After US President Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu met Kamala Harris. The Vice President and presidential candidate made it clear that she stands by Israel – but there was also criticism of its actions in the Gaza Strip.
Democratic presidential candidate and US Vice President Kamala Harris has made a clear statement of support for Israel following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. As Vice President, she feels an unwavering commitment to the right of the Israeli state and its people to exist, said Harris.
At the same time, the Democrat called on the Israeli leadership to do more to protect the suffering population in the Gaza Strip. “Israel has the right to defend itself and it is important how it does so,” said the 59-year-old.
Harris: “We can't look away”
In her conversation with Netanyahu, she expressed her “grave concern about the extent of human suffering in the Gaza Strip.” This includes the deaths of “too many innocent civilians” and the catastrophic humanitarian situation. “We cannot look away from these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become insensitive to the suffering, and I will not remain silent.”
Harris called on the people of the United States to keep in mind the complexity of the conflict and the history of the region. Terrorism and violence must be condemned, she said. “Let us all do what we can to prevent the suffering of innocent civilians. And let us condemn anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and hatred of any kind.”
The meeting with Netanyahu was “open and constructive,” Harris continued. She stressed that she and US President Joe Biden are working “every day” to bring the US hostages home from the Gaza Strip.
Thanks to Biden, an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of the hostages is on the table, Harris said. There is “hopeful progress in the talks,” she said. “And as I just said to Prime Minister Netanyahu, it's time to get this agreement done.”
Meeting with Donald Trump also planned
Netanyahu had previously met with Biden. However, no details of the conversation were made public. However, in a televised address a few days after his sensational decision not to run for president again, the US president said that he would prioritize issues such as ending the war in the Gaza Strip in the remaining months of his term.
During his stay in the USA, the Israeli Prime Minister also wants to meet the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. The USA, as Israel's most important ally, has been urging Israel for months to increase humanitarian aid in Gaza and improve protection for the civilian population. Netanyahu rejects any criticism of his country's military action in the Gaza Strip.
