Image source, Getty Images
US Vice President Kamala Harris, who is expected to be the Democratic Party’s nominee for the presidential election scheduled for next November, held what she described as “frank and constructive” talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a tougher tone than President Joe Biden, Harris said she made clear her “serious concerns” about casualties in Gaza, and told Netanyahu that how Israel defends itself is important.
“It is time to end this war,” she said after their face-to-face talks inside the White House.
Harris also stressed the need to find a path to a two-state solution, while calling on Americans to pay attention to the “nuances” of the conflict.
Early Thursday, Netanyahu met with Biden, who resigned from his re-election campaign on Sunday.
Netanyahu’s White House meetings come a day after he delivered a fiery speech to Congress, vowing “total victory” against Hamas, as thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated outside.
The prime minister is facing pressure at home and abroad to end the Gaza war, now in its ninth month.
Image source, Brandon Drenon/BBC News
Biden’s strong support for Israel has angered many left-wing activists, whose support Democrats may need to win the presidential election next November.
Given this, there is also great interest in what position Harris might take toward Israel, if she replaces Biden in the White House.
After meeting with Netanyahu for nearly 40 minutes, Harris said she had a “firm commitment” to Israel and its right to defend itself.
She referred to the conflict that began on October 7, when Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel from inside Gaza, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli statistics.
The Israeli response resulted in the deaths of more than 39,000 people.
“Israel has the right to defend itself, and how it does so matters,” Harris said, expressing concern about the “dire humanitarian situation” in Gaza.
“We cannot allow ourselves to get used to suffering, and I will not be silent,” she added.
“Let’s get the deal done so we can get a ceasefire to end the war,” the Democratic candidate continued. “Let’s get the hostages home, and let’s get the relief that the Palestinian people desperately need.”
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Friday.
Image source, Getty Images
When Netanyahu met Biden earlier, the prime minister said he had known him for 40 years, and that the US president had known every Israeli prime minister over the past half century.
“From a proud Zionist Jew to an Irish-American Zionist, I want to thank you for 50 years of public service and 50 years of support for the State of Israel,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu also said he looked forward to working with Biden “on the major issues before us” over the next few months.
The US president joked that Golda Meir was the first Israeli prime minister he had met, and that Yitzhak Rabin, her successor, was there as an aide.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said at a news conference that Biden and Netanyahu discussed the urgent need to reach an agreement to release the hostages, the potential for the conflict to spread to Lebanon, the threat posed by Iran, and the need to reach “compromises” in peace talks.
While Kirby added that there are “still gaps” in the U.S.-Israel relationship, it remains “healthy.”
“By healthy, I mean the two sides won’t agree on everything,” Kirby said, adding that Biden was “very comfortable with the relationship he has with the prime minister” of Israel.
The US and Israeli leaders also held a closed meeting with the families of seven US citizens still being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.
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