President Joe Biden opted out of running for reelection and threw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris, sparking excitement for a new candidate in the presidential race. Memes and “Brat” tweets promoting Harris as a unique leader led many to hope for a change in U.S. support for Israel in the Gaza conflict.
When Harris selected progressive Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her vice-presidential running mate, who had previously shown openness to calls for an arms embargo on Israel, a sense of cautious optimism emerged, though uncertainties lingered.
However, during her first campaign interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, Harris, alongside Walz, appeared to reaffirm her stance on Israel, shutting down the possibility of policy changes. When asked about altering her approach to ceasefire negotiations and arms shipments to Israel, Harris reiterated her commitment to Israel’s defense and its right to self-defense, stressing that this position would not waver.
Despite acknowledging the loss of innocent Palestinian lives, Harris emphasized the importance of Israel’s defense while calling for an end to the conflict and a resolution to be reached.
When pressed by Bash on potential changes to military aid policy towards Israel, Harris firmly stated that there would be no shift, reiterating the need to focus on achieving a resolution.
Harris concluded her remarks by advocating for a two-state solution that ensures security and self-determination for both Israel and the Palestinians.
Her statements echoed those made at the Democratic National Convention, where she highlighted Palestinian suffering while supporting Israel’s right to defend itself.
Concerns have been raised by some supporters of Palestinian rights regarding Harris’ language around Palestinian suffering, particularly pointing out a perceived bias in her remarks.
During the convention, Harris and DNC officials faced criticism for not including a Palestinian American elected official in the main program. Calls for conditioning military aid to Israel were made by Uncommitted delegates and progressive lawmakers like Rashida Tlaib, Cori Bush, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Ilhan Omar.
Advocates for an arms embargo cite the Leahy Law, which prohibits U.S. assistance to military units involved in gross human rights violations. Reports of such violations in Israel’s operations in Gaza have raised concerns.
A June poll showed significant opposition among Americans, particularly Democrats, to providing weapons aid to Israel in the Gaza conflict.
Matt Duss and other supporters of conditioning aid urge Harris to consider a more assertive stance on Israel policy, aligning with existing U.S. laws and responding to public sentiment.
As ceasefire efforts continue, Israeli airstrikes and military actions in Gaza and the West Bank have resulted in casualties, underscoring the urgency of finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
The Israeli military has implemented restrictions on civilian movement and ordered evacuations in certain areas of the northern West Bank, reminiscent of the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza. This update includes a quote from Matt Duss and ensures the article is ready for integration into a WordPress platform.
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