Kamala Harris greets Netanyahu with a brief greeting: “We have a lot to talk about”

Washington, Jul 25 (EFE).- U.S. Vice President and future Democratic candidate Kamala Harris greeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday with a brief greeting before holding a private meeting on negotiations for the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza.

“Welcome, Mr. Prime Minister. I look forward to continuing our conversation. We have a lot to talk about,” Harris said with a serious demeanor during the brief handshake with Netanyahu in front of the press.

The greeting took place in a room decorated with Israeli and American flags in the Eisenhower Executive Building, adjacent to the White House, where the private meeting began immediately afterwards.

Harris has been openly critical of Israel’s conduct of its offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has already left more than 39,000 dead, and was the first voice in the US administration to call for an immediate ceasefire.

The meeting with Netanyahu raised high expectations because Harris is virtually assured of the Democratic Party nomination after President Joe Biden dropped his bid for re-election, and could provide clues about her relationship with Israel if she wins the November election.

Harris, who is also the Senate president, was notably absent from Netanyahu’s speech to the US Congress on Wednesday, where he defended continuing his war against Hamas until “final victory.”

The vice president issued a statement on Thursday condemning the burning of an American flag and pro-Hamas slogans that took place yesterday during a pro-Palestinian demonstration against Netanyahu’s presence in Washington.

Before meeting Harris, the Israeli prime minister met with Biden in the Oval Office of the White House and then both leaders met with relatives of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

Biden’s main goal is to pressure Netanyahu to reach an agreement with Hamas within the next few weeks that would allow for a truce in Gaza and the release of the hostages.

Biden and Netanyahu have not seen each other since the US president travelled to Israel in a show of solidarity following the attack carried out by the Palestinian Islamist group on October 7 that left 1,200 dead and triggered the Israeli offensive on the enclave.

Despite being Israel’s largest arms supplier, the US government has been critical of Israel’s bombing of densely populated areas, attacks on hospitals and restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid.

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