According to the letter, obtained exclusively by The Washington Post, the conservative groups are calling for a “clear stance” from the Harris-Waltz campaign on Israel, given several ambiguous statements and actions.
The Faith and Freedom Coalition sent a letter to Harris' campaign chair Jennifer O'Malley Dillon on Thursday, urging the Democratic candidates to “clearly take a position on the defense of Israel and unconditionally condemn the evil of anti-Semitism.”
“At this critical moment for U.S. national security and the survival of the state of Israel, our support for our ally and the Middle East's only democracy must be clear, strong and resounding,” wrote Timothy Head, executive director of Faith and Freedom.
“Unfortunately, your campaign has failed to clearly articulate a policy position on Israel's right to self-defense,” Head said. “Whether intentional or not, this ambiguity undermines regional stability and casts an image of weakness abroad.”
In her acceptance speech for the Democratic presidential nomination last week, Vice President Harris vowed to “defend Israel's right to self-defense” if elected in November.
The vice president also pledged at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago that his administration would secure the release of all American and Israeli hostages being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip and reach a ceasefire with the terrorist group.
But the letter also cited Harris' decision in July not to preside over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's joint parliamentary address, and her public condemnation of the Jewish state after she met with the Israeli leader and reportedly voiced her support for him in a private meeting.
Speaking after her meeting with Netanyahu, Harris accused Israeli forces of killing “too many” Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and insisted the war was not a “dual issue” – that there were not two sides to the conflict.
Head condemned the comments for “suggesting a moral equivalence between the Israeli people and Hamas and showing little sympathy for Israel's fight for survival.”
Harris' comments “do nothing to inspire confidence in the U.S.-Israeli alliance or strengthen deterrence against those who threaten our relationship with Israel or our domestic security.”
“It is true that the Biden-Harris administration has called for a general de-escalation of tensions, but the responsibility for avoiding escalation of tensions in the region has always rested with Israel, rather than asking Hamas, Hezbollah or Iran to do so,” Head added, referring to the Tehran-backed terror groups.
He also said Harris' solidarity with “the sentiment behind” anti-Israel protests across the US has “contributed to disturbing scenes” such as “demonstration showcasing the flag of a terrorist group that has murdered Americans, anti-Israel protests on college campuses and, most recently, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week.”
The Uncommitted National Movement, a group that convinced hundreds of thousands of voters to vote against President Biden in the Democratic primary over U.S. support for Israel, reportedly announced in July that Harris had agreed to meet with its members to discuss an arms embargo on Israel, signaling her continued ambivalence.
The vice president's national security adviser, Phil Gordon, denied the exchange and said Harris would “always ensure that Israel is able to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist organizations,” but the vice president has not yet commented publicly on the matter.
Her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, also came under fire for donating more than $100,000 to a radical Islamic cleric's nonprofit group that promoted films praising Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler and pro-Hamas propaganda on social media.
The Democratic vice presidential nominee praised cleric Asad Zaman Imam as a “great teacher.” Video footage first discovered by the Washington Examinerand hosted her several times as governor.
“Governor Walz, the American people have a right to know the extent of your relationship with Mr. Zaman, including whether you have met recently with him or discussed the ongoing war in Israel,” Head wrote in the letter.
He also cited other concerns, including the Harris-Biden administration's decision to withhold some arms shipments to Israel to thwart ground attacks on Rafah in southern Gaza.
“Now is the time for clarity, transparency, strength and resolve,” Head said. “I ask you to join the vast majority of Americans in supporting Israel's right to self-defense.”
According to a Harvard CAPS/Harris poll conducted in April, 80% of American voters support Israel's war against Hamas, while 68% oppose a ceasefire that would allow the terror group to continue to control Gaza.
Nearly three-quarters (72%) wanted the IDF to “end the war” and invade Rafah at that time.
The Harris-Waltz campaign did not immediately respond to The Post's request for comment Tuesday.
