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It did not take long for the deadly assault on Israel to become another point of contention in the combative domestic politics of the United States, with Republican presidential candidates using the surprise attack by Hamas to go after President Biden for his foreign policy decisions.

Former president Donald Trump and other Republican contenders for the White House in 2024 sought to blame Biden’s policies for emboldening militants. Members of Congress, operating without a House speaker, provided assurances that the United States would stand by Israel. And Biden’s allies pushed back against what they called the spread of disinformation from the president’s political opponents.

Former President Donald Trump has blamed White House foreign policy for the violence in the Middle East.Credit: AP

The political jockeying reflects how the Biden administration’s foreign policy has become a central point of contention in the presidential campaign.

“We used to say that politics stop at the water’s edge and, especially when it came to Israel, there was a fairly unified front,” said Brett Bruen, who served on the National Security Council during the Obama administration. “Certain politicians are trying to score political points from what is just a horrible tragedy.”

During a campaign rally in Waterloo, Iowa, Trump condemned the “Hamas terrorist invasion” and encouraged Israel to respond “very powerfully”.

He alleged, without evidence, that a deal the Biden administration reached with Iran freeing up $6 billion in oil funds was to blame for Hamas’ increased aggression.

“I would not be at all surprised if part of that tremendous wealth that they just accumulated went into, all of a sudden, watching this level of aggression,” said Trump, who has boasted of a particularly close relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “They didn’t have that level of aggression with me.”

Trump appeared to be reflecting the allegation that a deal the Biden administration reached with Iran last month – involving a prisoner swap and the freeing up of about $6 billion in frozen Iranian oil funds – helped fund Saturday’s surprise attack by Hamas. The funds involved in the deal, which included the release of five American citizens detained in Iran, were not US taxpayer dollars but Iranian money that had been frozen under US penalties. Other GOP presidential candidates, including former vice president Mike Pence, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Senator Tim Scott and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, have echoed the allegation.

While the United States has long labelled Iran a leading state sponsor of terrorism and has previously linked the Iranian regime to attacks on Israel, there is no evidence that the $6 billion of Iranian funds were used in Hamas’ action. Under the arrangement, the Iranian funds can be used only to purchase items from vetted providers of humanitarian goods and services allowed under existing penalties.

The Iranian funds in question have not even been spent yet, according to National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson, who condemned the “false accusation” in a statement.

“I can’t comment on 2024 because of the Hatch Act. But I can clarify the facts: Not a single cent from these funds has been spent and, when it is spent, it can only be spent on things like food and medicine for the Iranian people,” she said. “These funds have absolutely nothing to do with the horrific attacks and this is not the time to spread disinformation.”

For his part, Biden has condemned the attacks and told Netanyahu in a phone call that the United States was willing to provide any needed support to Israel.

In remarks from the White House, he declared that “the United States stands with Israel” and “will not ever fail to have their backs.”

He also warned others from trying to harm Israel in the aftermath of the attacks.

“Let me say this as clearly as I can: this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage,” he said. “The world is watching.”

Other GOP candidates sought to counter Biden’s claim that his support has been “rock solid and unwavering,” accusing the president in sharply worded statements of failing to stand up for Israel.

“Joe Biden’s policies that have gone easy on Iran has helped to fill their coffers,” DeSantis said.

“America’s weakness is blood in the water for bad actors,” Scott said.

“This is what happens when America’s president projects weakness on the world stage,” Pence said.

The Washington Post

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