The approval rating for President Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war has fallen to its lowest point in a new poll, as fighting continues in Gaza.
The latest Harvard CAPS/Harris poll found Biden with a 36 percent job approval rating on the conflict, down from 39 percent last month and 44 percent in October when the question was first posed.
“Biden’s ratings have weakened each month on the Israel-Hamas conflict as Biden has changed his positions and most view his shift as political. Support for Israel remains unchanged,” said Mark Penn, co-director of Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll.
Just over half of those surveyed, or 53 percent, think Biden’s policy toward Israel is being driven in part by “perceived domestic politics” and not just what is best for the national interest in a secure Israel.
Three-quarters of those surveyed said Israel should move forward “with an operation in Rafah to end the war with Hamas, doing its best to avoid casualties, even if there are casualties.” A quarter chose the other option – that Israel should “stand down now and allow Hamas to continue to control Gaza.”
Biden said earlier this month that he will not supply offensive weapons to Israel if it moves forward with a major military operation in Rafah, but 57 percent in the poll said Biden should continue to supply weapons to Israel even if he does. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has argued that the move to Rafah will help reach out to Hamas leaders.
“It is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. That’s why I called for an immediate ceasefire, an immediate ceasefire to stop the fighting. Bring the hostages home,” Biden said over the weekend in remarks at Morehouse College, speaking to the campus crowd following nationwide student protests over his handling of the war.
“I support peaceful, non-violent protests. Their voices must be heard. And I promise you, I hear them,” Biden said.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Netanyahu over the weekend to urge Israel to limit its military operation in Gaza and reiterated the president’s position in Rafah.
The poll was conducted May 15-16 among 1,660 registered voters via Harris Poll and HarrisX. The margin of error for the total sample is plus or minus 2 percentage points.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
