The House is scheduled to vote next week on a measure slamming President Biden for advocating an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza in a call with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. The three-page measure denounces “efforts to place one-sided pressure on Israel with respect to Gaza.” It cites a White House readout of Biden’s call with Netanyahu, which said Biden ”underscored that an immediate ceasefire is essential to stabilize and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians.”
Quick Read
- House Vote on Biden’s Ceasefire Call: The House of Representatives is set to vote on a resolution criticizing President Biden for advocating for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Democratic Divisions: This upcoming vote is expected to highlight the deep divisions within the House Democratic caucus regarding their stance on Israel and Palestine, particularly in the context of the recent conflict following the attack by Hamas on October 7th.
- Republican Strategy: The resolution is part of a series of votes initiated by House Republicans that aim to emphasize the differences within the Democratic Party on issues related to Israel, exploiting the party’s internal conflicts.
- Content of the Measure: The proposed resolution specifically condemns what it perceives as one-sided pressure on Israel concerning the situation in Gaza, referring to a White House summary of the call between Biden and Netanyahu where Biden emphasized the importance of a ceasefire to protect civilians and improve humanitarian conditions.
- U.N. Security Council Resolution: In addition to addressing Biden’s comments, the measure expresses disapproval of a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, which the United States abstained from vetoing.
- Legislative Process: The resolution is being processed through the House Rules Committee, suggesting that it will be brought to the floor under a procedure that requires only a simple majority for passage, increasing its chances of approval.
The Associated Press has the story:
House to vote next week on rebuking Biden’s call for Gaza ceasefire
The House is scheduled to vote next week on a measure slamming President Biden for advocating an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza in a call with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.
The vote threatens to resurface the stark divisions between the pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian factions of the House Democratic caucus. It’s the latest in a series of Israel-related wedge votes House Republicans have held since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.
The three-page measure denounces “efforts to place one-sided pressure on Israel with respect to Gaza.” It cites a White House readout of Biden’s call with Netanyahu, which said Biden ”underscored that an immediate ceasefire is essential to stabilize and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians.”
The measure also declares opposition to a U.N. Security Council resolution passed last month calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, which the U.S. abstained on rather than vetoed.
As well as, it is being brought up before the House Rules Committee, which means it will likely come to the floor under a process in which it will require only a simple majority to pass.
