( NYPost )
Vice President Kamala Harris slammed the Israeli government for killing “far too many” civilians in the Gaza Strip — saying “I will not be silent” — despite also pledging “unwavering” support for the Jewish state’s right to exist after meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Harris, in her first remarks on the conflict as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said Thursday evening “it is time for this war to end” and argued the fight was not a “binary issue” despite historical American backing for Israel.
“To everyone who has been calling for a ceasefire, and to everyone who yearns for peace, I see you and I hear you,” Harris, 59, said shortly after Netanyahu departed the White House.
“What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating — the images of dead children and desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety, sometimes displaced for the second, third or fourth time,” she said.
“We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering and I will not be silent.”
Harris touted a sputtering US-backed plan to adopt a ceasefire in Gaza before the Hamas terrorist group is fully defeated. However, some experts question whether the Israeli government is truly interested in the pact, or whether it’s awaiting the results of the Nov. 5 election in which Harris will face staunchly pro-Israel former President Donald Trump.
“There has been hopeful movement in the talks to secure an agreement on this deal. And as I just told Prime Minister Netanyahu, it is time to get this deal done,” Harris said.
Harris’ elevation to replace President Biden atop the Democratic ticket could boost the party in swing states where polling showed that Arab and Muslim voters were prepared to desert Biden over his support of the Israeli invasion of Gaza following Hamas’ Oct. 7 surprise attack that killed about 1,200 people.
Biden frequently has been heckled at public events with the nickname “Genocide Joe” and the moniker even was painted on the White House gates.
Harris also condemned Hamas in her remarks and said she would continue to work toward the release of US citizens held hostage in Gaza.
“On October 7, Hamas triggered this war when it massacred 1,200 innocent people, including 44 Americans. Hamas has committed horrific acts of sexual violence and took 250 hostages,” she said.
“There are American citizens who remain captive in Gaza: Sagui Dekel-Chen, Hersch Goldberg-Polin, Edan Alexander. Keith Seigel, Omer Neutra.”
She added: “I have met with the families of these American hostages multiple times now. And I’ve told them each time they are not alone, and I stand with them. And President Biden and I are working every day to bring them home.”
Harris said that “I told [Netanyahu] that I will always ensure that Israel is able to defend itself including from Iran and Iran-backed militias, such as Hamas and Hezbollah. From when I was a young girl, collecting funds to plant trees for Israel, to my time in the United States Senate and now at the White House, I’ve had an unwavering commitment to the existence of the State of Israel, to its security and to the people of Israel.”
But Harris said “I also expressed with the prime minister my serious concern about the scale of human suffering in Gaza, including the death of far too many innocent civilians. And I made clear my serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation there with over 2 million people facing high levels of food insecurity and half a million people facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity.”
Harris met with the Israeli leader after Biden tersely welcomed him to the Oval Office earlier Thursday — a day after chaotic anti-Israel protests near the Capitol, which the White House and Harris condemned in written statements.
“Welcome back, Mr. Prime Minister, we got a lot to talk about, I think we should get to it — the floor is yours,” the 81-year-old president said in his only introductory remarks after shaking Netanyahu’s hand.
“From a proud Jewish Zionist to a proud Irish-American Zionist, I want to thank you for 50 years of public service and 50 years of support for the state of Israel,” Netanyahu said.
“And I look forward to discussing with you today and working with you in the months ahead on the great issues before us.”
Biden chimed in: “I look forward to it as well. And by the way, that first meeting with Prime Minister Golda Meir, she had an assistant sitting next to me. A guy named Rabin. That’s how far back it goes. I was only 12 then.”
Both leaders ignored a cacophony of shouted questions from reporters crowded into the Oval Office.
Harris also did not answer questions when she shook Netanyahu’s hand or after delivering her subsequent statement.
Only a few dozen protesters showed up to oppose Netanyahu’s visit to the White House — after thousands on Wednesday burned American flags, toted a Hamas banner and spray-painted messages of support for the terrorist group on landmarks near the Capitol.
Harris skipped Netanyahu’s speech to Congress Wednesday to instead address members of a black sorority in Indiana.
Biden strongly supported Netanyahu’s invasion of the Gaza Strip shortly after Hamas terrorists launched their Oct. 7 surprise attack, but increased his own criticism of the Israeli leader as civilian casualties mounted in the war.
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