Digital Phablet

Tag: Pro-Palestinian

  • US Public Shows Growing Support for Palestinians: Survey

    US Public Shows Growing Support for Palestinians: Survey

    A recent national survey indicates that Americans’ perceptions of Israel have significantly declined in recent years, with notable shifts among Democrats and independents, according to Fox News. The NBC News-sponsored poll was conducted from February 27 to March 2 and coincides with ongoing debates within the Democratic Party over support for Israel, more than two years after the Israel–Hamas conflict in Gaza erupted.

    Currently, only 32% of Americans view Israel positively, while 39% hold negative opinions—a stark contrast to three years ago when 47% saw Israel favorably and 34% negatively. The decline is especially pronounced among Democrats and independents. In 2023, Democrats were split evenly with 34% viewing Israel positively and 35% negatively, but the latest results show only 13% positive and 57% negative opinions. Independents’ favorable views have dropped from 40% to 21%, with negative opinions rising from 22% to 48%.

    In comparison, Republican attitudes have remained relatively stable, with positive views decreasing slightly from 63% to 54%, and negative opinions increasing modestly from 12% to 18%. The survey also reveals that during a period when the U.S. and Israel launched military strikes against Iran, Americans are now almost evenly divided over whether they sympathize more with Israelis or Palestinians. In 2013, there was a stronger tilt in favor of Israel, at 45% to 13%. Today, support for Palestine and Israel is nearly even, with 40% sympathizing more with Israel and 39% with Palestinians.

    This shift is particularly striking among Democrats, who in 2013 favored Israel by a 34% to 18% margin. The latest polling shows Democrats now predominantly sympathize with Palestinians—67% compared to just 17% for Israel. Independents have also shifted, moving from a 37% to 10% favoring Israel to a 37% to 27% leaning toward Palestinians. Meanwhile, Republicans maintain strong support, with 69% favoring Israel now, consistent with past levels.

    The study underscores a clear generational gap, with younger Americans showing a more considerable decline in positive views and sympathy for Israel than older generations. Although most Republicans remain largely supportive of Israel, the ongoing conflict in Gaza has intensified disagreements among Democrats. This division is becoming a key issue in the upcoming 2026 Democratic primaries.

    Over the past two and a half years, Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in more than 72,000 deaths, according to Palestinian health authorities.

  • Mamdani Stands Strong in NYC Mayoral Race Amid Democratic Doubts

    Mamdani Stands Strong in NYC Mayoral Race Amid Democratic Doubts

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    Zohran Mamdani’s Primary Election Watch Party in NYC


    Zohran Mamdani shares a moment with his parents, Mahmood Mamdani and Mira Nair, along with his wife, Rama Duwaji, during a watch party for his primary election campaign to become the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City in the upcoming November 2025 election, held on June 25, 2025. — Reuters

    • Top Democrats show reluctance to back Mamdani.
    • Trump threatens to withdraw federal funding if Mamdani wins.
    • Mamdani clarifies his pro-Palestinian remarks.

    New York City mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani defended his democratic socialist ideals on Sunday, asserting that his emphasis on economic challenges sets a blueprint for the Democratic Party, even as some prominent Democrats hesitate to endorse him.

    In an interview with NBC’s "Meet the Press," Mamdani expressed that his proposal to increase taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers and corporations aims to fund expansive policies, including free bus services, a $30 minimum hourly wage, and rent stabilization—realistic measures designed to support the city’s working-class population.

    "This is the wealthiest city in the wealthiest country in the history of the world. Yet, one in four New Yorkers lives in poverty, and many others experience ongoing anxiety," he told NBC’s Kristen Welker.

    Mamdani’s unexpected win against former Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo in the recent primary has raised concerns among some party leaders that his socialist views might provide ammunition for Republican criticism of Democrats as excessively liberal ahead of next year’s midterm elections. Business executives have also voiced their worries about his proposed policies.

    Following a significant defeat in the November elections that restored President Donald Trump to the White House and granted Republicans control of both Congressional chambers, Democrats have struggled to articulate a unified message.

    A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll revealed that most Democrats believe the party needs fresh leadership and should prioritize economic issues.

    On Sunday, Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, representing part of New York City, stated on ABC’s "This Week" that he was not yet ready to endorse Mamdani, saying he needed more clarity on Mamdani’s vision.

    Other influential New York Democrats, including Governor Kathy Hochul and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have also refrained from backing Mamdani so far.

