The politics of Israel are changing

Presented by GE Aerospace: The power players, latest policy developments, and intriguing whispers percolating inside the West Wing.

Apr 09, 2024 View in browser   By Sam Stein, Eli Stokols, Lauren Egan and Ben Johansen Presented by  Welcome to POLITICO’s West Wing Playbook, your guide to the people and power centers in the Biden administration. Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Eli | Email Lauren Many prominent Democrats have been critical of the Israeli government’s conduct of the war. But among the most persistent and surprising has been PATRICK GASPARD.  As President and CEO of the Center for American Progress, Gaspard runs the most influential Democratic-allied think tank in politics, one that has historically been supportive of both Democratic administrations and the state of Israel. In that capacity, he has been willing to criticize President JOE BIDEN’s administration and been scathing in his assessment of BENJAMIN NETANYAHU. He sat down with West Wing Playbook to explain why. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. You were active in the protests against the apartheid government in South Africa. Do you see parallels between that moment and now? I have very strong memories of going to anti-apartheid demonstrations and of people much older than me shaking their fingers and saying: ‘Young man, you don’t understand. These are complicated issues and they require complicated solutions.’ Fast forward to now and Hamas commits a heinous, reprehensible act of terror on Oct. 7. But following that, we see this outsized punishment brought to bear on the Palestinian people. And suddenly I hear people saying: ‘These young people don’t understand. It’s a complicated region. It’s a complicated moment.’  I thought back to when I was 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. I knew more about what was happening in South Africa than most members of Congress did. And we didn’t have social media then to connect us to inside the war. I suspect my children and the generation younger than them probably know a whole lot more than we are giving them credit for.  Shortly after the war began, you warned that if there is overwhelming punishment for Palestinians “there will be a loss of moral clarity.” Have we hit that point? In that statement, I think I also made a comparison to the U.S. following the 9/11 moment.  You quoted President Biden who warned that Israel must not have a 9/11 moment.  The U.S. invaded Iraq and Afghanistan and what most Americans don’t know is there were 300,000 casualties as a consequence. We got a sanitized version of the war. Twenty years later, everyone has proximity to the conflict. We don’t want to see it but can’t look away. Which is why I thought there would be ambiguity and then a sudden loss of moral clarity. Why do you believe the Biden administration doesn’t see this as clearly as you do?  I’m not so sure they don’t. Go back to the very earliest statements by President Biden, he was always saying we have to be careful. Sure. But he has also consistently resisted calls for a permanent ceasefire. Tony Blinken said you can’t have a ceasefire if Hamas still exists with a stated goal to eradicate Israel.  Yes. And I thought it was a mistake to grant that type or proxy to Benjamin Netanyahu. If you’re the administration thinking about this shocking moment on Oct. 7, of course you have to rally to support Israel. But you also have to consider who is at the helm of the state. We all appreciated early on that the only path to hold onto power for Benjamin Netanyahu was through extended, protracted conflict in Gaza.  Do you believe Israel is a democracy under Netanyahu?  When we say things like Israel is the only democracy in the region, we have to approach the issue with real care. There is clear documentary evidence of what it means to be Palestinian in Israel.  The backdrop to this is a growing number of prominent Democrats being openly critical of Israel. Your old boss, President Barack Obama early on, was among them. And some took issue that Barack Obama described the circumstances in the West Bank and Gaza as an occupation, which seems to me rather anodyne. Well, I think what stood out was that there was distance between what he was saying and what Biden was. And then [Senate Majority Leader] Chuck Schumer with his speech on the floor calling for a new government in Israel.  Poll after poll shows increasing and wide disapproval among Democrats for Israel’s actions in Gaza. Disapproval with a majority of independents as well. And even a pronounced slippage amongst Republicans. If you are an elected official whose name will be on the ballot in that environment, clearly you’re going to note that.  You say that. But at the same time, Biden is sending 2,000 pound bombs to Israel without congressional authorization. Have you made the pitch you just said to me, to them? Anything I've said in public on this I've said to leadership in the moments I've had the opportunity to. But I’ve been in that building. When you’re the president, folks ask you to choose among a number of really bad solutions.  I understand how difficult it is, especially for someone like Joe Biden, who came of age at a time when Jewish people experienced the most grievous assault on the conscience. I admire the commitment Joe Biden has to the protection of Israel and combating antisemitism. At the same time, I recognize that sometimes our leaders can have a kind of late 20th century Cold War mindset that continues to influence all policymaking.  