Summary
Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Iran and Syria caused limited damage. The restrained action came after Biden urged Israel to temper its response. Iran’S barrage of drones and missiles inflicted little damage. It followed a suspected Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. overseas concerns could have more relevance with voters than in any U.S. election since 2006. Voter dissatisfaction over the Iraq War was a major factor in the Republican Party losing 30 House and six Senate seats. All are testing the proposition that a Biden White House would bring a measure of calm and renewed respect for the United States on the world stage. Biden has staked enormous political capital on his response to the Israel-Hamas war as well as his administration’s backing of Ukraine as it fends off a Russian invasion. The House on Saturday approved $95 billion in wartime aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Republicans have criticized Biden’s unsuccessful efforts earlier in his term to revive a nuclear deal with Iran. But Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, have an argument to make that Biden”s policies have contributed to the U.S. dealing with myriad global quandaries. Polling suggests Americans’ concerns about foreign policy issues are growing. There are mixed signs of whether Biden’s pitch as a steady foreign policy hand is resonating with voters. President Joe Biden downsized the traditional Ramadan event at the White House after invitations were declined by several Muslim community leaders. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults named foreign policy topics in an open-ended question that asked people to share up to five issues for the government to work on in 2024. That’s about twice as many as mentioned the topic in an AP-NORC poll conducted in the previous year. After Israel’s carefully calibrated strikes on Iran, Middle East tensions have entered a “gray area” that all parties must navigate carefully. Republicans pillory him as not being adequately supportive of Israel, and the left wing of his party harshly criticizes the president. CIA Director William Burns expresses disappointment that Hamas has not yet accepted a proposal. The Biden administration has tried to demonstrate it is holding Israel accountable. U.S. officials reiterated Biden’s concerns about Israel’S plans to carry out an operation in Rafah. “The way ahead has no shortage of complications,” he said. “But the way ahead is good,’ he said, “and I’m looking forward to it.” “I’ve got a lot of work to do.’