Janice R. Andrews
Israeli authorities are irritated by Vice President Kamala Harris’s controversial choice to miss Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress. This choice is being made as Harris gets ready to go to Indianapolis on Wednesday in order to meet with Netanyahu the following day. A wave of dissatisfaction has resulted from the snub, especially among some in Netanyahu’s government who consider this to be a serious diplomatic affront.
Harris’s absence is especially noteworthy in light of US-Israel ties in general. In addition, many of Democratic MPs have decided not to attend Netanyahu’s speech in protest of the way he has handled the Gaza crisis. Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, the Israeli official voiced her profound unhappiness with Harris’ decision to honor her pre-arranged obligations. “Leaders who cannot discriminate between good and evil are not someone the free world can afford,” the official said, highlighting the dissatisfaction among Netanyahu’s supporters.
The timing of this diplomatic spat is critical for Harris, who was been backed as the party’s nominee for the November election by President Joe Biden and prominent Democrats. When it comes to condemning Israel’s reaction to the Hamas strike on October 7, Harris has been more outspoken than Biden. She declared in March that “people in Gaza are starving.” “The conditions are inhumane and our common humanity compels us to act.”
In spite of the global backlash, Harris is scheduled to attend a gathering in Indianapolis hosted by the black Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, underscoring her dedication to domestic commitments. The Democratic senator and Senate president pro tempore, Patty Murray, has rejected to lead the joint meeting, further exacerbating the political strain. For the first time since 1989, Senator Ben Cardin, the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, will take on the ceremonial position instead.
Arriving in D.C. on Monday, Netanyahu had planned to visit long before Biden announced recently that he would not run for reelection. Netanyahu has visited with the families of US captives held in Gaza during his visit, and he is anticipated to hold discussions with administration representatives on US-mediated attempts to put an end to the nine-month conflict. Nearly 40,000 people have already died in this fight, and Netanyahu now has to balance keeping his precarious grasp on power at home with responding to international concerns about civilian losses.
The fact that Biden, a steadfast supporter of Netanyahu’s, is not running for reelection has further complicated the issue. Given Harris’s past views on Israel, Aryeh Lightstone, a former top advisor to Donald Trump’s ambassador to Israel, pointed out that her choice was not shocking. Lightstone stated, “She doesn’t like the State of Israel,” noting that Netanyahu probably expected this response. “Prime Minister Netanyahu, I think, knew he was walking into this when he came here and he made that calculation.”
Notwithstanding the diplomatic strain, Netanyahu has informed the families of the hostages that the peace negotiations are making headway. “The conditions are undoubtedly ripening,” he stated. “This is a good sign.” These captives were captured during a violent onslaught by Hamas that claimed 1,200 lives and led in the detention of 250 more.
The larger ramifications of Harris’ diplomatic choices continue to be a topic of discussion while she pursues her domestic commitments, underscoring the intricate relationship between US politics and foreign affairs.
