During her first week as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris will face the most politically divisive issue in U.S. foreign policy as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel visits Washington. Mr. Netanyahu’s visit will bring attention to Ms. Harris’s strong stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, particularly her concerns for innocent Palestinians. In a civil rights speech in Selma, Ala., she garnered widespread attention for calling for an immediate cease-fire and criticizing Israel for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Ms. Harris will hold a private meeting with the Israeli leader at the White House, and her statements before and after the meeting will be closely monitored for insights into her approach to Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza if she becomes president. President Biden, whose popularity among progressive Democratic voters has declined due to his stance on Israel, will also meet with Mr. Netanyahu.
While Ms. Harris has been more critical of the Gaza war than Mr. Biden, she is not expected to change current policy in her meeting with Mr. Netanyahu. Experts and voters will closely watch how she handles the situation, especially regarding the debate on conditioning military aid to Israel to reduce civilian casualties among Palestinians.
Mr. Netanyahu’s address to Congress will be skipped by Ms. Harris, as she has a prior commitment in Indiana. Despite her husband being Jewish, her views on Israel are not clear, but she has shown empathy towards Palestinians and expressed concern over the civilian death toll in Gaza. She has also been actively engaged in diplomatic talks with Arab leaders to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.