Vice-President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris stated that Washington will persist in pressuring Israel and other Middle Eastern parties to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, despite claims that the United States has not yet utilized its influence over its ally. In an interview with CBS's '60 Minutes', Harris described the diplomatic efforts with Israel as 'an ongoing pursuit', as per a clip released on Sunday.
Harris avoided directly answering a question about whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a 'real close ally'. 'I believe, with all due respect, the more pertinent question is whether we have a significant alliance between the American people and the Israeli people, and the answer to that is yes,' Harris responded. She reiterated Washington's stance in supporting Israel's right to self-defense against Iran and Iran-backed militant groups such as Palestinian Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah.
'The diplomatic work we conduct with Israel's leadership is an ongoing effort to clarify our principles,' Harris noted. 'We will not cease in applying pressure on Israel and regional leaders, including Arab leaders,' she added. Washington's occasional criticism of Israel over the civilian death toll in the conflict has largely been verbal, with no substantial policy changes.
Advocates argue that Washington has not exerted pressure on its ally by refusing to impose an arms embargo, a demand made by anti-war protesters across the United States and worldwide for months. Protests continued over the weekend. President Joe Biden outlined a three-phase ceasefire plan for Gaza on May 31, but a deal between Israel and Hamas has not been finalized due to discrepancies in the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and Israel's insistence on maintaining a presence in a corridor along the southern edge of the Gaza Strip bordering Egypt.
