Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who received a standing ovation in the U.S. Congress, met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday.
The White House meeting was closely watched for signs of how Harris, the first US official to call for a ceasefire, might change US policy towards Israel if president.
It was a matter of curiosity whether Kamala Harris, who was neck and neck with Republican candidate Donald Trump in the latest polls, could have any influence on Netanyahu.
Moreover, Netanyahu’s first visit to the United States, Israel’s most important international ally, since he takes office for a sixth term as prime minister at the end of 2022 came just after Biden announced he would not run for president.
Kamala Harris, who would become the first female president if she wins the November election, told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it was time to end the war in Gaza.
After the 40-minute meeting, Democratic candidate Harris said, “Let’s get this deal done, let’s end the war with a ceasefire, let’s bring the hostages back to their homes, let’s provide the Palestinian people with the aid that they desperately need, and I’ll stay. I’m committed to a process that ultimately leads to a two-state solution.”
Harris took a tougher stance on Netanyahu than Biden during the five-minute press conference, but added that she had made clear her “serious concerns” about casualties in Gaza.
Could determine the outcome of the election
Significantly, ahead of the November 5 election, Arab Americans are dwindling in support for Joe Biden, who has failed to stop the war. All eyes are on Michigan, one of several states likely to decide the outcome of the election between Trump and Harris, which is expected to be contested. Michigan has one of the largest Arab populations in the US.
As expected, US Vice President and potential presidential candidate Kamala Harris’ call for an immediate ceasefire was widely reported in Israel.
The Times of Israel ran the headline, “Israel complains chances of deal undermined after Harris promises to speak out on Gaza issue,” and quoted Israeli officials as saying Kamala Harris’s call would discourage Hamas from making concessions.
The official’s statement indicates that the Tel Aviv government was quite shaken by Harris’ outrage. The Israeli official claimed that the US vice president’s comments in front of the whole world that there is a terrible humanitarian crisis in Gaza and that the war should be stopped immediately had a negative impact on ceasefire negotiations. The official called Kamala Harris’ press conference “problematic.”
Haaretz also chose the headline, “Senior Israeli official warns Harris’ call for early end to Gaza war could delay agreement.”
Israeli diplomats were stunned when Kamala Harris spoke to reporters about the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and mentioned the meeting, according to Haaretz news agency.
Immediate response from the Harris team
The real development that sent a chill through Washington was when one of Harris’ aides responded to an Israeli official who criticized Kamala Harris’ comments on war by saying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Fascist ministers are intolerant of even listening
As expected, Kamala Harris was heavily criticized by Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners who have shared power with him for almost two years. Scandalous Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who advocated for the expulsion of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to the Sinai Desert, shared on his social media account, “Woman candidate, there will be no ceasefire.” Fascist Minister Ben Gvir wants Palestinians evacuated from Gaza and settled by Israelis.
Another fascist figure, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, argued that a ceasefire agreement would mean surrender to Hamas, writing, “We cannot fall into this trap.”
For months, Ben Gvir and Smotrich have threatened to break up the coalition government if a ceasefire is reached.
“You don’t see this in the American media.”
Reporting from Washington, Al Jazeera reporter Patty Culhane said what she’d heard from Kamala Harris differed significantly from comments made by other Biden administration officials.
“She said she saw pictures of dead children. You don’t see this kind of thing in the American media. It’s not on the front page of the newspaper. You almost never see it,” Patty Culhane said, emphasizing that Kamala Harris’ speech was important for this reason.
The United States, one of Israel’s main arms suppliers, is also shielding Israel from key UN votes.
The biggest obstacle to implementing the three-phase ceasefire agreement is Israel’s desire to continue its attacks on the Gaza Strip after the first phase is completed.
