Observers warned that Washington’s failure to pressure Israel to end the Gaza war would push the Middle East towards a wider regional conflict…reports Asian Lite News
Vice President Kamala Harris has skirted a question on whether Benjamin Netanyahu can be considered a “close ally” of the United States, as critics accuse the Israeli prime minister of stymying Washington’s stated goal of de-escalation in the Middle East.
In an excerpt of an interview with CBS News’s 60 Minutes, which was released on Sunday, Harris was pressed on what the US is doing to get its top ally to end its military offensive in the Gaza Strip and stop its attacks on Lebanon.
Harris, the Democratic candidate in November’s presidential election, said the US has been applying pressure on Israel – as well as on Arab leaders in the region – to reach a Gaza ceasefire deal and would continue to do so.
“The work that we have done has resulted in a number of movements in that region by Israel,” she said, without providing details. Harris was then asked if the United States had a “real, close ally” in Netanyahu.
“I think, with all due respect, the better question is, do we have an important alliance between the American people and the Israeli people? And the answer to that question is ‘yes’,” she replied.
The exchange highlights the continued refusal by President Joe Biden’s administration to change tack and curtail its staunch support for Netanyahu’s government as the Israeli military bombards the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. For months, analysts have accused Netanyahu of holding up a possible Gaza ceasefire agreement for his own political purposes.
Observers also warned that Washington’s failure to pressure Israel to end the Gaza war would push the Middle East towards a wider regional conflict – and rights advocates had urged the Biden administration to impose an arms embargo on the Israeli government.
Washington provides Israel with at least $3.8bn in military aid annually, and Biden has greenlit $14bn in additional assistance to the US ally since Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip began in October of last year. To date, more than 41,800 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks Gaza.
At least 1,100 people also have been killed in Lebanon since the Israeli military – which had been trading fire with Lebanese group Hezbollah across the Israel-Lebanon border for months – recently escalated its bombardment of the country. Amid the mounting violence, the Biden administration has repeatedly said it favours diplomacy and wants to see a de-escalation. But senior US officials have also said they support Israel’s “right to defend itself”.
“Obviously attacks, targeted attacks on civilians, could not be justified, but Israel does have the right to go after terrorists,” US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters last week, when asked about deadly Israeli bombings in Lebanon. “They need to take actions to mitigate civilian harm. They’re required to do that under international humanitarian law, in Lebanon as they are anywhere else,” Miller added.
Walz supports Israel’s right to defend itself
Democratic Party’s Vice President nominee Tim Walz expressed his firm support for Israel’s right to defend itself, in his interview to Fox News on Sunday.
His opinion becomes significant as it comes just a day ahead of the first anniversary of the October 7 massacre in Israel, which resulted in the deaths of over 1200 Israelis at the hands of the terrorist organisation Hamas.
Giving his first solo interview ahead of the US General Elections due early in November this year, Walz called for Israeli hostages to be released and to bring an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza but said that “Iran is at the heart of this,” noting “their proxies that bring disruption throughout the region.”, the Hill reported.
According to Al Jazeera, Walz has taken a more conciliatory approach towards the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Earlier this year in March, he told Minnesota Public Radio, “Israel has the right to defend itself, and the atrocities of October 7 are unacceptable, but Palestinian civilians being caught in this, has got to end.”
During the vice-presidential debate too, this was observed. Walz quoted, “Israel’s ability to be able to defend itself is absolutely fundamental, and ending the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”
Tim Walz’s opinions become significant as he has served in the American military for over 20 years.
His views on America’ role in Israel are, as he says, “an absolute, fundamental necessity for the United States to have the steady leadership there”.
He has expressed his displeasure over Donald Trump warming up ties with Vladimir Putin and North Korea, saying that this brings “fickleness around holding the coalitions together”.
In his interview to Fox News, he said, “We have always said we reserve the right to protect American troops, our allies in the region, and that there is consequences for Iran,” he later added. “So what you’re seeing right now is the ability to work with our allies, the ability to make sure Iran does not further, and every administration has dealt with them for 45 years now.”
Under President Joe Biden, US saw increased sanctions on Iran. Earlier this year, the White House in a press statement noted that the, “United States has sanctioned over 600 individuals and entities–including Iran and its proxies, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Kataib Hezbollah.”
According to the data provided by the American Congress, before retiring, Walz served overseas with his battalion to conduct strikes against al-Qaeda and Taliban forces in Afghanistan.
Walz is notably the highest ranking enlisted soldier ever to serve in the American Congress. His views thus gain momentum as Israel intensifies bombardment of northern Gaza and southern Beirut to target both the Hamas and Hezbollah.
A recent poll by the Washington Post, it was found that 39 per cent of Americans hold a favorable image of Walz as the future vice president. (ANI)
ALSO READ: Biden warns Trump may not peacefully concede polls
