The Vice President was speaking at an event organized by the National Association of Black Journalists.
According to The Post Millennial, Harris stated, “One of the things that we have done that I am entirely supportive of is the pause that we’ve put on the 2,000-pound bombs, so there is some leverage that we have had and used. But ultimately, the thing that is going to unlock everything else in that region is getting this [cease-fire] deal done.” This statement was made in response to questions regarding how her policy might deviate from that of President Biden to appease critics who are sympathetic to the Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
September 19, 2024
Earlier in May, President Biden had committed to withholding certain arms shipments to Israel if the nation initiated a ground assault into Rafah, the last Hamas stronghold in southern Gaza. Some of these weapons have since been dispatched.
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In a noteworthy development in August, prior to a campaign event in Michigan, Vice President Harris held a meeting with the founders of the Uncommitted National Movement. This group had mobilized tens of thousands of voters in Michigan to abstain from voting for President Biden in the primary due to his administration's support for Israel's war against Palestinian terrorists. Similar initiatives were seen in Minnesota and Washington.
September 19, 2024
Abbas Alawieh and Layla Elabed, founders of the movement, were quoted by The New York Times as saying that they had expressed their desire to support Harris, but the anti-Israel voters they represented wanted her to consider an arms embargo on Israel. Following the meeting, the group's leaders claimed that Harris was receptive to the idea of an arms embargo and had asked them to follow up with her staff. However, in the face of significant backlash and questions about Harris' inconsistent record on support for Israel, a source close to Harris refuted this claim, stating that the Vice President was not open to the idea.
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The Harris Walz campaign subsequently released a statement that read, “Since October 7, the Vice President has prioritized engaging with Arab, Muslim, and Palestinian community members and others regarding the war in Gaza. In this brief engagement, she reaffirmed that her campaign will continue to engage with those communities. The Vice President has been clear: she will always work to ensure Israel is able to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups. The Vice President is focused on securing the ceasefire and hostage deal currently on the table. As she has said, it is time for this war to end in a way where: Israel is secure, hostages are released, the suffering of Palestinian civilians ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, freedom, and self-determination.”
This statement underscores the delicate balance that the Vice President is attempting to maintain between supporting Israel's right to self-defense and addressing the concerns of those who advocate for the rights of Palestinians.
