To a degree, Kamala Harris has been an international woman of mystery. Harris avoided a primary, has eschewed interviews and didn’t update Joe Biden’s presidential platform. With two and a half months to go until the presidential election, Harris’ preferred political programme has remained largely unknown. But for voters curious as to what a Harris presidency would mean for the Jewish community, it’s worth considering the messages emanating from Chicago.
The carefully curated presentations at the United Center were refracted through the Democrats’ ongoing, studied silence about their Corbynist foreign policy and the party’s related, seismic shift on Israel. According to an August 2024 Economist/YouGov poll, 16 per cent of Harris voters sympathise more with Israelis, while 29 per cent sympathise more with Palestinians. That tilt informed Harris’ choice of running mate, who spoke, and what was said.
Harris addressed Israel and Gaza in her acceptance speech, largely hewing to language President Biden might use and expressing concern for both sides. One possible difference was her saying, “President Biden and I are working to end this war, such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realise their right to dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination.” Harris’ timeline for that self-determination remained unspecified.
President Joe Biden spoke on the convention’s opening — and least prestigious — night. The self-declared Zionist unexpectedly lent respectability to the convention’s protesters: “Those protesters out in the street, they have a point. A lot of innocent people are being killed on both sides.”
Those protesters burned the American flag and marched with Hezbollah and Communist flags and “Globalize the Intifada” signs. One protester told FoxNews: “Every Palestinian supports Hamas, not just me.” Such protesters, in fact, believe there are no innocent Israelis.
Night two featured several Jews who sidestepped saying “Israel” but not antisemitism. Bernie Sanders told the crowd: “We must end this horrific war in Gaza, bring home the hostages and demand an immediate ceasefire.” He also asserted that Harris’ agenda “is not a radical agenda,” but as the Squad’s godfather, Sanders was a poor messenger.
“As the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in American history,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “I want my grandkids and all grandkids to never, never face discrimination because of who they are.” It was unclear, though, how Schumer would describe the behaviour of anti-Israel protesters who, as JNS reported, “chanted ‘From the river to the sea’ and called Schumer a liar and a supporter of genocide,” while he ate Shabbat dinner at his daughter’s home in January. Schumer closed by pointing to his blue square pin, which signified he was standing “up to antisemitism” and “all hate.” Schumer should prove that post-haste by finally allowing a vote on the Antisemitism Awareness Act in the Senate.
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, the Jewish face of the Biden-Harris administration, explained his identity by recalling “the bus to Hebrew school” and brisket. He praised Harris, saying, “She makes a mean brisket for Passover. It brings me right back to my grandmother’s apartment in Brooklyn, you know, the one with the plastic covered couches.” This was more upbeat than Emhoff’s 2022 assessment, when he panned his grandmother’s brisket as “really dry” and said Harris “‘just makes up what she believes is traditional Jewish food, and she does a great job at it.’”
Emhoff further praised Harris for fighting “antisemitism and all forms of hate.” However, the Biden administration has been notably weak on combating antisemitism, as measured by actions. And while the administration’s supporters praised the creation of the first National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, that document didn’t even adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
Rachel and Jon Goldberg-Polin, American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s parents, were surprise speakers. On before prime time, they weren’t announced until 45 minutes beforehand. Jewish Insider reported that “they were greeted by a standing ovation and unexpected chants of ‘Bring them home,’” before delivering emotional remarks about Hersh, calling for a hostage deal and ceasefire.
Not everyone reacted positively, though. A few hours after they spoke, Squad member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sought to recalibrate their “centering.” She posted on X: “Just as we must honor the humanity of hostages, so too must we center the humanity of the 40,000 Palestinians killed under Israeli bombardment. To deny that story is to participate in the dehumanization of Palestinians. The DNC must change course and affirm our shared humanity.”
This is likely how the remainder of election season will unfold. The Democrats will remain divided on Israel and antisemitism. There will be nods toward including Jews, by showcasing Jews who speak primarily as Harris loyalists. Jewish voters will be offered the opportunity to support Emhoff for “First Mensch,” but Harris’ talking points about Israel — or antisemitism, if she mentions it — won’t be translated into meaningful action. The question for many Jewish voters then is: Is this enough?