    Trump, a New York native, warned on Fox News Channel’s "Sunday Morning Futures" that if Mamdani secures the mayoral position, "he better do the right thing," or else Trump would cut federal aid to the city. "He’s a communist. This could be detrimental to New York," he claimed.

    When asked about Trump’s characterization of him as a communist, Mamdani denied the accusation and suggested that Trump was attempting to detract from his own failure to support "the very working people he initially vowed to empower."

    Mamdani also dismissed concerns regarding the lack of endorsements from Jeffries and other Democrats. "I think people are starting to understand the significance of this election," he stated. "By prioritizing working individuals and returning to the roots of the Democratic Party, we can navigate the current wave of authoritarianism in Washington, D.C."

    His critical stance on Israel’s actions during the Gaza conflict distinguishes him from many mainstream Democrats. This has led some to allege antisemitism, which Mamdani has vehemently rejected. Earlier this month, during an appearance on The Bulwark podcast, he refrained from denouncing the pro-Palestinian phrase "globalize the intifada," which some perceive as a call to violence.

    Jeffries emphasized on ABC that Mamdani needs to "clarify his stance" on this phrase to reassure Jewish constituents in New York.

    When pressed further on Sunday, Mamdani stated he does not use that particular language, yet opted not to condemn it, arguing against imposing restrictions on acceptable speech, criticizing Trump for targeting pro-Palestinian activists.

    "We must eradicate bigotry, which we can achieve through our actions," he remarked.

    Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, initially elected as a Democrat, is running as an independent in November, following the dismissal of corruption allegations against him by Trump’s Justice Department, prompting accusations of a quid pro quo that he has denied. The Republican candidate is Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, while independent lawyer Jim Walden is also in the race.

    Cuomo has yet to decide whether he will continue to run as an independent.

    This edited piece captures the original information while ensuring it is unique and free from plagiarism.

  • Harvard: Trump Admin Intensified Actions After Unauthorized Letter

    Harvard: Trump Admin Intensified Actions After Unauthorized Letter

    Students stroll across the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, on April 15, 2025. —Reuters

    • NYT reports that the April 11 demands may have been issued prematurely.
    • Harvard claims the Trump administration is intensifying its demands.
    • Numerous demands were rejected by Harvard; government froze certain funding.

    WASHINGTON: On Saturday, Harvard University stated that the Trump administration is “intensifying” its extensive demands made of the institution, even after a report suggested that officials sent a letter outlining these demands without formal approval.

    According to a report by the New York Times on Friday, the letter from government attorneys, which arrived at Harvard on April 11, was dispatched before it received the necessary clearance from high-level officials within President Donald Trump’s administration.

    Just three days after this letter’s arrival, Harvard rejected various demands which it claimed would effectively surrender control over hiring, admissions, and educational instruction to the government.

    Following this rejection, the Trump administration halted $2.3 billion in funding to Harvard, threatening to revoke its tax-exempt status and restrict its ability to enroll international students. They also requested extensive information regarding the university’s foreign affiliations, including details about students and faculty.

    “Even if the administration now seeks to retract its list of astonishingly intrusive demands, it seems to have doubled down on those requests through recent actions,” a Harvard spokesperson commented. “Actions speak louder than words.”

    Since taking office in January, Trump has targeted elite U.S. universities, claiming they mishandled the pro-Palestinian protests of the previous year and fostered antisemitism on campus. Detractors, including various Jewish organizations, argue that their critiques of Israeli policies are wrongly conflated with antisemitism.

    Columbia University was an early target, but in recent weeks, Harvard has become the focus of the administration, which is attempting to oversee its student body, faculty, and curriculum in what appears to be an effort to address perceived liberal bias.

    The New York Times reported that while the contents of the April 11 letter were confirmed as genuine, there were conflicting accounts within the Trump administration concerning its premature issuance.

    Some White House officials believed the letter was sent too soon, while others thought it was intended for circulation among governmental staff first.

    The White House has not offered an immediate response.

    On April 3, the administration had already provided a list of demands that Harvard needed to fulfill to maintain federal funding. These earlier demands included prohibitions on mask-wearing, the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and an increase in cooperation with law enforcement.

    The April 11 letter, signed by officials from the Education Department, Health Department, and General Services Administration, expanded on this list. It instructed Harvard to cease recognition of certain pro-Palestinian groups and urged the university to report foreign students who violate institution policies, among other items.

    Harvard believed it could avoid confrontation with the Trump administration because both parties were in discussions. However, the letter led Harvard to conclude that a deal would not be attainable.

    Harvard expressed no doubt regarding the authenticity of the letter and criticized its demands as “outrageous in their overreach.”