Kamala Harris criticised for ‘boycott’ of Netanyahu speech to Congress
Kamala Harris’s “boycott” of a speech by Benjamin Netanyahu is “disappointing”, Israeli officials have said.
The US vice-president, now campaigning for the presidency, is planning to break with protocol and miss a speech by Mr Netanyahu to both houses of Congress on Wednesday, in an apparent snub to the Israeli prime minister.
Vice presidents usually preside over the Senate chamber when a visiting dignitary delivers a speech, but Ms Harris will instead take part in an event in Indianapolis.
On Tuesday night, Trump said he would host Mr Netanyahu on Thursday at Mar-A-Lago. However, Israeli officials said the meeting would more likely be on Friday.
Israeli officials told The Telegraph that the “disappointing” decision suggested she was “unable to distinguish between good and evil” and that skipping Mr Netanayhu’s speech was “not a way to treat an ally”.
The Israeli leader’s rare visit to Washington comes after months of clashes between his government and the Biden administration over the war in Gaza, where US politicians say civilians have been unnecessarily harmed in the conflict with Hamas.
Mr Netanyahu arrived in the US on Monday evening and will meet both Ms Harris and Joe Biden separately during his visit.
Mr Biden, who was due to return to Washington on Tuesday after self-isolating with Covid for six days at his home in Delaware, had also been expected to miss the speech before he ended his presidential campaign over the weekend.
He is due to address the nation on his decision to step down at 8pm on Wednesday (1am Thursday BST).
Ms Harris, who is now the presumptive Democratic nominee, has been one of those in the Biden administration who have been most critical of Israel’s war in Gaza.
In December, she said: “As Israel defends itself, it matters how. Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating.”
Conflict in Gaza a political problem for Democrats
The conflict has become a political problem for the Democrats, who face opposition to their support for Israel from some liberal voters.
And Ms Harris’s decision not to be present for Mr Netanyahu’s address has been interpreted as a diplomatic snub by some Israeli officials.
“The decision of Harris to boycott the speech of the Prime Minister of Israel during a difficult war against Iran and its terror proxies is disappointing,” one official told The Telegraph.
“The free world cannot afford leaders who are unable to distinguish between good and evil.”
A second official added the decision was “a shame”, adding: “It’s not a way to treat an ally.”
Steve Scalise, the Republican majority leader in the House of Representatives, said Ms Harris’s decision to skip the speech was “disgraceful”. Mike Johnson, the House Speaker, said it was “not a good look”.
David Friedman, a former US ambassador to Israel, said Ms Harris was “supposed to preside over joint sessions of Congress” and that her “refusal to do so…tells you everything you need to know about where she stands on Israel”.
In April, Mr Biden vowed to give “iron-clad” support to Israel in its war against Hamas, following the terror group’s attack on October 7.
However, the US has also expressed serious reservations about Mr Netanyahu’s conduct in Gaza and has been calling for a ceasefire for several months.
Blinken hopeful of Israel-Hamas agreement
On Friday, Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, suggested that negotiations between Israel and Hamas are reaching a conclusion.
“I believe we’re inside the 10-yard line and driving toward the goal line in getting an agreement that would produce a ceasefire, get the hostages home, and put us on a better track to trying to build lasting peace and stability,” he said.
Ilhan Omar, the Left-wing Democrat congresswoman, said she was giving her ticket to the speech to the families of American citizens held hostage by Hamas.
Hostage families have repeatedly clashed with Mr Netanyahu, saying he is pursuing the war with Hamas over and above efforts to return their loved ones.
Boaz Bismuth, a Likud politician in the Knesset, said he did not think Ms Harris’s absence from the speech indicated a rift between Washington and Tel Aviv.
“Kamala Harris is totally with Israel in the determination to bring back the hostages and to eliminate Hamas from Gaza. We share the same values and enemies,” he told The Telegraph.
“I will not be surprised if Netanyahu meets with Trump during his visit.”