US-Israel, Kamala Harris’s move is a torpedo to Netanyahu –

From supporting Ukraine to strengthening alliances to counter Russia and China, a Kamala Harris candidate for the White House will continue Joe Biden’s foreign policy. But there are those who expect the Democrat to take a harder line on the war in Gaza, more likely to criticize Benjamin Netanyahu and express support and solidarity for the plight of Palestinian civilians. The Israeli prime minister, among other things, is in Washington these days and the vice president, and now increasingly likely new candidate for the White House, will have a bilateral meeting with him. But Harris, who is also the president of the Senate, will not be in Congress when Bibi delivers her speech in front of the chambers gathered in joint session. Her staff explains that only previous electoral commitments, a Zeta Phi Beta sorority event in Indianapolis, prevent Harris from presiding over the speech which, it should be remembered, is considered a challenge by exponents of the Democratic left who oppose the way in which Israel is conducting the war in Gaza. Consider that the president pro tempore of the Senate, Patty Murray, has not agreed to preside, and will not be present in the chamber at all, as a growing number of Democratic exponents will do.

Regarding Harris’ position, last March NBC News revealed that White House National Security Council officials had to tone down a speech in which the vice president stressed the need for a six-week ceasefire and an agreement to release the hostages. The original draft contained words that were too harsh towards Israel in reference to the terrible humanitarian situation of the Palestinians in Gaza and the need for more aid for the Strip. At the time, a spokesperson for Harris called the revelations “inaccurate”. Politico also believes that there is a certain difference between Biden’s position on Gaza and Harris, who since the beginning of the war has repeated to colleagues in the administration, including the president, that she would have liked the White House to show more concern in public for the humanitarian situation. According to a source close to the vice president’s office, Harris believes that the United States should be “tougher” with Netanyahu and should “more vigorously seek a long-term peace and a two-state solution”.

This could make the Arab-American community, the young and progressive Dem voters – some of whom actually campaigned against Biden during the primaries because of his unconditional support for Israel – more open to a Harris candidacy “because she is not seen as responsible for Biden’s policy on Israel, the hope is that this could help her numbers”, explain sources close to the Biden administration. On the other hand, Harris has strong ties with the American Jewish community, through her husband Doug Emhoff, who in recent years at the White House has taken on a role of liaison with the Jewish community, especially focused on the administration’s efforts to combat anti-Semitism.