Kamala Harris’ office is doing damage control after the vice president did not push back on a George Mason student who accused Israel of ‘ethnic genocide,’ and even told the student ‘your truth must be heard.’
After the remarks generated pushback, Harris senior staff reached out to the influential Democratic Majority for Israel to reaffirm the vice president’s support of Israel.
Her staff also checked in with Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., president of the Bipartisan Anti‐Semitism Taskforce, according to Politico.
The source said it was ‘fair to say that the group of House Democrats that super care about this noticed it and talked about’ the apparent support of the ethnic genocide comments.
Mark Mellman, president of the Democratic Majority for Israel, told Politico that Harris staff had reassured his group the vice president ‘strongly disagrees with the George Mason student’s characterization of Israel.’
‘We were pleased Vice President Harris’s senior staff reached out to us today to confirm what we already knew: Her ‘commitment to Israel’s security is unwavering,’ Mellman said
Harris’ staff also checked in with Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., president of the Bipartisan Anti‐Semitism Taskforce, after she didn’t push back on a student accusing Israel of genocide
The interaction came as Harris made a surprise visit on Tuesday to a political science class at George Mason University in northern Virginia to encourage voter registration and discuss voting rights.
As Harris took questions after speaking, one of the female students voiced her concerns about US financial and military support for Israel and Saudi Arabia.
‘I see that over the summer there have been, like, protests and demonstrations in astronomical numbers standing with Palestine, but then just a few days ago there were funds allocated to continue backing Israel, which hurts my heart because it’s ethnic genocide and displacement of people, the same that happened in America, and I’m sure you’re aware of this,’ the student said, as Harris nodded.
The student went on to express her belief that the funding would have been better spent helping Americans struggling with housing and health care costs instead ‘to inflaming Israel and backing Saudi Arabia and what-not.’
The student says she felt that she had to raise the issue, saying: ‘It affects my life and people I really care about’s lives.’
‘I’m glad you did,’ Harris responded. ‘And again, this is about the fact that your voice, your perspective, your experience, your truth, should not be suppressed and it must be heard, right? And one of the things we’re fighting for in a democracy, right?’
Vice President Kamala Harris has angered supporters of Israel by expressing support for a college student who accused the country of ethnic genocide against Palestinians
The interaction came as Harris made a surprise visit on Tuesday to a political science class at George Mason University in northern Virginia to encourage voter registration
The House last Thursday overwhelmingly passed a bill to send Israel $1 billion for its Iron Dome defense system, a measure that was bitterly opposed by a handful of the most left-wing Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
‘Unity should never be at the expense of telling anyone personally that, for the sake of unity, ‘Oh, you be quiet about that thing. You suppress that thing. Let’s not deal with that thing.’ That’s not unity. True unity is everyone in that room has a voice,’ the vice president continued.
‘The point that you are making about policy that relates to Middle East policy, foreign policy, we still have healthy debates in our country about what is the right path, and nobody’s voice should be suppressed on that,’ she added.
The exchange drew criticism from Republicans and supporters of Israel, including Senator Ted Cruz’s spokesman Steve Guest, who called the interaction ‘unbelievable’ in a tweet.
On Sunday, the deadliest violence in several weeks between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in the West Bank erupted when Israeli troops conducted a series of raids against suspected Hamas militants.
Five Palestinians were killed and two Israeli soldiers were seriously wounded in the ensuing gun battles.
The region has seen an increase in fighting in recent months, with tensions fueled by Israeli settlement construction, heightened militant activity in the northern West Bank and the aftermath of a bloody war between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip last May.
The Israeli military said it had been tracking the Hamas militants for several weeks and that the raids were launched in response to immediate threats.
In his first address to the United Nations general assembly on Monday, new Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made no mention of Israel’s decades-long conflict with the Palestinians, instead seeking to portray Iran as a menace to global security.
Harris speaks to students in a political science class at George Mason University during a surprise visit to campus on Tuesday in Fairfax, Virginia
A visibly distraught Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez is comforted by Rep. Barbara Lee after House passes bill giving Israel $1 billion for its Iron Dome defense system
In his first address to the United Nations general assembly on Monday, new Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made no mention of Israel’s decadeslong conflict with the Palestinians
Harris last month had a phone conversation with her new Israeli counterpart, President Isaac Herzog.
On the call, Harris expressed her strong commitment to Israel’s security and reiterated the U.S. commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to a State Department summary.
The two leaders also discussed the urgency of efforts to address the effects of climate change, according to the readout.
Harris thanked Herzog for Israeli assistance in Central America by providing water catchment systems to Guatemala, and training farmers in ‘climate-smart’ agriculture.