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Vice President Kamala Harris’ remarks on Israel and the Gaza war sparked an eruption of applause at the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
The DNC has been plagued by protests over the Israel-Gaza war, with protesters burning American flags and getting into confrontations with police in Chicago. Democrats criticized the party for not having a Palestinian speaker on the DNC stage, and Harris will have to walk a fine line so as to not lose support from the Uncommitted movement in crucial swing states and not alienating pro-Israel voters.
During her speech officially accepting the nomination, Harris said she and Biden were working “around the clock” to negotiate a deal for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages.
“And let me be clear, I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself and I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself,” Harris said. “Because the people of Israel must never again face the horror that a terrorist organization called Hamas caused on October 7.”
Harris called out the sexual violence and thousands of people who were killed at the Nova Music Festival.
However, Harris also addressed the issue of the ongoing war in Gaza. She didn’t criticize Israel’s response to the war, but called the loss of lives “devastating,” and she characterized the “scale of suffering” as “heartbreaking.”
“President Biden and I are working to end this war such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination,” Harris said.
There were scattered shouts of “Free Palestine” during her remarks but her final comment caused an eruption of applause from the DNC audience.
CNN commentator praised Harris’ comments on Israel and Gaza, calling her “tough and defensive” of Israel but also “compassionate” of Palestinians.
Democrats have been struggling with the issue of how to handle the Israel-Gaza war since protests erupted on campus and the Uncommitted Movement mobilized to vote against President Joe Biden in the primaries. Polling indicates Democrats are split on how to handle military aid for Israel. A YouGov/Economist poll from August 17 to August 20 found a plurality of Democrats, at 42 percent, wanted to decrease military aid and 30 percent wanted to keep aid the same. Only 10 percent wanted to increase aid.
Although Harris tried to balance supporting Israel while calling for an end to the war, it may not be enough for her pro-Palestinian critics. Protesters have been critical of Harris saying that she wants a ceasefire while the Biden admin is sending money and weapons to Israel.
During a pro-Palestinian panel at the DNC on Monday, James Zogby, a founder of the Arab American Institute called for a “change in policy.” Uncommitted National Movement leader Layla Elabed, sister of Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib, called for Harris to adopt the demands of uncommitted voters. That includes an immediate arms embargo, which, Harris didn’t commit to in her speech. Without those demands being met, Elabed said Harris risks losing swing states.
“She is at risk of losing key swing states, especially in states like Michigan, where we have the largest concentration of Arab Americans and Muslim Americans—people who know firsthand the effects and the impact of American-funded bombing,” Elabed said while responding to a question from Politico.
Pro-Palestinian activists and delegates saw the panel as a positive step forward but grew frustrated when their request for a Palestinian-American speaker was denied. Uncommitted delegates hosted a sit-in outside the United Center in Chicago for nearly 24 hours. Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib lent their support to the movement, joining calls for a speaker to be added to the lineup. Ocasio-Cortez called it a “basic thing to ask for” and critical to send “this message of shared humanity.”
On Wednesday, Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 massacre, gave a speech at the DNC podium. They described the nightmare they’re experiencing as parents while their son is still in captivity, prompting tears from several audience members. While their focus was on bringing the hostages home, they also addressed the situation in Gaza.
“They’re both working tirelessly for a hostage and cease-fire deal that will bring our precious children, mothers, fathers, spouses, grandparents and grandchildren home. And we’ll stop the despair in Gaza,” Polin said.
Polin added that there is a “surplus of agony” on all sides of the war and a “competition of pain.” He noted the ceasefire deal is most likely to bring calm to the region.
During Harris’ speech on Thursday, the Uncommitted Movement posted on X, formerly Twitter, encouraging people to sign a petition pressuring Harris to stop arming Israel. The movement has also demanded that Harris meet with Arab-Americans in Michigan by September 15.