57% approval rating for him on the issue in an August poll, conducted well before the latest war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel.
Still, the issue remains divisive among Democrats, who are less enthusiastic about Biden’s handling of the war than his overall job performance. Seventy-five percent of Democrats said Biden is doing well as president, also up slightly from 69% last month. His approval rating among US adults stands at 41%.
Views on the Middle East could shift again now that fighting has resumed in the Gaza Strip, where Hamas is headquartered and thousands of Palestinian civilians have been killed by Israeli strikes.
Greg Baird, 61, said Biden is “doing the best he can with a really, really bad situation.”
“It’s a high wire act,” Baird said. The owner of a print shop in Georgia, he began voting for Democrats after President Donald Trump took office.
“Israel is an ally,” Baird said. “Our strongest ally in that part of the world. We have to stand by them.”
Ginger Sommers, 47, had a similar view.
“I think what he’s doing right now is the best that he can do,” said Sommers, a registered Democrat who owns a restaurant in Arkansas.
“If Trump was in office, lord knows what would be going on,” she added. “I don’t even want to think about that.”
Biden has defended his approach to the war, which has included steadfast support for Israel. He’s argued that his closeness with Israeli leadership has enabled more humanitarian aid to reach civilians in Gaza.