By Chris Megerian\AP
Photos: YouTube Screenshots
Vice President Kamala Harris, the likely Democratic nominee for president, is attempting to bridge divides within the party over the war in Gaza. She delivered remarks after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday that reflected a delicate balancing act on one of the country’s most divisive political issues. Read more.
Key points:
Some Democrats have been critical of President Joe Biden’s steadfast support for Israel despite the increasing death toll among Palestinians, and Harris is trying to unite her party for the election battle with Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Harris had some forceful comments, and the administration also appeared to be stepping up pressure on the Israelis to not let the moment pass to get a deal done. “We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering. And I will not be silent,” she said.
But Harris did not deviate from the administration’s approach to the conflict. She said nothing about military assistance for Israel, which some Democrats want to cut. Instead, she tried to refocus the conversation around mitigating the calamity in Gaza, and she used language intended to nudge Americans toward an elusive middle ground.
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