Last updated on August 29th, 2024 at 07:53 am
MANILA – United States Vice President Kamala Harris, on Tuesday, affirmed that Israel has the right to self-defense following an Israeli strike in Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut due to rising tensions and weeks of recent violence in the Middle East.
Details:
- Harris, the all-but-certain Democratic presidential candidate, emphasized Israel’s right to self-defense following the attack that killed a Hezbollah commander.
- Israel has a right to defend itself against a terrorist organization, which is exactly what Hezbollah is,” Harris said en route to an election rally in Atlanta, Georgia.
Diplomatic Efforts:
- While she expressed support for Israel’s right of self-defense, Harris urged a diplomatic solution to forestall further escalation along the Lebanon-Israel border.
Political Context:
- Harris has long been vocal in favor of balanced U.S. foreign policy.
- Just last week, she met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington and told him of her concern for the scale of human suffering in Gaza, reflecting nuance on U.S. support for Israel. Harris emphasized that she “will not be silent” about Palestinian casualties-hers committed to the humanitarian component of a very active conflict.
That is the culmination of a slowly ratcheted-up tension in the Middle East. Conclusion: As tensions in the Middle East continued to rise, statements by Vice President Harris outlined the dual focus of the U.S. administration: support of Israel’s security, while advocating for diplomatic solutions to avert further conflict.
