What’s happening:

On the occasion of US President Joe Biden’s landing in Dallas, pro-Palestinian protesters were seen surrounding the area where Air Force One arrived. Reports from online sources and activist groups indicated attempts by protesters to access the tarmac.

Why it matters:

The incidence not only created immediate security concerns for the President’s team but also highlighted the ongoing tensions between supporters of Palestinian rights and US policy in the Middle East.

By the numbers:

The Palestinian Youth Movement — a protest organizer — reported that over a dozen individuals were arrested.

Big picture:

The Dallas incident is part of a wave of protests that follow President Biden, aiming to pressurize a change in US stance in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Protesters have been vocal in their opposition to the US military aid being provided to Israel and the US’s handling of calls for ceasefires. Biden, visiting Dallas, was initially there to pay respects to former Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson.

The backdrop:

Earlier in the day, Biden’s reelection speech in South Carolina was also interrupted by similar protests, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction among pro-Palestinian activists with the current administration’s policies. These protests are not isolated incidents but signify a broader pattern of scrutiny and disapproval the Biden administration has received concerning its foreign policy objectives regarding Israel.

What to watch:

How President Biden and his administration will address these recurring protests could influence both national security measures and foreign policy communications about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The administration’s response to such incidents might also have implications for Biden’s popularity and reelection efforts amid these persistent demonstrations.

This story was first published on jpost.com.