Back in November you recalled a conversation you had with a friend over the meaning of an “enduring ceasefire.” Have you come to a conclusion about what that looks like? This is difficult, but we need to talk about whether the two state solution continues to be the sole pathway to peace. I think that you ultimately get to peace and a ceasefire that is enduring if you have a state that integrates the fulsome rights of Palesrtinians and Israelis living side-by-side.  You don’t see a two state solution as a plausible outcome? I firmly believe Israel must exist as a state. But I also believe Palestinians — if we are going to solve this problem — need to exist in an Israel that is inclusive of their full rights.  The pushback has always been that if you have a single state, you can’t have a Jewish majority state that is democratic in Israel.  I think that taking out the possibility of coexistence is, in itself, really cynical and tragic. MESSAGE US — Are you SALEM MARIAM, special assistant to the president for national security agency personnel? We want to hear from you. And we’ll keep you anonymous! Email us at westwingtips@politico.com. Did someone forward this email to you? Subscribe here!    SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, the newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world, including WEF in Davos, Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to UNGA in NYC and many more. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRIBE NOW.     POTUS PUZZLER Once retired at his California ranch, what pastime did RONALD REAGAN pick up? (Answer at bottom.) The Oval URGING FOR CARE ABOUT THE CARE ECONOMY: Biden ventured across town Tuesday to rally with care workers at Union Station, aiming to focus attention on his efforts to expand access to childcare and teasing an action to come to boost staffing standards at nursing homes. The event, organized by a coalition of groups focused on expanding access to child care, paid family and medical leave and home-based services, allowed Biden a chance to contrast Democrats’ efforts to support working families with Republican budget proposals that would slash funding for caregiving programs. WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS YOU TO READ: This piece by The Nevada Independent’s GABBY BIRENBAUM and ERIC NEUGEBOREN, who report that in 2020 and 2022, the Republican National Committee and Nevada Republican Party made an effort to appeal to minority voters by opening several minority outreach centers. But now, those centers are all closed. While it’s not uncommon for campaign offices to operate for a short time, the RNC had pitched the centers as more permanent fixtures in the communities. A former AAPI center is now a vape shop and a former “Black Voices for Trump” center is a chiropractor office. Seems like a good combo, just not for campaigning. Biden campaign director of rapid response AMMAR MOUSSA and campaign spokesperson JAMES SINGER shared the story on X. WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE DOESN’T WANT YOU TO WATCH: This segment on JON STEWART’s “The Daily Show” where he calls out America’s double standards towards Gaza. Stewart split-screens the Biden administration’s staunch rebuke of Russia’s war in Ukraine, with the stances they’ve taken on Israel’s military campaign into Gaza. At one point, Stewart’s montage shows Biden and Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN, calling Russia’s weaponization of food unconscionable. “There is a literal famine in Gaza caused by the war,” Stewart said. “I assume America will also consider this unconscionable.” “The subtext of this is that America knows this is wrong, but apparently it doesn’t have the courage to say it in a straightforward manner,” Stewart added. WE’RE GOING BACK TO BACK: Ladies and gentleman, that’s all she wrote. DAN HURLEY’s UConn Huskies wrapped up their season of dominance on Monday night, securing their second straight chip. But to the question everyone is waiting for: Who won the West Wing Playbook men’s bracket challenge? It was a tie. Womp womp. So now, to break this tie between BALL DON’T LIE and TERRIBLE LIFE CHOICES, we will have a medieval style fight to the death. Kidding. You both can submit an Oppo Book item on whomever you choose! Email us with proof that you are the brains behind one of these brackets, and we’ll get you started. U-COOOONN, HUS-KIEEEES! VICTORY LAP: Strangely, President Biden did not enter the West Wing Playbook bracket challenge or the BOTUS tournament in the West Wing. But deputy communications director HERBIE ZISKEND pointed out Tuesday that Biden — or, if we’re being honest, the aides tasked with filling out the bracket he posted online — “nailed” his picks of UConn and South Carolina to win the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments, respectively. And he presumably also now knows how to spell “Stanford.”   A message from GE Aerospace: Today we recommit ourselves to shaping the future of flight as GE Aerospace, an independent publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange. A new era begins now.   CAMPAIGN HQ A STINGING DECISION: The Arizona Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the state's 1864 abortion ban, a decision that ends nearly all access to abortion in Arizona, our ALICE MIRANDA OLLSTEIN and MEGAN MESSERLY report. The 160-year-old law was on the books before Arizona was a state and women had the right to vote. The silver lining for abortion right’s advocates: An abortion ballot initiative is expected this fall, which will likely benefit Democratic turnout in the battleground state. The ruling comes after DONALD TRUMP said this week that he thought abortion rights should be left up to the states to decide. Fortuitously for her, Vice President KAMALA HARRIS was already set to travel to Arizona on Friday, our EUGENE DANIELS reports. The campaign trip will now likely take a heightened focus on abortion rights. A STRONGLY WORDED LETTER: The five