Staff Reports
The saga of Vice President Kamala Harris continues, and it seems she’s finding her political footing—or lack thereof—on rocky ground. Harris had a cozy little chat with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday at the White House, where they managed to spend about 40 minutes discussing who-knows-what in the world of international relations. One must wonder why this meeting was essential, especially when just a day before, Harris opted to skip Netanyahu’s congressional address in favor of a sorority luncheon. Apparently, brunch with old friends took priority over matters of state.
Encouragingly, this tête-à-tête came on the heels of some rather interesting events in Harris’s political life. Following President Joe Biden’s recent announcement of his departure from the 2024 race, Harris has suddenly emerged as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination. It’s almost as if she’s shouting, “Look at me! I’m ready to be the next face for a party that can’t quite decide what it stands for.” Meanwhile, her track record on Israel is about as solid as a house of cards on a windy day.
What does Harris bring to the diplomatic table? A rather mixed bag of opinions. In 2019, she was part of the cool kids’ club that boycotted the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference, perhaps in a bid to appeal to the party’s more radicalized base. However, it seems she had a change of heart, as she later met with the same group—maybe to clear her conscience? Recently, she has praised the “emotion” behind anti-Israel protests, though she quickly distanced herself from the antisemitism those protests often showcase. It’s quite a juggling act, trying to please everyone while standing firm on nothing at all.
Harris’s latest verbal ballet involved warning Israel of repercussions for its military actions against Hamas in Gaza, while shedding a few tears over “innocent lives” during a hostage rescue. One could easily picture a soap opera star delivering those lines, which raises the question of whether she’s ready for the big leagues of foreign policy or if it’s all just a performance for her Democratic base.
Maybe @netanyahu could let us know who is really running our country?https://t.co/IEstJqq7xv
— 🇺🇸 Robert Spudis 🇺🇸 (@SpudisRobert) July 26, 2024
Interestingly, Harris’s spouse, Doug Emhoff, has a Jewish background and has been instrumental in pushing the Biden administration’s contentious strategies against antisemitism. This includes working alongside some intriguing characters who are known for their extreme criticism of Israel. It’s rather ironic—Harris praises the emotion behind protests while her husband navigates the murky waters of political alliances that contradict those sentiments.
Meanwhile, Fox News reports that Netanyahu is preparing for his meeting with former President Donald Trump in Florida, a engagement that could potentially lead to solid U.S.-Israel relations back on track. If there’s anything Americans can agree on, it’s that Trump knows how to work effectively on the international stage—something that seems to elude the current administration. The contrast couldn’t be clearer: one leader discussing real policies, and another trying desperately to juggle ideals and responsibilities—while occasionally attending luncheons that tout friendship over foreign policy.
