Israel-Gaza briefings: Biden treading carefully through political minefield - BBC News

Michigan's protest vote reminds the US president that Middle East turmoil could translate into electoral peril.

2 days agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warBy Anthony ZurcherNorth America correspondentOn Monday afternoon, while snacking on ice cream with a late-night television talk show host, US President Joe Biden hinted that a new ceasefire was within reach in the Gaza War, perhaps as early as this coming Monday.

"My national security adviser tells me that we're close," he said.

His words, which the White House has since walked back, landed with a thud for many in the American Palestinian community.

Then on Tuesday night in Michigan, one of the key battlegrounds in November's presidential election, more than 100,000 people in the Democratic primary cast their ballot for "uncommitted" as part of a protest organised by pro-Palestinian groups.

"This is a warning sign," said Lexis Zeidan, one of the organisers, on Tuesday night.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68445974

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