The recent visit of Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu highlighted that the Democratic party is split over the Israel-Hamas war. After the announcement that Joe Biden pulled out from the presidential race, Kamala Haris will likely handle the situation. Many believe that she may be the next president of the United States. If she wins the election campaign then Harris has to deal with the complicated issue. This problem began after the Hamas attack last October.
Kamala Harris will need to handle the situation wisely by balancing the relationship with Israel and Palestine. It is also her duty to support the current administration’s actions.
While it is also important to know that Kamala did not attend the Netanyahu speech in Congress. Her absence forced many people to think she might be tougher on Israel. This could be important to win back pro-Palestinian voters who are disappointed with Biden.
The Vice President usually follows her party’s principles about foreign issues. But when it comes to the United States foreign policy with the Middle East the views of Kamala Harris are quietly different. Last December, after meeting with Arab leaders, she spoke in Dubai. She was worried about the situation in Gaza and the people who live in Gaza.
Even though she backed the Biden administration’s view that Israel can defend itself against Hamas. She also highlighted that it is important for every nation to follow the international rules. She pointed out that how Israel defends itself is important.
In March, she was the first lady that call for an immediate ceasefire. She also criticized Israel’s actions and behaviour toward Palestinians. She said that these actions of Israel created inhumane conditions.
Harris recently made strong statements urging more help for people, which also led the National Security Council to ask her to tone it down. She urged Netanyahu’s government to increase aid without any excuses.
However, Harris faces a tough challenge in turning her differences with Biden into a winning strategy for November. Most Americans don’t keep in mind global issues when they vote for any leader. Despite this, they care about regular problems such as inflation, interest rates, and immigration.
Only about 10 to 20% are Americans who focus on foreign policy while the rest are focused on economic issues. So, the recent protests might seem bigger than they actually are to most voters.
It is important to note that statistics might not reflect how people select their leaders. Most of the time the voters think about the candidate’s quality before casting a vote. Is the candidate capable of fulfilling the responsibility? They don’t think about the view of the candidate on specific issues.
Kamala Harris, for instance, has made comments about the war that could help her appear as a leader who stands up for important values like international law and human rights. This is quite different from Donald Trump’s approach. During their debate in June 2024, Trump urged Biden to let Israel “finish the job” without additional restrictions from the U.S., showing little concern about how Israel was handling its war with Hamas.
Foreign policy is not always the main focal point for voters but they should understand the importance of it. Harris and Trump both have different stances on the Israel issue. One candidate respects and follows international rules while the other has a history of breaking them.
Another reason this could matter is the close nature of the election. The race may come down to just a few states. Take Michigan, for instance, where over 100,000 young voters and Arab Americans showed frustration with Biden’s handling of Gaza by casting “uncommitted” votes in February’s Democratic primary. In 2016, Trump won Michigan by just 11,000 votes, though he lost it in 2020.
So, even if foreign policy doesn’t change many votes nationally, Harris’s stance on Gaza might make a big difference in these key states.
For another 6 months, Joe Biden will stay as president. No matter what Republicans think. They want Joe Biden to leave the seat as soon as possible. But in the final months, the leader also has a chance to make a final decision for their country.
Biden will likely focus on foreign policy to make his mark. If he can help make peace in Gaza before the election, it would be a big success and also help Harris by solving a tough issue.
By stepping aside as his vice president, Biden wants to be the transitional leader he promised to be. His approach to Israel might be the last of its kind.
