Few issues are as hotly contested as support for Israel. President Biden's departure from the presidential race and the immediate emergence of Vice President Kamala Harris as the undisputed Democratic nominee has sparked intense debate, especially within the pro-Israel community. But it is entirely wrong to claim that Harris is insufficiently supportive of the Jewish state. Here’s why.
Despite opposing narratives, Kamala Harris’s pro-Israel credentials are consistent and robust. This fact is often undermined by distortions, such as the one that occurred on March 3, when Harris spoke at the Edmund Pettus Bridge to commemorate the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. A selectively edited clip of her speech, where she seemed to advocate for a unilateral ceasefire, went viral. However, this was an intentional and misleading presentation of her statement, in which she explicitly condemned Hamas. In her full statement, Harris said, “Hamas cannot control Gaza, and the threat Hamas poses to the people of Israel must be eliminated…Hamas has shown no regard for innocent life, including for the people of Gaza, who have suffered under its rule for almost two decades.” She went on to reiterate the Biden administration’s support for a six-week humanitarian ceasefire only on the condition of a strong condemnation of Hamas, a proposal that was part of ongoing hostage deal negotiations between Israel and Hamas leaders. Her message was unambiguous in its support for Israel, yet it was widely mischaracterised.
A few months later, on June 17, another misleading narrative emerged when Harris hosted a White House screening of "Screams Before Silence," Sheryl Sandberg’s documentary on Hamas’s sexual crimes. The event, focused on highlighting Hamas’s atrocities, featured a panel with survivors and advocates. Despite this being the purpose of the event, some commentators made the rather preposterous claim that the event ignored Hamas’s sexual violence.
Attempts to diminish Harris’s support for Israel notwithstanding, her track record speaks for itself. In 2017, she courageously co-sponsored a bill opposing President Obama’s decision not to veto a United Nations Security Council resolution against Israel’s settlements in the West Bank. At the AIPAC conference that year, she reaffirmed the US’s commitment to combating anti-Israel bias at the UN and supporting a negotiated two-state solution. Harris has consistently opposed the Boycott, Divest, Sanctions (BDS) movement, which seeks to isolate Israel economically and politically.
In a speech celebrating Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel’s independence day, Harris quoted Herzl and the Talmud, expressing pride in the US’s annual $4 billion aid to Israel for its security. She hailed “America’s ironclad commitment to the security of Israel,” underscoring her steadfast support.
With Biden’s exit, the US loses a leader whose Zionism is deeply personal, rooted in admiration for former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. Harris, though representing a new generation, shares a similar emotional connection to Israel. Her husband, Doug Emhoff, is Jewish, and they have engaged with Jewish traditions and visited Israel together, further solidifying her personal and political bond with the Jewish state.
Harris's approach to Israel is not only about strategic alliances but also about emotional and familial ties and, critically, connected to younger voices and a new generation of leadership. Her experiences as a prosecutor, particularly her advocacy for victims of sexual crimes, lend her a unique perspective on issues like the plight of hostages, which remains for her a personal and pressing concern.
The narrative that only one party can support Israel is dangerous and counterproductive. Bipartisan support is essential for Israel’s security and its relationship with the US. Harris embodies this principle, consistently advocating for policies that ensure Israel’s safety while promoting peace and negotiation.
Kamala Harris’s record on Israel is unequivocal and should be evaluated on its merit. Those who are committed to the well-being of Israel must acknowledge her commitment to Israel’s security. It is essential to get behind the bipartisan nature of this support and her capacity to restore and advance the bipartisan character of America’s support for Israel since its creation.
