Harris says Biden presidency will not condition aid to Israel
The Democrats' vice presidential pick, Sen. Kamala Harris, sought to distance the Biden campaign from emerging party criticism of Israel in recent years.
California Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic party’s vice presidential pick for the 2020 elections, said Wednesday that a Joe Biden administration would not place new conditions on future US military assistance to Israel.
The statement is the latest sign the Biden campaign is still seeking to distance itself from unprecedented criticism of Israel’s policies emanating from the Democratic party’s left wing in recent years.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who failed in his bid to become the Democratic nominee, said last year that if elected, he would leverage billions in US military aid to Israel to push for more humane policies toward Palestinians.
“Joe has made it clear: He will not tie security assistance to political decisions Israel makes, and I couldn’t agree more,” Harris told political supporters Wednesday in a conference call with Jewish donors, according to Israel's Haaretz newspaper.
