Vice President Harris’s cold shoulder towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week was just the latest in a string of anti-Israel comments and sentiments she has made since the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks.
President Biden has long prided himself on being a Zionist and friend of Israel, and Harris has carefully toed that official line, but she has no illusions that she is willing to take a tougher stance on Israel than her boss.
Just weeks after Gaza’s elected government, Hamas, massacred 1,200 Israelis, took more than 200 hostage, committed gang rape and decapitated a baby, Harris made it clear she was calling on Israel to halt operations that risk causing civilian casualties.
“I believe Israel must do more to protect innocent civilians,” she said. December 2, 2023.
Less than a month after October 7, Harris praised rampaging pro-Hamas college students. Speaking to a reporter “I understand their concerns and would never suppress or silence young people from raising their concerns.”
When Israel spoke about the need to destroy Hamas in its stronghold of Rafah, Harris was firm in her opposition to that as well, telling ABC that it was logistically impossible and that she knew it because she had “studied the maps.”
The crazy protesters When he told Secretary Harris on October 17 that the US and Israel were committing “genocide,” she responded, “I appreciate you raising this issue, and I appreciate your leadership.”
Even during her time as a senator, Harris was tolerant of Israel. Vote against A federal anti-BDS bill passed the House of Representatives overwhelmingly in 2019.
Political insiders said the transition from Biden to Harris would damage the party among Jewish Democrats who see Israel as a core issue.
“Pro-Israel Democrats will often just bite the bullet and vote for Trump because, while Trump may be bad, not having Israel would be worse,” said Hank Sheinkopf, a longtime Democratic consultant.
“The pro-Israel Democratic community is shrinking and will shrink further with Kamala Harris’ addition because she has made her views very clear. She has little respect for America’s most important ally in the Middle East, an ally currently fighting a costly proxy war with America’s biggest enemy, Iran,” Sheinkopf added.
