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Kamala Harris laid out her Middle East policy explicitly on Thursday in her first major media interview: The United States will continue to arm Israel unconditionally.
In an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash and Tim Walz, Harris was asked how she distinguishes her position on Israel from that of President Joe Biden.
“Would you do anything differently? For example, would you stop shipping some American weapons to Israel? That’s what many on the progressive left want you to do,” Bash asked.
“Let me be clear. I am unequivocally and unwaveringly committed to Israel’s defense and its ability to defend itself, and that will not change,” Harris responded. “As I said then (October 7), I say today that Israel has the right to defend itself … and how it defends itself matters.”
Harris went on to clarify that “too many innocent Palestinians are being killed by Israel,” but still refused to commit to changing U.S. policy toward Israel.
That’s horrible. It’s clear that Kamala Harris would take the same action as Biden on Gaza: “Would you have acted differently? For example, would you have withheld some U.S. weapons shipments to Israel?”
Kamala Harris: “I am unequivocally and unwaveringly committed to… pic.twitter.com/EQ0gV6vcFP
— HalalFlow (@halalflow) August 30, 2024
Harris stressed the need for a ceasefire, saying “we have to get a deal,” and mentioned the Biden administration’s attendance this week In the Qatar negotiationsAt the Doha talks, a potential deal included a limited six-week ceasefire, prisoner releases and aid to Gaza in exchange for the return of 33 hostages alive to Israel. However, Hamas did not directly participate in the negotiations because they believed they “provided cover for Israel to continue the war” – Israel walked out of the talks on Thursday without a final agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explain He believes in Israel Must maintain Military pressure forced a deal.
Harris had previously told Netanyahu, “It’s time to end the war“But the Israeli Prime Minister refused to accept any “Partial” ceasefire agreementlike the one being negotiated in Doha.
As Bash noted, many Americans want Harris and Biden to stop selling weapons to Israel. June CBS Poll The survey found that 61% of Americans oppose providing weapons assistance to Israel, including 77% of Democrats and 62% of independents. In addition, 77% of Americans under the age of 30 oppose providing weapons to Israel to continue its attack on Gaza. Another survey found that 61% of Americans oppose providing weapons to Israel to continue its attack on Gaza. YouGov/IMEU Policy Project A poll this month found that voters in swing states were more likely to vote for a candidate who pledged to give up his weapons.
CNN’s Bash continued to dwell on the issue, pressing the vice president on how the deal would be done. “But there is no change in policy when it comes to weapons and so on?”
“No, we have to make a deal,” Harris responded, dismissing the possibility of an arms embargo. “I remain committed to the fact that we have to work toward a two-state solution — with Israel secure and Palestinians equally secure, with self-determination and with dignity.”
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