Republican Presidential Candidates Unite in Support of Israel and Take Hard Line on Iran at Miami Debate

At the Republican presidential debate in Miami on Wednesday, candidates vied to show the most support for Israel and take the hardest line on Iran. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) criticized President Joe Biden for his initiative to combat what he called “so-called Islamophobia”, while the other candidates expressed their full support for Israel’s military campaign against Hamas.

DeSantis said that Biden was not helping Jewish students who are being persecuted, and that he would not stand for this on college campuses any longer. He then called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “finish the job once and for all with these butchers”, referring to Hamas.

The other candidates at the debate echoed DeSantis’ sentiments, expressing their full support for Israel’s actions and their commitment to combatting antisemitism. They also downplayed the rise in anti-Muslim sentiment in the US, which has been linked to the conflict in the Middle East.

The debate comes at a time of escalating tensions in the Middle East, with the death toll in Gaza reportedly topping 10,000. The candidates’ positions on the conflict reflect the Republican Party’s strong support for Israel and its hardline stance on Iran.

The debate also highlighted the Republican Party’s reluctance to address the issue of anti-Muslim sentiment in the US, despite the fact that it has been linked to the conflict in the Middle East. The candidates’ positions on the issue reflect the party’s reluctance to address this issue.