Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) on March 23, 2024. Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images

By Jacob Kornbluh April 14, 2024

Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, lambasted President Joe Biden’s recent critique of Israel’s action in Gaza and the decision not to participate in an offensive operation against Iran in response to a barrage of 331 missiles and drones fired at Israel on Saturday. 

“I think it really demonstrates how it’s astonishing that we are not standing firmly with Israel,” Fetterman said on CNN’s State of the Union program on Sunday. “We should follow and have Israel’s back in this situation.”

Biden reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call Saturday night that the collaborative defensive measures of Israel, U.S. and other regional allies in thwarting the Iranian attack should be seen as a significant victory that negates the necessity for a counterattack. According to an Axios report, Biden informed the Israeli leader that the U.S. would not support any Israeli retaliatory strikes against Iran. U.S. officials are worried that an Israeli response could trigger a widespread regional conflict. 

“I don’t agree with the president,” Fetterman said. 

A CBS News poll of 2,399 U.S. adults, conducted between April 9-12 before the Iranian attack and published on Sunday, showed that 42% of Americans think the U.S. should support an Israeli strike against Iran. An additional 25% support the U.S. taking military action on behalf of the Jewish state. The online survey, commissioned by YouGov, has a margin of error of plus/minus 2.6 points.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York, said on MSNBC that he supports the president’s approach in urging restraint. “The president was clear. We are ‘ironclad,’ locked in with Israel for their self-defense,” said Meeks, who serves as the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “But we do not want an offensive. We don’t need to escalate this.”

Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a close ally of Biden said on CNN  that he thinks “we should take a breath and analyze what the consequences might be of an attack back on Iran by Israel or of any other escalation.”

Republicans accused Biden of turning his back on Israel amid pressure from the left to end the war in Gaza. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida said on CNN that the leak about Biden’s call with Netanyahu was intentional. “I guess this is part of the White House’s effort to appease them,” he said.

Fetterman said Biden shouldn’t “capitulate to the fringe” in his party when it comes to Israel. “I will never pander to that,” he said. “In fact, that empowers Hamas.”

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