Biden’ faith and the war in the Holy Land

President Biden is not apologetic when it comes to supporting and defending Israel. Since the early days of his political career, he has developed a network with intellectual and politicians who identify with Israel. In his recent meeting with Jewish Leaders at the White House, the President underscores his faith as a motivational factor in guiding his conduct. In answering questions from one of the Jewish community leaders, Biden asserted that he draws his strength from, “My faith. It’s not about revenge.”

For President Biden, politics and religious beliefs are one and the same. This, in fact, is one of Biden’s most defining qualities. He is at ease in articulating his religious reasoning in secular expressions without giving any impression that he is a religious person. This has enabled him to be selective in his political rhetoric and in easily gaining advantage over his adversaries.

As the events in the Holy Land take a turning point, and as emotions and anger overwhelm many people, the President was solemn in his speech (Oct. 10, 2023) and was direct in in targeting and dehumanizing Palestinians. His speech was impassioned and probably the most partial speech given by a sitting American president. Biden underscored his commitment to Israel and expressed no sympathy for the rights of Palestinians to live free and to defend themselves.

President Biden is not the only politician in Washington to view the war between Israel and Palestinians from religious lens. Senator Grahm was clear when he stated “We’re in a religious war. Likewise, Minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, called Gaza an evil land and its people must be liquidated stating, “this land filled with evil — it was described in Hebrew as Eretz Hamas. . . The Torah portion ends with a flood that eradicates this evil and an ark that saves Noah from it. . . These verses remind us of the role that Israel must now play in eradicating evil.”

However, President Biden, more than any politician, successfully paints Palestinians and Hamas as evil actors who spread misery and chaos and must pay a high price for their actions. While he is right regarding Hamas’s brutal assault on civilians, the President has given a strong impression that Palestinians must be punished. Furthermore, the President in his long political career has ignored the Palestinians’ cry for freedom and liberty.

During his visit to Israel on October 18, most people have expected that the President would heed the call for an immediate ceasefire as demanded by world leaders, Pope Francis, and the UN General Secretary, Antonio Guterres. Biden, nevertheless, has showed no feelings toward either the scope of the destruction in Gaza nor the mounting death of innocent people on both sides stating that “There is no higher priority than the release and safe return of all these hostages [taken by Hamas].”  

The President, time and again reiterated his religious beliefs as a reason for ignoring the rights for Palestinians to defend themselves and to live in dignity.  This was exemplified in his powerful saying there is “a Zionist in my heart” and “you need not be a Jew to be a Zionist.” Indeed, this unshakable belief and unwavering commitment to sideline the Palestinian cause gives the President the power to withstand the mounting pressure upon him to make food, water, and electricity accessible to about two million Palestinians under siege in Gazza. 

Accentuating this tragedy, Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency stated “Gaza is being strangled and it seems that the world right now has lost its humanity. If we look at the issue of water – we all know water is life – Gaza is running out of water, and Gaza is running out of life.” It is more likely that in his beliefs, the President considers such talk as a diversion from the main task of ending the Palestinian cause.

No wonder the President orders the USS Gerald R. Ford and the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group to be close to Israel coast to deter any potential threat to Israel. In the meantime, the President sent specialized military groups to assist Israel in conducting its war. Both he and his Secretary of State Blinken attended the meeting of the Israel war cabinet and warned Arab dictators to suppress public feelings that sympathize with the suffering of Palestinians.

Meanwhile, Jewish human rights groups such as the Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), Peace Now, and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice have called for an immediate end of the war. The JVP issued a statement stating, “For the past week, the Israeli military has been making good on its promise to ‘open the gates of hell’ on the two million Palestinians trapped under Israeli siege in Gaza.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham demands Israel to “Level the place [Gaza].” Similarly, Senator Marco Rubio called to wipeout Palestinians in Gaza stating, “this enemy must be destroyed, must be eradicated, must be eliminated.” Both senators, never cared about human rights in the Arab world and have tirelessly sought perpetual instability in the region. Their interpretation of biblical prophecies, not the love for the Jewish people, constitutes the foundation for their political stance.

Writing in the New York Times Oct. 16),  Michelle Goldberg argued that the “incitement against Palestinians, the overwhelming majority of whom have nothing to do with Hamas terrorism, is leading us toward somewhere even darker than where we are right now.” She further stated, “as atrocities are piled on atrocities, I hope Jews will attend to what is being threatened in our name. And all Americans should pay attention, given how much our country underwrites Israel’s military.”

Likewise, Sen. Bernie Sanders called the Biden Administration to restraint Israeli forces which are “attacking Gaza and work to secure U.N. humanitarian access. . . .Children and innocent people do not deserve to be punished for the acts of Hamas." Unfortunately, President Biden agrees with Senators Graham and Marco Rubio, rather than Senator Sanders, transforming the Middle East into a place in hell.

As the President of the most powerful country, Biden should recognize that the rest of the world’s population do not share his religious sentiments. More importantly, without addressing the issues of freedom and occupation of the oppressed people in Palestine and in the Arab World, war and chaos will be the norm. A prudent reflection on past events in the region is morally imperative. Treating politics as an instrument of religion is a menace to peace and stability.

Abbas J. Ali, Distinguished University Professor, Eberly College of Business, IUP