Earlier in the week, CBS News reported that the Biden administration is considering a plan to bring Gaza 'refugees' to the United States. I hesitated to share it at first, wondering whether this wasn't some sort of error that the White House would slap down immediately. After all, Joe Biden's approval ratings are especially dreadful on immigration and the Israel/Hamas war, and this sort of scheme might somehow drive both numbers lower. Indeed, the prospect of this president welcoming Gazan 'newcomers' into America almost felt like a caricature -- something a hardened Biden critic might dream up. Still, though, a major outlet reported it, so somebody must have given it to them.
But who, and why?
The Biden administration is exploring options to resettle some Palestinians from Gaza in the U.S., with refugee status that would allow benefits including a pathway to American citizenship.
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 2, 2024
CBS News' @camiloreports details what's being considered. https://t.co/rFFWTZlL4T pic.twitter.com/YCetnVbxB8
YOUR REACTION: CBS says Biden is considering giving “permanent safe haven in the U.S.” to some Palestinian refugees fleeing the war in Gaza, especially those with family members here. WATCH pic.twitter.com/6Ym9ibiJZw
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) May 1, 2024
Four theories: First, this was just a big miscommunication and has no connection to any reality. Second, someone is blowing the whistle on a disastrous idea in order to prevent it from advancing or happening. Third, Bidenworld wants this possibility in the bloodstream as a bone-toss to the implacable 'Genocide Joe' crowd, without any real expectation of following through. Fourth, Bidenworld wants this in the bloodstream as a bone-toss to the implacable 'Genocide Joe' crowd, and they might actually plan to follow through. Based on this White House non-denial, it seems like the answer lies behind door number three or four:
CBS's @Weijia Jiang: “As the administration considers bringing Palestinians here to the U.S. as refugees, do you know how many people that the U.S. hopes to relocate? And secondly, given the challenges getting in and out of Gaza, will the U.S. assist in physically bringing… pic.twitter.com/Fuz1X7QiRA
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) May 1, 2024
“So, let me just, first, start saying that we just don't have anything to announce at this time...in terms of the refugee admissions program, which is what I believe you're asking me about, we are constantly evaluating policy proposals to further support Palestinians who are family members of American citizens and may want to come to the United States. So, we’re evaluating it. I don't have anything to announce at this time.”
With these leaked reports percolating, the administration could have issued a quick, categorical denial. What they offered is very much not a denial at all. The Biden administration is not a hard no on this idea, and might even be teasing a 'yes.' Donald Trump, however, is a hard no:
President Trump on Biden's plan to resettle Gaza refugees in America:
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) May 2, 2024
"He’s just determined to create the conditions for an October 7th style attack right here in America.” pic.twitter.com/c3lOzpOei0
There are surely some innocent Gazans who could benefit from relocation, and who do not pose a national security threat. But how is that vetting process supposed to work? Just because they may have relatives in the US does not mean they would be safe to bring in. Popular opinion among Palestinians is exceptionally and lopsidedly anti-Semitic, anti-American, and pro-terrorism -- and has been for years. A number of critics of this alleged plan are re-circulating clips and reports like this:
JUST IN: CBS just reported that Joe Biden is considering to bring refugees from Gaza into the United States
— Alec Lace (@AlecLace) April 30, 2024
NEVER FORGET: Palestinians were cheering and celebrating on September 11th
They mocked and laughed at us while we suffered through the worst terrorist attack in… pic.twitter.com/1KLjQXYTGm
And then there's this alarming data, which is far more recent (March 2024):
A poll released Wednesday found a growing number of Gazans view the terror group’s October 7 onslaught favorably, and 52% of Gazans also said they want Hamas to rule Gaza at the end of the war, up from 38% since December...According to the survey, which sampled 1,580 Palestinian adults in early March, 71 percent of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank believe that the October 7 massacres in which in terrorists killed some 1,200 people and kidnapped 253 others was “correct,” versus 72% who said so when the organization’s previous poll was published in December...The poll found the number of Palestinians who admit Hamas committed war crimes fell from 10% to 5%.
Seven in ten Gazans endorse Hamas' orgy of murder, rape, torture and hostage-taking. Only five percent believe those acts were war crimes. Properly vetting a population in which these sorts of beliefs are so widespread (including, sickeningly, among children, who are indoctrinated from birth to hate and kill Jews) will strike most Americans as extremely difficult and risky, if not impossible. Nearby Arab states like Egypt want to no part of it. UNRWA employees were presumably "vetted" in some way, and we know how that turned out. How many Americans would have confidence in the Biden administration's competence (ahem) to exclusively admit harmless, innocent "refugees" from a territory long dominated by virulently America-hating, bloodthirsty terrorists? Maybe this guy could vouch for them? Or these guys? Is Biden trying to lose?