Harris says Biden’s failure to show Gaza empathy cost her politically
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In her memoir 107 Days, Kamala Harris recounts tensions with Biden over Gaza policy, citing protests, Netanyahu’s role, and her choice of running mate.
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Then-Vice President Kamala Harris hugs then-President Joe Biden as he walks to speak at Howard Theatre in Washington, November 10, 2022. (AP)
Former US Vice President Kamala Harris criticized former President Joe Biden in her upcoming book for failing to show sufficient empathy toward Gazans, a shortcoming she says negatively impacted her own political standing.
“I had pleaded with Joe, when he spoke publicly on this issue, to extend the same empathy he showed to the suffering of Ukrainians to the suffering of innocent Gazan civilians,” Harris writes in 107 Days, set for release later today, according to excerpts published by Axios.
Harris adds that while Biden could “passionately state, ‘I am a Zionist,’ his remarks about innocent Palestinians came off as inadequate and forced.”
Harris says Netanyahu favored Trump
Harris attributes part of her loss in the 2024 presidential election to Biden’s “perceived blank check to Benjamin Netanyahu in Gaza,” arguing that the Israeli leader preferred US President Donald Trump as his US counterpart. “He wanted Trump in the seat opposite him. Not Joe, not me,” she writes.
The memoir appears to challenge claims made during the Biden administration that there was “no daylight” between the president and his deputy on Gaza policy.
Harris also notes that protests against "Israel’s" war on Gaza influenced her choice of running mate. She recounts a discussion with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Jewish leader, on how to navigate criticism of US policy toward Gaza and its impact on convention enthusiasm. Ultimately, she chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her vice-presidential pick.
It is worth noting that Harris’ campaign lasted just over three months, the shortest in modern US history, which inspired the title of her memoir, 107 Days.
Harris’ book vs 2024 debate on 'Israel' policy
However, looking back at the September 2024 debate with Trump, Harris struck a very different tone, making it clear that whether the White House is painted red or blue, the US stance on the Israeli occupation would remain unwavering; a contrast that now casts doubt on the sincerity of her book.
Harris dedicated quite a bit of the debate to stressing how she was committed to "Israel's self-defense". This was not new at all. She made it clear since the start of her campaign, and even during her tenure as vice president, that the occupation's security is of paramount importance for the United States.
Though she has stressed that she was in support of the Israeli occupation in numerous ways and on numerous occasions, Trump attempted to accuse her of "hat[ing] Israel", adding that "if she's president, I believe that Israel will not exist within two years."
In July 2024, Harris welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the vice president’s ceremonial office at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC, where she highlighted her long-standing support for "Israel". She recalled childhood efforts to raise money to plant trees in the entity, portraying it as the beginning of a lifelong connection.
“From the time I was a young girl, collecting funds to plant trees for Israel, through my service in the United States Senate and now in the White House, I have maintained an unwavering commitment to Israel’s existence, its security, and its people,” Harris stressed.
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