Harris gaining some in my book
Harris skirts question on whether Netanyahu is ‘close ally’ of US
US Vice President Kamala Harris has skirted a question on whether Netanyahu can be considered a “close ally” of the US, as critics accuse the Israeli PM of stymying Washington’s stated goal of de-escalation in the Middle East.
In an excerpt of an interview with CBS News’s 60 Minutes, Harris was pressed on what the US is doing to get its top ally to end its military offensive in the Gaza Strip and stop its attacks on Lebanon.
Harris, the Democratic candidate in November’s presidential election, said the US has been applying pressure on Israel – as well as on Arab leaders in the region – to reach a Gaza ceasefire deal and would continue to do so.
Harris was then asked if the United States had a “real, close ally” in Netanyahu.
“I think, with all due respect, the better question is, do we have an important alliance between the American people and the Israeli people? And the answer to that question is ‘yes’,” she replied.
The exchange highlights the continued refusal by President Biden’s administration to change tack and curtail its staunch support for Netanyahu’s government as the Israeli military bombards the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.
Problem is, how do you get Netanyahu to step down while still giving him everything he needs to stay in power...