Mixed reactions from Congress to Jerusalem conflict
Several Democrats in the House and Senate want the Biden administration to pressure Israel over the possible eviction of Palestinian families from their homes in Jerusalem, but other Democratic and Republican lawmakers expressed support for Israel after Hamas' rocket attacks.
Several Democrats in Congress have criticized Israel over the ongoing violence occurring between Israelis and Palestinians in the country. Israel has responded to some of the criticism, and other Democratic and Republican lawmakers have conversely defended Israel.
The comments came from both newer, more progressive Democrats in the House and older, relatively moderate Democrats in the House and Senate. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said the possible eviction of Palestinian families from Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, which partially sparked the current unrest, is “unacceptable.”
“The forced removal of long-time Palestinian residents in Sheikh Jarrah is abhorrent and unacceptable. The administration should make clear to the Israeli government that these evictions are illegal and must stop immediately,” said Warren in a tweet appealing to US President Joe Biden on Saturday.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said that evicting the Palestinian families would violate international law in a Saturday tweet, citing a United Nations statement on the issue. He also said the Biden administration should speak more forcefully on the matter.
