# Exactly what can Biden do in Gaza? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 8, 2024, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exactly-what-can-biden-do-in-gaza/1008566 "2024-10-08T18:22:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exactly-what-can-biden-do-in-gaza/1008566/21 "2024-10-09T00:45:23Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Put another way, what would congress do if the president just ignored that bit? A lot of bloviating I suspect but nothing more. They have the votes to impeach and SCOTUS would overrule him. But you might as well be asking- couldnt the president send in the mole men from the center of the Hollow earth? Because Biden would never violate the law to that extent. AND it would cause harris to lose the election, thus trump wins, thus double the aid to Netanyahu. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exactly-what-can-biden-do-in-gaza/1008566/22 "2024-10-09T01:07:29Z")
We should realize that Biden coming down hard on Israel wouldn’t just jeopardize the semi-mythical Jewish vote (it’s far from uniform in its support for the current Israeli government and its military moves, no matter what Trump thinks), it would go against the wishes of a sizable chunk of non-Jewish American voters. [http://globalaffairs.org/research/public-opinion-survey/americans-see-united-states-playing-positive-role-middle-east](http://globalaffairs.org/research/public-opinion-survey/americans-see-united-states-playing-positive-role-middle-east) And while AIPAC is credited with having overweening influence on American politics (its actual record [is mixed](http://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-pro-israel-and-pro-arab-lobbies), including in 2024 so far), there’s also a considerable [Arab lobby](https://www.meforum.org/middle-east-quarterly/book-reviews/the-arab-lobby) in the U.S., which seems to be dominated by oil interests and pressure to maintain the status quo, particularly in regard to Saudi Arabia. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exactly-what-can-biden-do-in-gaza/1008566/23 "2024-10-09T01:21:36Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > We should realize that Biden coming down hard on Israel wouldn’t just jeopardize the semi-mythical Jewish vote (it’s far from uniform in its support for the current Israeli government and its military moves, no matter what Trump thinks), it would go against the wishes of a sizable chunk of non-Jewish American voters Correct, and also note- **trump is a criminal.** _Biden is not._ ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exactly-what-can-biden-do-in-gaza/1008566/24 "2024-10-09T01:36:34Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > And while AIPAC is credited with having overweening influence on American politics… AIPAC claims to be bipartisan. That’s fine if they want to do that but I am not sure which way they are pushing the political needle. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exactly-what-can-biden-do-in-gaza/1008566/25 "2024-10-09T04:46:06Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I would guess the answer would be the US stopping all weapon shipments (of any sort) to Israel. > > That would probably cause the Biden administration no end of problems but that is the leverage. Note that all those weapons are made here in the US by US corporations, funded by US stockholders, and made by US workers. And they can all vote in US elections! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exactly-what-can-biden-do-in-gaza/1008566/26 "2024-10-09T05:35:03Z")
So, far, the best answer seems to be- become a criminal like trump. I think we gotta pass on that one. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exactly-what-can-biden-do-in-gaza/1008566/27 "2024-10-09T17:38:50Z")
The main thing that’s been getting news coverage that’s at Biden’s discretion is emergency arms transfers to bypass congress. Under US arms export law, the president normally has to get congressional approval to approve an arms transfer to a foreign country, but can declare that an emergency requires him to waive congressional approval. Biden has used the emergency power a few times. Congress is obviously overwhelmingly pro-Israel and also has an overwhelming historical record of approving any presidentially requested arms transfer. The most Biden is likely doing with these emergency transfers is avoiding some sort of uncertainty or delay caused by a congressperson taking the opportunity to grandstand. ---
**Author:** ![Dandan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@Dandan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandan)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exactly-what-can-biden-do-in-gaza/1008566/28 "2024-10-09T18:29:18Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > throw the election to Trump who would do whatever the opposite of what Biden does One other thing wrong, here: Trump would do NOTHING, except moan endlessly about the mess that the Dems let him, so the Dems might as well stand pat. Dan ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exactly-what-can-biden-do-in-gaza/1008566/29 "2024-10-09T20:26:46Z")
We were restricting weapon use against Russia, by Ukraine. There’s no reason that we couldn’t do the same with Israel and restrict usage to the territory of Israel that’s actually Israel. ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exactly-what-can-biden-do-in-gaza/1008566/30 "2024-10-09T21:47:35Z")
In response to missiles launched from Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, and Yemen, you want Israel to bomb its own territory? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exactly-what-can-biden-do-in-gaza/1008566/31 "2024-10-09T22:09:34Z")
I think it would clarify the messaging about what needs to happen. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2024, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exactly-what-can-biden-do-in-gaza/1008566/32 "2024-10-17T11:06:21Z")
In response to the Biden administration threatening to restrict military assistance to Israel, Israel let some aid into Gaza (though not yet the 350 trucks per day the U.S. is asking for). So, evidently, Israel cares at least a little bit; how much they care may depend on the results of the U.S. elections. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exactly-what-can-biden-do-in-gaza/1008566/33 "2024-10-18T20:19:39Z")
Yes, but Biden has limited authority to do this. He can slow it down, he has that authority, but he cant just abrogate what Congress decided. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exactly-what-can-biden-do-in-gaza/1008566/34 "2024-10-20T06:26:50Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > We were restricting weapon use against Russia, by Ukraine. There’s no reason that we couldn’t do the same with Israel and restrict usage to the territory of Israel that’s actually Israel. But I thought one of the big issues in that area is just what territory is actually Israel? ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exactly-what-can-biden-do-in-gaza/1008566/35 "2024-10-20T12:43:08Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > But I thought one of the big issues in that area is just what territory is actually Israel? The European Union restricts trade with illegal settlements based on postcodes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exactly-what-can-biden-do-in-gaza/1008566.md?page=1)