major broadcast networks are drafting an open letter to Biden and Trump urging their participation this fall in the televised debates being overseen by the Commission on Presidential Debates, NYT’s MICHAEL GRYNBAUM reports. The letter, which has not been finalized, is a response to the Biden camp’s hesitation about engaging in debates with Trump due to concerns about whether moderators will be able to force him to stick to the agreed upon rules. While we obviously want debates, we aren’t convinced that this letter will get it done. THE MOVE YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR: Biden’s favorite Gen Z influencer VICTOR SHI is getting his boots on the ground, joining the campaign as a youth engagement coordinator, Shi announced on X. THE BUREAUCRATS NOT A LONG IR STINT: National security adviser JAKE SULLIVAN joined press secretary KARINE JEAN-PIERRE at Tuesday’s press briefing, where he assured the American public that he is recovering smoothly from his cracked rib, which forced him to postpone his trip to Saudi Arabia last week. “Cracking your rib is very painful. Maybe not as painful as answering your questions,” Sullivan said. “I kind of rushed the timing on that joke, which I prepared for.” (Well, at least no one is gonna be cracking their ribs laughing at that!) Sullivan added that he intends to go to Saudi Arabia “soon.” PERSONNEL MOVES: RICHARD SAUBER, a White House lawyer tasked with fending off Republican congressional investigations and a special counsel report into the president’s handling of classified documents, will leave the administration in May, CNN’s MJ LEE reports. RACHEL COTTON, senior counsel at the White House Counsel’s Office, who has served as Dauber’s deputy, will replace him.   A message from GE Aerospace:   Agenda Setting AN ADMINISTRATION FULLY COMMITTED TO RECYCLING: The Pentagon has provided Ukraine thousands of Iranian-made weapons that the U.S. seized before they could reach Houthi militants in Yemen, WaPo’s ALEX HORTON reports. The transfer includes 5,000 Kalashnikov rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, along with a half-million rounds of ammunition. The weapons were seized between 2021 and 2023 and made available for Ukraine through a Justice Department program targeting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. WON’T USE THAT WORD: Defense Secretary LLOYD AUSTIN testified in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, where he rebuffed arguments that Israel is committing genocide on Palestinians in Gaza, our CONNOR O’BRIEN and JOE GOULD report. During his testimony, which was interrupted multiple times by protesters, Austin also said a pier being constructed by the military to deliver humanitarian aid in Gaza will be operational by the end of the month. CUT THEM EMISSIONS: The Environmental Protection Agency issued a new rule on Tuesday that requires more than 200 chemical plants across the country to reduce their toxic emissions, AP’s MATTHEW DALY reports. The rule is aimed at reducing the risk of cancer for communities in close proximity to plants emitting industrial pollution. When combined with a rule last month, the new rule will reduce ethylene oxide and chloroprene emissions by nearly 80 percent. What We're Reading Exclusive: Zelenskyy warns Russia has penetrated U.S. politics, invites Trump to Ukraine (Axel Springer’s Paul Ronzheimer and POLITCO’s Alex Burns) The RFK-curious women of Bucks County (The Atlantic’s Elaine Godfrey) Biden’s Trade Moves Raise Tensions Abroad but Draw Cheers in Swing States (NYT’s Jim Tankersley) ‘It would just die on the vine’: Biden’s $200 billion energy loan juggernaut faces a Trump-sized threat (POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino and Brian Dabbs)   A message from GE Aerospace: GE Aerospace, now a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange, is inventing the future of flight, lifting people up, and bringing them home safely.   The Oppo Book ERIC GARCETTI, U.S. ambassador to India, is a performer at heart. During his years at Columbia University, Garcetti co-wrote and performed in the “Varsity Show,” Columbia’s oldest student-written musical. “He is just a fantastic piano player,” a friend told Vogue magazine in a profile of the then-mayor of Los Angeles. “There’s a performance side to Eric that really helps him.” In this interview, Garcetti describes himself as a “pianist, photographer and lover of the arts,” while showing off his piano chops. POTUS PUZZLER ANSWER In 1994, NYT’s MAUREEN DOWD reported that Reagan had been picking up the harmonica in his newly found spare time. “I heard he has a tutor coming two or three times a week to teach him how to play,” said JAMES CANNON, a veteran of the Reagan administration. “It's so typical of the man. Jimmy Carter builds houses with the Habitat for Humanity, or whatever the hell it was. And Ronald Reagan learns to play the harmonica.” A CALL OUT! Do you think you have a harder trivia question? Send us your best one about the presidents, with a citation or sourcing, and we may feature it! Edited by Sam Stein and Emily Cadei.   GROWING IN THE GOLDEN STATE: POLITICO California is growing, reinforcing our role as the indispensable insider source for reporting on politics, policy and power. From the corridors of power in Sacramento and Los Angeles to the players and innovation hubs in Silicon Valley, we're your go-to for navigating the political landscape across the state. Exclusive scoops, essential daily newsletters, unmatched policy reporting and insights — POLITICO California is your key to unlocking Golden State politics. LEARN MORE.       Follow us on Twitter Eli Stokols @EliStokols Lauren Egan @Lauren_V_Egan Ben Johansen @BenJohansen3   Follow us

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