A coalition of Muslim and Arab-American community leaders, along with young progressives, have blasted Vice President Kamala Harris’ call for a cease-fire between Israel and Gaza, with one group saying, “it meant nothing.”
One of the groups, formed when President Biden was atop the Democratic Party ticket and known as “Abandon Biden,” ripped Ms. Harris’ response when she was interrupted by a heckler during a campaign rally in Phoenix over the weekend.
“I have been clear: now is the time to get a cease-fire deal and get the hostage deal done. Now is the time,” Ms. Harris said after a group of pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted her remarks.
“And the president and I are working around the clock every day to get the cease-fire deal done and bring hostages. So, I respect your voices but we are here to talk about this race in 2024.”
The group Abandon Biden responded by saying, “This statement brought nothing; it meant nothing. Harris’ stated and repeated position on a ceasefire and Israeli hostage deal is the same line the Biden-Harris administration has parroted across every department for eleven months. Additionally, Harris has offered nothing more than this tired platitude.”
It was the second time in a week that Ms. Harris was interrupted by Gaza protesters. She was also heckled in Detroit by protesters who shouted, “Kamala, Kamala, you can’t hide, we won’t vote for genocide.”’
On Saturday, after roughly 100 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike on the West Bank, Ms. Harris equivocated, saying “far too many civilians have been killed,” but “Israel has a right to [go] after the terrorists that are Hamas.”
“Once again, Harris says nothing of substance: she pays lip service to ‘civilian casualties’ while affirming Israel’s right to slaughter them in a genocide that has nothing to do with defense,” Abandon Biden said.
Separately, two other groups — the Muslim Delegates and Allies Coalition and the Coalition for Peace, Relief and Equity — called on Ms. Harris to work harder to secure a cease-fire, saying the votes of roughly 500,000 students who protested at college campuses last spring are on the line.
The groups also vowed “mass demonstrations” at the Democratic National Committee next week in Chicago in protest of Ms. Harris’ lack of policy on Israel.
“As colleges and universities reopen, we remind the vice president of the powerful spring of 2024 when over 4,000 students were arrested in encampment demonstrations across the nation,” the groups said in a statement. “These protests saw the support of over 500,000 students standing firm against the atrocities in Gaza. Young Americans demand real change, not hollow promises.”
When Mr. Biden was the Democratic nominee, he was repeatedly dogged on the campaign trail by pro-Palestinian protesters. In fact, his aides kept some of his movements tightly under wraps over concern that they would interrupt his visits.
Mr. Biden remains a steadfast supporter of Israel and has continued to provide military support, even as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has expanded.
Ms. Harris, in the less prominent role of vice president, has largely been shielded from the criticism directed at Mr. Biden.
As the presumptive Democratic nominee, Ms. Harris has yet to lay out a specific policy on Israel that differs from Mr. Biden. She has talked generally about ending Palestinian suffering and the possibility of withholding arms from Israel.
She is the first member of the Biden administration to call for a cease-fire. Last month, during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, she urged him to accept a cease-fire.
Last week, her campaign dismissed talk of an arms embargo on Israel.
“@VP has been clear: she will always ensure Israel is able to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups. She does not support an arms embargo on Israel. She will continue to work to protect civilians in Gaza and to uphold international humanitarian law,” her campaign’s national security advisor Phil Gordon wrote on X.
The Uncommitted National Movement, a group formed to oppose Mr. Biden’s policies toward Israel, said it hoped Ms. Harris would still be supportive of an arms embargo.
“It’s clear to us that Vice President Harris can lead our country’s Gaza policy to a more humane place. We hope she will meet with us so we can move forward to discuss an arms embargo,” the group said.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.