Harris doesn’t need to impose a full embargo on Israel – but she can pledge to enforce US laws restricting arms transfers to human rights violators
By Mohamad Bazzi, The Guardian
Since she emerged as the Democratic presidential nominee after Joe Biden dropped out of the race, Kamala Harris has expressed more sympathy for Palestinians than the president she is hoping to replace. But so far, Harris has made clear that she won’t deviate from Biden’s core policy on the Gaza war: unconditional US support for Israel and its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, no matter what he does to block a ceasefire and prolong the conflict.
“I’m unequivocal and unwavering in my commitment to Israel’s defense and its ability to defend itself,” Harris told CNN on 29 August, in her first major TV interview since securing the nomination. She added: “Far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed.” These comments reinforced her acceptance speech at the Democratic national convention a week earlier, where she pledged to “always stand up for Israel” and also called for Palestinian “freedom and self-determination”.
Harris doubled down on Biden’s months-long effort to broker a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. But, like Biden, Harris is refusing to use the most effective US leverage over Netanyahu: withholding billions of dollars in weapons that Washington has rushed to Israel since the 7 October attack by Hamas. For months, Biden and his aides have been spinning their wheels and getting outmaneuvered by Netanyahu, who continues to sabotage ceasefire negotiations by adding new conditions.
While Harris insists that she wants a ceasefire, she has gotten bogged down in a semantic debate about whether she would support an arms embargo against Israel. Harris has made clear she won’t break with the Biden administration’s policy on supplying Israel with weapons without any conditions. But Harris doesn’t need to impose a full-scale embargo on Israel.
Recent Posts
As Trump Bombs Iran, We Need to Reckon With the American War Machine
Take Action Now We cannot afford to slip into despair. We must push back against militarism everywhere, at every turn.By Negin Owliaei ,…
Oman’s Foreign Minister Said US-Iran Deal Was ‘Within Our Reach.’ Then Trump Started Bombing
Take Action Now “The Omani FM decided to go public,” suggested one observer, “so that the American people knew that peace was within reach when Trump…
A War With Iran Would Not Be a One-Off Event But a Disastrous Ongoing Rupture
Take Action Now If Congress cedes its power to stop a war with Iran, it will fully erode any lingering promise of democratic restraint.By Hanieh…
New Addition to List of Nuclear Near Catastrophes
Take Action Now Debris flew for great distances — many times the distance of 270 meters to a nuclear reactor and nuclear storage facility.By David…