Many Dems Want More US Support for Palestinians
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Thursday St. John’s June 24, 2021 T: 582-7800 www.arubatoday.com facebook.com/arubatoday instagram.com/arubatoday Page 8 Aruba’s ONLY English newspaper Poll: Many Dems want more U.S. support for Palestinians By ELLEN KNICKMEYER and The survey also examined EMILY SWANSON Americans' opinions on WASHINGTON (AP) — A the Biden administration's new poll on American at- handling of the Israel-Pal- titudes toward a core con- estinian conflict. The sur- flict in the Middle East finds vey was conducted about about half of Democrats three weeks into a cease- want the U.S. to do more fire following a devastating to support the Palestinians, 11-day war last month be- showing that a growing rift tween Israel and the Gaza among Democratic law- Strip's Hamas militant rulers. makers is also reflected in The fighting killed at least the party's base. 254 Palestinians and 13 The poll from The Associ- people in Israel. ated Press-NORC Center The poll shows Americans for Public Affairs Research overall are divided over finds differences within U.S. policy toward Israel both the Democratic and and the Palestinians. It also the Republican parties on shows more Americans dis- the U.S. approach toward approve of President Joe Israel and the Palestinians, Biden’s approach to the with liberal Democrats conflict than approve of wanting more support for it. Among Democrats, 51% the Palestinians and con- say the U.S. is not support- servative Republicans ive enough of the Palestin- In this June 19, 2021, file photo, Palestinians demonstrators wave the Palestinian flag during protest seeking even greater sup- ians. in Damascus gate just outside Jerusalem's Old City. port for the Israelis. Continued on next page Associated Press A2 THURSDAY 24 JUNE 2021 UP FRONT of Biden's handling of the licly criticizing Israel over has transitioned to a new conflict and thinks the Unit- civilian deaths and waited government that says it ed States is too supportive until the last days of fight- wants to repair relations of Israelis and not support- ing last month to openly with Democrats and re- ive enough of the Palestin- press Israel to wind down its store bipartisan support in ians. airstrikes on heavily popu- the U.S. for Israel. Benja- "I don't think Biden's word lated Gaza. min Netanyahu, the former was that strong," Spelce The war highlighted differ- longtime prime minister, said. "And I don't think, you ences among Democratic had openly challenged know, this administration ... lawmakers and between both Biden and President can actually do anything" some Democratic law- Barack Obama on U.S. pol- regarding the conflict. makers and Biden on Israel icy in the Middle East and In this May 10, 2021, file photo, Israelis wave national flags dur- ing a Jerusalem Day parade, in Jerusalem. Overall, the poll shows that policy. Dozens of Demo- was seen as allying himself Associated Press 29% of Americans say the crats in Congress called for to Trump. U.S. is too supportive of the Israel and Hamas to cease Some of the respondents in Continued from Front er of Palestinian statehood, Israelis, 30% say it's not sup- fire immediately, days be- the survey, both Democrat- The sentiment jumps to 62% is a member of a heavily portive enough and 36% fore Biden openly did. Sen. ic and Republican, cited among Democrats who de- religious Texas Republican say it's about right. In its ap- Bernie Sanders, a progres- the comparatively limited scribe themselves as liberal. family whose support for proach toward the Pales- sive Vermont independent, timespan of the war — in On the other hand, 49% of Israel is ingrained with their tinians, 25% say the U.S. is urged the U.S. to be more comparison, 50 days of Republicans say the U.S. is Christian faith. Spelce, of too supportive, 32% say it's even-handed in its ap- fighting in 2014 killed more not supportive enough of Austin, says he followed not supportive enough and proach to the conflict. than 2,200 Palestinians and the Israelis, a number that news of last month's Gaza 37% say it's about right. The poll found 56% of 73 people on the Israeli side rises to 61% among those war and the U.S. response Broad but not unvarying Americans disapprove of — in saying they approved who say they're conserva- closely on the radio as he support for Israel has been the way Biden is handling of Biden's handling of the tive. helped deliver mail. a tenet of U.S. domestic the conflict, compared conflict. The poll also shows Paul Spelce, a 26-year-old "I started paying a lot more politics, as well as its for- with 40% who approve. just 19% of Americans think Democratic-leaning inde- attention," said Spelce, eign policy, for decades. While 75% of Republicans the U.S. should play a major pendent voter and support- who said he disapproved Biden refrained from pub- disapprove of how Biden is role in finding a solution to handling the conflict, so do the conflict, while 50% say 35% of Democrats. it should play a minor role "The new administration's and 28% say it should play policies, its posture toward no role. Democrats and Israel, it's totally different" to Republicans are largely in President Donald Trump's, agreement on the size of said ChrisTina Elliott, a the U.S. role in the conflict. 