WASHINGTON: United States Vice President Kamala Harris has promised not to stay “silent” regarding human suffering in the Gaza Strip, shifting emphasis to the plight of Palestinian people as she walks a fine line on one of the most divisive matters within her Democratic Party.
Talking to media following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, the Vice President said that her commitment to Israel was “unwavering”, but that “far too many” innocent Palestinians had also been killed in the current war.
According to Arab media, Harris spent more time speaking regarding the suffering of Palestinians than Biden has, even as she sought to boost her credentials as a pro-Israel figure. Although Harris positioned herself to the left of Biden during her failed 2020 presidential run, the Vice President has a long track record of strong support for Israel.
Following entering the US Senate in 2017, her first overseas visit was to Israel and one of her first acts in office was to introduce a resolution opposing a UNSC resolution denouncing the country.
“What has occurred in the Gaza Strip over the last nine months is devastating. The photos of dead kids and desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety,” Kamala Harris said. She said that they could not look away in the face of these catastrophes and could not allow themselves to become numb to the suffering. She said, “I will not be silent” over Gaza suffering.
Harris, the likely Democratic nominee following Biden’s decision to end his re-election drive, said that she had urged Israeli PM to agree to a US-backed truce proposal.
“It is time to end this war and end in a manner where Israel is secure, all the captives are freed, the suffering of Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip ends, and the Palestinians can also exercise their right to freedom as well as self-determination,” she added.
While Harris’s statement did not point to substantive policy differences with President Biden, her forceful invocation of Palestinian people’ suffering drew a contrast with her boss’s more unresponsive, mostly back-channel efforts to restrain Israel.
Biden’s policy on Gaza has isolated progressive factions of the Democratic Party and many Muslim-Americans, in Michigan, a key swing state that is considered important to the outcome of November’s race.
