Kamala Harris wants White House to show more public concern for Gaza
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US President Joe Biden is one of the authorities Harris has encouraged to be more sensitive to Palestinians.
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Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a plenary session at the COP28 UN climate summit on December 2, 2023. (AP)
United States Vice President Kamala Harris has been telling colleagues in the administration that she wants the White House to publicly express concern about the humanitarian damage in Gaza caused by the Israeli occupation, sources told Politico.
According to these sources, US President Joe Biden is one of the authorities Harris has encouraged to be more sensitive to Palestinians.
One senior administration official reported that Harris has argued in internal discussions on the Gaza war that it is time to start preparing "day after" plans for how to deal with the debris of the war.
Another close source reported that she believes the US should be “tougher” on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and believes the administration should be “more forceful at seeking a long-term peace and two-state solution."
Sources said the VP has long been more sensitive to criticism and more keen to link herself with the Democratic Party's younger constituency.
Kirsten Allen, Harris’ Press Secretary, expressed that there are no disagreements between the VP and US President Joe Biden, cautioning media about "citing anonymous sources in the ‘orbit’ about sensitive national security conversations between the president and vice president that take place in the Oval Office.”
However, The Financial Times reported that US President Joe Biden harshly criticized Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and his government over the "indiscriminate bombing" of Gaza, citing that this was costing "Israel" its international support.
Recently, The Washington Post detailed "to some degree" disagreements within the White House over the handling of the war on Gaza between Biden's top longstanding advisors and a variety of younger workers.
According to the story, while Biden prepared his huge pro-"Israel" speech on October 10, Vice President Kamala Harris requested that he include a sentence condemning Islamophobia in the speech, according to two White House sources.
VP Harris to Mahmoud Abbas: US supports Palestinian self-determination
A statement by Harris after she convened with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the situation in Gaza and issues related to PA governance after the end of the war was released last week.
Following Harris' departure from Dubai on Sunday from the COP28 summit, the statement read, "The Vice President reiterated US support for the Palestinian people and their right to security, dignity and self-determination. She underscored our commitment to a two-state solution and said that the Palestinian people must have a clear political horizon."
Harris specifically spoke of a common Palestinian governance after the end of the war having "reiterated US support for a unified West Bank and Gaza under a revitalized Palestinian Authority."
After meeting with Egyptian, Jordanian, and UAE leaders, she expressed that "too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering, and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating. It is truly heartbreaking.”
This prompted Jake Sullivan, the national security advisor, to tell reporters at the White House that there was no disagreement in the assessments of Harris and the President of the war's impact on civilians.
Despite this, many like Wael Alzayat, CEO of the Muslim group Emgage, believe that "she’s using stronger language regarding the Israelis needing to not harm civilians."
He also speculated her attempts could be for “chipping away at the terrible numbers” Biden is now polling.
Pro-'Israel' blowback
A pro-"Israel" Democrat close to Harris also stated that there has been "blowback" from certain pro-"Israel" supporters in response to her recent statements, consoling themself by expressing that the flow of weapons to "Israel" is more relevant than any statements made by officials.
Conversations with friends, according to Harris, have changed her opinion toward the war. She told reporters in London last month that she had a friend who had lost relatives in Gaza due to Israeli bombardment. She expressed that the killed family members were "innocent civilians".
However, Harris' statements are not enough to absolve the US from its complicity in Israeli crimes. Arab American and Muslim leaders expressed satisfaction with Harris' speech in Dubai but said they expected more than words.
Warren David, the president of the media organization Arab America, described her comments as "encouraging" but remarked that “at the same time, it doesn’t really mean anything, it’s empty, if there’s no action being taken.”
"If she’s influencing the president to stop the genocide in Gaza, I welcome that.”
A couple of days ago, Delaware State Representative, Madinah Wilson-Anton, interrupted US Vice President Kamala Harris’ holiday party to demand a ceasefire in Gaza, reminding her that people in Beit Lahm, where baby Jesus was born, are not celebrating Christmas.
#Delaware State Representative, Madinah Wilson-Anton, interrupted US Vice President Kamala #Harris’ holiday party to demand a ceasefire in #Gaza, reminding her that people in Beit Lahm, where baby Jesus was born, are not celebrating #Christmas.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) December 13, 2023
Only for the latter to respond… pic.twitter.com/e7R2tG1TVT
Harris coldly responded, saying, "In a democracy, there's the right for everyone to make their voices heard, and so I appreciate you wanting to be heard, but right now I am speaking."
