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Harris vacillates

Posted

To the editor:

Kamala Harris finds joy in many things.  

There are a significant number of Americans, however, who find no joy in the Biden-Harris administration’s unconditional military, diplomatic and economic support for Israel’s war in Palestine, now escalated into Lebanon. 

Harris at the Democratic National Convention refused to allow a speaker to discuss the conditions faced by Palestinians in Gaza. At her first rally, before she had been briefed on how to handle protesters, she told them to shut up. Harris ignored a request from the Uncommitted National Movement to meet with family members of Palestinians who lost loved ones in Gaza, to discuss halting arms to Israel, and to uphold U.S. and international human rights. She will not receive an endorsement from the group.

In rare instances when Harris has been questioned by reporters about her stance on Israel, she never mentions that Netanyahu has no interest in a ceasefire and a two-state solution. He wants a continued war until there is “total victory” and the destruction of Hamas, objectives which may be impossible.

Harris also does not mention that Israel has been accused of multiple violations of international humanitarian law by the U.N. and many human rights organizations. Violations include the weaponization of water and sanitation, the use of mass starvation, violations of the Convention on the Rights of Children, and the abuse, torture and even rape of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. None of the violations can be justified by the actions of Hamas. 

Harris repeats her mantra, devoid of content, disingenuous, misleading and morally suspect, over and over: “I support Israel’s ability to defend itself,” “The war has to end by getting a hostage deal and a ceasefire,” “We need to get the deal done.”

Howard Elterman

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  • reenjoe

    Howard, I agree with everything you said. However, what is Harris to do? Announce that she will not provide arms to Israel should she win? Or condition them to a cease fire and two-state solution? That would surely cost her the election and Trump would be far worse for Palestinians than Harris could ever be. It may be distasteful, but politics stink.

    Netanyahu knows all of this, and it is why he chose now to leverage his power by expanding into Lebanon. I, and most fair-minded Americans can only hope that post-election U.S. policy changes. Free from political consequences, Biden could set new terms for arms deliveries during the lame duck period and other world leaders would likely join him making GOP opposition difficult.

    Wednesday, September 25 Report this