The White House has come under fire from both sides of the aisle after hosting a live band and indoor BBQ while Israeli citizens grapple with the escalating violence in Gaza.
The event, which took place on Friday afternoon, was hosted by President Joe Biden and featured several dozen guests, including prominent members of both parties.
The event was criticized by many as a fawning piece of PR that seemed to have no regard for the fact that Israeli citizens living in Gaza were enduring heavy artillery shelling and air strikes.
“This was a tone-deaf event given the current violence occurring in Israel,” said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). “It is important that in moments of peace and conflict, we lead with not just our hearts and minds, but with our actions. Hosting a live band and BBQ sends a message that this type of celebration is more important than the safety of Israeli citizens.”
Indeed, the event drew criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) accused the administration of “insensitivity to the plight of Israelis living in Gaza” and said that the White House didn’t “seem to care” about the situation on the ground.
Others noted the hypocrisy of the event, in light of the fact that the Biden Administration had previously committed to pursuing a nonviolent path to resolving the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant groups.
For their part, the White House has sought to downplay the event, saying that it was meant to celebrate a long-awaited diplomatic breakthrough between Israel and Sudan. “This was a celebration of diplomacy and progress,” press secretary Jen Psaki said.
Still, the optics of the event have been difficult to ignore, and many have seen it as yet another example of the Biden administration taking a “business as usual” approach to the regional conflict.
Given the escalating violence in Israel, it is clear that a cooler head is needed to bring about a lasting and peaceful resolution to the conflict. Whether or not the White House is up to the challenge is yet to be seen.
