Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) has openly opposed President Joe Biden's rejection of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's planned invasion of Rafah, creating a significant divide within the Democratic Party. This stance aligns Fetterman with a more hawkish position on Israel, contrasting sharply with the Biden administration and a group of House Democrats who last week expressed concerns that the Rafah assault could violate international laws regarding U.S. weapons aid. Fetterman's position has sparked controversy and criticism, with some accusing him of endangering the Democratic coalition's unity, especially in key swing states critical for defeating Trump. Critics, including Mehdi Hasan, have gone as far as to say that supporters of the Netanyahu offensive, like Fetterman, would bear responsibility for the consequences of the military action on Rafah's civilians. This development marks a significant shift for Fetterman, who was previously considered a quiet Israel hawk, and now finds himself at odds with significant figures within his own party and the Biden administration.
When Bill Clinton was president this would have been the default position for Democrats — now Fetterman takes heat from the Hamas wing of his party https://t.co/RbhECO7E1B
Fetterman’s backing of Netanyahu’s Rafah invasion, which even Biden opposes, makes his Chief of Staff’s criticisms of Muslim Democrats and progressives requesting that Biden put our democracy above Netanyahu that much more pathetic and bad faith. https://t.co/Z9wzz9PEtN
The hawkish Fetterman, like every other U.S. member of Congress who supports this coming Netanyahu offensive that even the Biden White House claims to oppose, will have the blood of Rafah’s children on his hands. https://t.co/XzjGbesHdh
I gotta say that Fetterman being to the right of Chuck Schumer on Israel was not something I had on my bingo card. It's weird. https://t.co/N3o0bIergc
John Fetterman was a quiet Israel hawk in 2022. If you told people in 2024 he'd be defying even Biden on Israel, sounding indistinguishable from Ted Cruz or Tom Cotton, it would have probably shocked most of the people who voted for him.
Fetterman continues to divide the Democratic coalition by taking extreme, unpopular positions which endanger the party’s ability to unite to defeat Trump in key swing states. https://t.co/Z9wzz9PEtN
NEW: Fetterman opposes Biden’s rejection of Netanyahu’s invasion of Rafah. Last week, a group of House Democrats said Rafah assault would likely violate rule that U.S. weapons aid be used in accordance with international law. https://t.co/HFKmUcZR2V
Fetterman backs Israel’s plan to enter Rafah ⬇️ https://t.co/0RjDrBjRG0
NEW: Fetterman opposes Biden rejection of Netanyahu’s invasion of Rafah. Last week, a group of House Democrats said Rafah assault would likely violate rule that U.S. weapons aid be used in accordance with international law. https://t.co/HFKmUcZR2V
NEW: Fetterman opposes President Biden rejection of Netanyahu’s invasion of Rafah. Last week, a group of House Democrats said Rafah assault would likely violate rule that U.S. weapons aid be used in accordance with international law. https://t.co/HFKmUcZR2V
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), unlike Biden's new position, backs Israel's ability to finish off Hamas in Rafah: https://t.co/xYvb6h3uRq
NEW: Fetterman opposes President Biden administration’s rejection of Netanyahu’s invasion of Rafah. Last week, a group of House Democrats said Rafah assault would likely violate rule that U.S. weapons aid be used in accordance with international law. https://t.co/HFKmUcZR2V
The Democratic Party establishment's messaging on Gaza has really gone from "Israel has a right to defend itself" to "We never liked Netanyahu" to "What are you going to do vote for Trump?"