Michael Arria
Mondoweiss / August 30, 2024
In an interview with CNN, Harris said she supports a ceasefire deal but made it clear that she would not stop sending Israel weapons if elected.
In her first interview as the Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris told CNN it was imperative to reach a ceasefire deal in Gaza, but made it clear that she would not alter President Joe Biden’s policy in the region.
“Let me be very clear. I’m unequivocal in Israel’s right to defend itself. And that’s not going to change, but let’s take a step back,” Harris told CNN’s Dana Bash. “On October 7, 1,200 people were massacred, many young people who were simply attending a music festival, women were horribly raped.”
“As I said then and I say today, Israel had a right, has a right to defend itself. We would, and how it does so matters,” she continued. “Far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed, and we have got to get a deal done. We were in Doha. We have to get a deal done. This war must end in the meantime, and we must get a deal that is about getting the hostages out. I’ve met with the families of the American hostages. Let’s get the hostages out. Let’s get the ceasefire done.”
Harris went on to express concern for the humanitarian situation in Gaza. “When you look at the significance of this to the families, to the people who are living in that region, a deal is not only the right thing to do but will unlock so much of what happens next,” she said. “I remain committed since I’ve been on October 8 to what we must do to work toward a two state solution where Israel is secure and in equal measure, the Palestinians have security and self-determination and dignity.”
However, when pressed on whether she would stop sending weapons to Israel she told Bash, “No, we have to get a deal done, Dana. We have to get a deal done.”
The Biden administration has sent Israel over 50,000 tons of weapons since its assault on Gaza began last year. Earlier this month it approved an additional $20 billion in arms sales to the country, just days before ceasefire talks were set to resume.
Activists have repeatedly called on Harris to turn away from the policies of the Biden administration and embrace an arms embargo on Israel.
“Adopting an arms embargo against Israel’s assault on Gaza is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic move to defeat Trump and MAGA extremism. It is difficult for the Democratic candidate to champion democracy while arming Netanyahu’s authoritarian regime” reads a recent letter to Harris from the coalition Not Another Bomb.
The letter continues:
“Supporting Israel’s war on Gaza undermines our fight against MAGA extremism and contradicts our core values of human rights and justice. By taking a strong stand against Netanyahu’s authoritarian policies, the Biden-Harris administration can unify the Democratic Party and regain the trust of key voter bases, including young people, Arabs, and Muslims. This decisive action will reinforce the administration’s commitment to democracy and human rights, contrasting sharply with the far-right extremism embodied by Trump and his supporters. It sends a clear message that the Democratic Party stands for peace, justice, and the protection of all people, thereby strengthening the coalition needed to secure victory in the 2024 elections and beyond.”
Recent polling has repeatedly demonstrated that Democratic voters overwhelmingly support the conditioning of U.S. military aid. A Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) survey from March found that 52% of Americans want the U.S. to halt weapons shipments to Israel in order to force a ceasefire. 62% of Biden voters said “The US should stop weapons shipments to Israel until Israel discontinues its attacks on the people of Gaza,” while only 14% disagreed with the statement.
The numbers from a June CBS News poll were even higher, with more than 60% of all voters and almost 80% of Democrats saying the U.S. shouldn’t send Israel weapons.
“The real question should have been, ‘When are you going to start enforcing U.S. law as it relates to arms shipments’ because what we are doing right now, with this United States policy, is in violation of not just international law, but also of American law, “said the Arab Center’s Yousef Munayyer in an interview with Democracy Now in response to the CNN segment. “Vice-President Harris made it clear in other parts of her interview that she wants to be a prosecutor. She wants to enforce the law, but Israel is clearly getting an exception from the Harris campaign.”
Michael Arria is the U.S. correspondent for Mondoweiss
