11 months ago
34
Dick Durbin became first senator to call for ceasefire amid growing unease over increasing toll of civilians killed or injured
Good morning, US politics blog readers. Ever since Hamas’s 7 October attack against Israel, Joe Biden has projected steadfast support of the longtime US ally. But with Israel’s invasion of the Gaza Strip under way, the president’s Democratic allies are growing uneasy with the increasing toll of civilians killed or wounded. Dick Durbin became the first senator to call for a ceasefire yesterday, and later joined 12 other Democratic lawmakers in signing a letter asking for “a short-term cessation of hostilities” to facilitate the release of hostages taken by Hamas last month, and the delivery of humanitarian aid. Meanwhile, secretary of state Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv today to urge Israel’s leadership to show more restraint in its campaign in Gaza.
The shift in sentiment comes as Israel awaits a new infusion of military aid Biden requested after visiting the country last month, but which is currently caught up in Capitol Hill’s partisan meat grinder. The Republican-led House of Representatives yesterday approved $14b in aid to Israel while simultaneously cutting the budget of the IRS tax authority – a proposition unpalatable to most Democrats. The Senate’s Democratic leader Chuck Schumer says his chamber won’t consider the bill, and is instead working on its own broader package that will include aid to Ukraine and pay for increased security on the southern border. All these will be stories to watch today.
Biden is this afternoon traveling to Lewiston, Maine, site of a mass shooting last week that killed 18 people. He will meet with first responders, as well as relatives of the victims.
Eric Trump is expected to return to the witness stand today to testify in the civil fraud trial of the family business, the head of which is, of course, Donald Trump.
The US economy added 150,000 jobs last month, according to just-released data that was weaker than months prior but also reflected the impact of the United Auto Workers strike.
Continue reading...