US Vice-President Kamala Harris, who is anticipated to be the Democratic nominee for the upcoming presidential election, has engaged in “frank and constructive” discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Taking a firmer stance than President Joe Biden, Harris expressed her “serious concerns” about the casualties in Gaza, emphasizing the importance of how Israel conducts its self-defense. “It is time for this war to end,” she stated following their White House meeting.
Harris underscored the necessity of pursuing a two-state solution and urged Americans to understand the “nuance” of the conflict. Earlier on Thursday, Netanyahu also met with Biden, who announced his withdrawal from the re-election campaign on Sunday. These White House meetings occurred a day after Netanyahu’s impassioned address to Congress, where he pledged “total victory” against Hamas amid large pro-Palestinian protests outside.
Netanyahu faces growing pressure both domestically and internationally to conclude the nine-month Israel-Gaza war. Biden’s unwavering support for Israel has angered many left-wing activists, whose support is crucial for a Democratic victory in the November election. Consequently, there is significant interest in Harris’s potential stance on Israel if she succeeds Biden.
After a 40-minute meeting with Netanyahu, Harris reaffirmed her “unwavering commitment” to Israel’s right to self-defense. She referenced the conflict’s onset on October 7, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel from Gaza, resulting in 1,200 deaths and over 250 kidnappings, according to Israeli reports. Israel’s counteroffensive has since led to over 39,000 deaths in Gaza.
“Israel has a right to defend itself. And how it does so matters,” Harris said, highlighting the “dire humanitarian situation” in Gaza. She stressed the need to remain sensitive to the suffering and called for an end to the war. “Let’s get the deal done so we can get a ceasefire to end the war,” she added. “Let’s bring the hostages home, and let’s bring much-needed relief to the Palestinian people.”
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Friday. During his earlier meeting with Biden, Netanyahu acknowledged their 40-year acquaintance and Biden’s long-standing support for Israel. “From a proud Jewish Zionist to a proud Irish-American Zionist, I want to thank you for 50 years of public service and 50 years of support for the state of Israel,” he remarked.
Biden humorously recalled his first meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir and noted that Yitzhak Rabin, a subsequent prime minister, was also present. White House national security spokesman John Kirby reported that Biden and Netanyahu discussed the urgent need for a hostage release deal, the potential for conflict in Lebanon, the threat posed by Iran, and the importance of reaching “compromises” in peace negotiations.
Despite acknowledging “gaps” in the US-Israel relationship, Kirby described it as “healthy,” indicating that the leaders will not always agree but maintain a strong connection. The US and Israeli leaders also conducted a private meeting with the families of seven US citizens still held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. Following the meeting, Jonathan Dekel-Chen, whose son Sagui was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, described the session as “productive and honest,” expressing increased optimism.
(BBC)