Kamala Harris team rejects Israel arms embargo
Washington (Quds News Network)- US Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris’ team has publicly rejected suggestions that she is open to an arms embargo on Israel, after progressive activists described an “openness” from the vice president to discuss regulating military aid to Israel.
In a statement from the campaign of the US vice president, Harris said that she “has been clear: she will always work to ensure Israel is able to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups.”
On Thursday morning, Phil Gordon, Harris’ national security advisor in her capacity as vice president, issued an additional clarification, writing on X that Harris “does not support an arms embargo on Israel”.
.@VP has been clear: she will always ensure Israel is able to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups. She does not support an arms embargo on Israel. She will continue to work to protect civilians in Gaza and to uphold international humanitarian law.
— Phil Gordon (@PhilGordon46) August 8, 2024
A Wednesday statement issued by Layla Elabed and Abbas Alawieh, founders of the Uncommitted national movement, has sought to push the Democratic Party to change its policies on Israel’s war on Gaza.
The Uncommitted activists said they spoke briefly with Harris and her vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, and said Harris “shared her sympathies and expressed an openness to a meeting with Uncommitted leaders to discuss an arms embargo”.
Shorlty after the release of that statement, pro-Palestinian activists confronted Harris during a campaign rally on Wednesday in Detroit, Michigan, an area with a sizable Arab American minority, many of whom disapprove of the Democratic party’s handling of the Israeli genocide war on Gaza.
“Kamala, Kamala, you can’t hide. We won’t vote for genocide,” the protesters reportedly chanted.
Harris initially responded to the protesters saying she is “here because we believe in democracy. Everyone’s voice matters, but I am speaking now. I am speaking now”.
As the protest continued, Harris changed her tone and silenced them.
“You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I’m speaking,” she said.
On Thursday, the Uncommitted campaign released a statement in response to the remarks from Harris’ team opposing an arms embargo.
The campaign told its supporters that Harris was willing to change course on Israel and Palestine.
“We found hope in Vice President Harris expressing an openness to meeting about an arms embargo, and we are eager to continue engaging because people we love are being killed with American bombs,” the campaign said.
“It’s clear to us that Vice President Harris can lead our country’s Gaza policy to a more humane place. We hope she will meet with us so we can move forward to discuss an arms embargo.”
Harris has consistently emphasized the importance of Israel’s security and has shown a tendency to align with pro-Israel stances in her public statements and policy positions.
