NEW YORK, USA: In an unusual and direct statement, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz publicly declared that Vice President Kamala Harris won the recent US presidential debate against Donald Trump, breaking the typical diplomatic neutrality that foreign officials maintain concerning other countries’ elections.
In an interview on Channel 12 news, Katz expressed his view that Harris outperformed Trump during the debate. His comment surprised many, as it marked a rare departure from the cautious approach Israel generally takes on foreign political matters. Katz later clarified that while Harris won “in the debate,” the US election outcome was still undecided, leaving room for developments before the final vote.
When asked about Trump’s controversial claim that Israel might cease to exist if Harris were elected, Katz avoided addressing the specific comment directly. Instead, he reaffirmed that “Israel will exist forever,” suggesting Trump’s remarks were meant to express strong support for the Jewish state.
Polling after the debate indicated that 60% of viewers believed Harris had performed better, while 40% felt Trump had the upper hand. However, the debate is unlikely to sway votes, with most viewers’ opinions of the candidates unchanged.
In the same interview, Katz emphasized that Israel had not engaged in any discussions, formal or informal, regarding concerns about the election outcome. He underscored that Israel remains neutral, avoiding interference in US domestic politics, though other Israeli politicians have voiced their preferences in the past.
