Vice President Harris was pressed about U.S. support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a scheduled interview on CBS News' “60 Minutes.”
“We are providing billions of dollars in military aid to Israel,” said correspondent Bill Whitaker. In a clip highlighted by Mediaite. “Still, Prime Minister Netanyahu appears to be charting his own course, and the Biden-Harris administration is pressing him to agree to a ceasefire. [He’s] I resisted. You urged him not to go to Lebanon. He went in anyway. He has promised to make Iran pay for the missile attacks, which could escalate the war. Does the US have no influence over Prime Minister Netanyahu? ”
“Thanks to the assistance we gave Israel, Israel was able to defend itself against 200 ballistic missiles intended to attack Israelis and Israelis,” Harris said in an interview. . “And when you think about the threat that Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran pose, I think it's definitely our responsibility to do everything we can to help Israel protect itself from that kind of attack. .”
“The work we are currently doing diplomatically with the Israeli leadership is to make our principles clear, including the need for humanitarian aid, the need to end this war, and the need to reach an agreement. “It's a continued pursuit of a central focus that will lead to the release of hostages and a ceasefire,” Harris added. “And we're not going to stop in terms of putting pressure on the region, including on Israeli and Arab leaders.”
The interview is Set to broadcast Monday at 8pm ET, according to CBS News.
Tensions in the Middle East have risen sharply in recent weeks, with Israel recently launching a limited ground invasion of Lebanon and Iran firing a barrage of missiles at Israel earlier this week.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu doesn't seem to be listening,” Whitaker also said during the vice president's appearance on “60 Minutes.”
“Bill, as a result of the work that we have done, many Israeli movements in the region have emerged, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region. It was driven by or a result of a number of things,” Harris said.
Whitaker then asked Harris whether “we really have a close ally” regarding the Israeli prime minister.
“With all due respect, I think the better question would be, 'Is there a significant alliance between the American people and the Israeli people?'” Harris said. “The answer to that question is yes.”
The Hill reached out to Netanyahu's office and a spokesperson for the Harris campaign.