57-year-old Republican in A majority of Americans, the northeast Texas town of 57%, say they think there Atlanta. She said she disap- is a way for Israel and an proves of Biden's approach independent Palestinian to the conflict and thinks state to coexist peace- the U.S. should be more fully, compared with 39% supportive of Israelis and who say there is not a way. less of Palestinians. About 2 out of 3 Democrats "The Palestinians need to think there is a way. Repub- put just as much effort as licans are closely divided, Israel is" into peaceful re- with 50% saying there is and lations, Elliott said, and 45% saying there is not. added of Israel, "My God, Patrick Diehl, another Dem- they're surrounded by en- ocratic-leaning indepen- emies." dent, cited U.S. offers to Forty-two percent of lib- help rebuild Gaza buildings eral Democrats say they leveled by Israeli airstrikes, disapprove of how Biden is "so, I guess, they can be de- handling the conflict, com- stroyed again. This seems to pared with 31% of moder- me kind of hapless." ate and conservative ones. "You know, we need a That's compared with just stronger position taken by 9% of Democrats who dis- the administration — push- approved of how Biden is ing for actual change rath- handling his job in general. er than continuation of this Overall, Biden's job approv- wretched situation," said al rating stands at 55%. Diehl, 74, of Tucson, Arizo- Since the cease-fire, Israel na. q A3 U.S. NEWS THURSDAY 24 JUNE 2021 AP sources: Officials mulling ousting U.S. prisons director By MICHAEL BALSAMO and said in a statement to the MICHAEL R. SISAK AP. "That work is an impor- Associated Press tant priority." WASHINGTON (AP) — Se- Implementing the changes nior Biden administration "will be critical to advanc- officials have discussed ing BOP's mission — ensur- whether to remove the ing that inmates are housed holdover director of the be- safely and securely, and leaguered federal Bureau also providing critical pro- of Prisons who has been at gramming and rehabilita- the center of the agency's tion to help those inmates myriad crises. successfully reenter society The discussions about after they have served their whether to fire Michael time," the statement said. Carvajal are in the pre- Carvajal took over as di- liminary stages and a final rector in February 2020, just decision hasn't yet been before the pandemic be- made, two people familiar gan raging in the bureau's with the matter told The As- facilities nationwide, leav- sociated Press. They were ing tens of thousands of not authorized to publicly inmates infected with the discuss the internal talks virus and resulting in 240 and spoke on condition of deaths. He also oversaw an In this June 2, 2020, file photo, Michael Carvajal, director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, testifies anonymity. during a Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. unprecedented run of fed- But there's an indication Associated Press eral executions in the wan- that the bureau is shaking ing months of the Trump up its senior ranks following tors, the officials in charge ing appointed to their jobs. fused. presidency that were so growing criticism of chronic of federal lockups in the On Wednesday, the agen- The Justice Department, poorly managed they be- mismanagement, blistering South Central and the cy said it was appointing which runs the bureau, did came virus superspreader reports from the Justice De- Southeast regions — includ- wardens William Lothrop not directly address wheth- events. partment's inspector gen- ing a Texas prison where and Heriberto Tellez to er officials were consider- Nearly one-third of federal eral and a bleak financial inmates routinely walked the regional posts. Tellez is ing removing Carvajal, one correctional officer jobs in outlook. off the grounds to retrieve currently in charge of the of the few remaining hold- the United States are va- Since the death of Jeffrey drugs and other contra- Metropolitan Detention overs from the Trump ad- cant, forcing prisons to use Epstein at a federal lock- band delivered to them in Center in Brooklyn, where ministration.