Kamala Harris will also be keen not to alienate the majority of US voters who, according to polls, support Israel.
Washington:
Kamala Harris does not support an arms embargo on U.S. ally Israel, a top aide said Thursday, in one of the first substantive statements about her Gaza war policy since her July entry into the 2024 White House race.
The comment came a day after the US vice president was questioned by pro-Palestinian protesters at a rally for the first time since becoming the Democratic candidate less than three weeks ago.
Harris also met with groups opposing the war following the rally in Detroit, Michigan. Participants reportedly said they raised the issue of suspending US arms supplies to Israel.
“She does not support an arms embargo on Israel,” Harris’ national security adviser Phil Gordon said on X.
He added that the vice president “has been clear: she will always ensure that Israel is able to defend itself against Iran and Iranian-backed terrorist groups.”
Harris faces pressure from the left wing of the Democratic Party to change course from President Joe Biden’s strong military and political support for Israel’s war in Gaza since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks.
The issue is also critical in Michigan, a swing state in November’s elections with a large population of Arab Americans who openly oppose the war.
In Detroit on Wednesday, Harris was repeatedly interrupted by protesters from Gaza.
“If you want Donald Trump to win, then say so. Otherwise, I’m speaking out,” she said, her expression hardening as she tried to quell the disturbances.
Harris will also be keen not to alienate the majority of US voters who, according to polls, support Israel.
As vice president, Harris has at times been more critical than Biden of civilian casualties caused by Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
Harris then made a major change in tone after Biden dropped out of the 2024 election, saying in a strongly worded statement after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that she “would not remain silent” on the situation.
But comments from Harris’ adviser seemed to make clear that she would not go so far as to endorse any kind of total pause on arms transfers.
Under Biden, the White House only suspended the delivery of a single shipment of heavy bombs to Israel due to concerns about how they would be used.
On Wednesday in Detroit, Harris and her new running mate, Tim Walz, met briefly with leaders of the “Uncommitted” group that mobilized people to vote in protest against Biden in this year’s Democratic primary, North Media reported. -American.
Its founders told the New York Times that they had asked Harris for a full meeting to discuss their embargo requests, and Harris told them she was open to a meeting.
(Except the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
This story originally appeared on Ndtv.com read the full story
