Noah Rothman on Kamala Harris’s Views of Israel and the Middle East
Jul 26, 2024
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Noah Rothman, a senior writer at National Review, dives into the complexities of Vice President Kamala Harris's evolving views on Israel and the Middle East. They discuss her vocal stance during the Gaza conflict and the influence of her Jewish family background. Rothman highlights the pressures Harris faces from various Democratic factions and the challenges in aligning progressive values with Israel support. The conversation also addresses broader implications for U.S. foreign policy and the shifting attitudes within the party regarding Israel.
Kamala Harris’s criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza reflects her attempt to balance progressive pressures with a mainstream Democratic stance on foreign policy.
Her familial connections to Jewish identity may influence her political strategies and public perception regarding the U.S.-Israel relationship.
Harris faces significant pressures from within the Democratic Party, requiring her to navigate complex dynamics to maintain her electability and align with party expectations.
Deep dives
Biden's Decision and Harris's Endorsement
President Biden's announcement of not seeking re-election marks a significant shift in the political landscape of the Democratic Party, leading to Vice President Kamala Harris becoming the presumptive nominee. This decision raises questions about her prospects in the upcoming elections, especially as polls show her with almost equal chances of winning. Harris, who previously served as a U.S. senator from California, is still relatively untested in terms of her independent views on foreign policy, including the U.S.-Israel relationship. The endorsement by Biden indicates a strong backing within party ranks, positioning her as a key figure for the party's future direction.
Harris's Stance on Israel and Gaza
Vice President Harris has openly criticized Israel's military actions in Gaza, advocating for humanitarian considerations and a ceasefire. This stance illustrates her attempt to balance the expectations of her party's progressive base while also navigating the complexities of foreign policy frameworks. The conversation explores how her role as a 'bad cop' complements President Biden's diplomatic approach, emphasizing her position within the administration's broader strategy. Understanding her motivations and potential political vulnerabilities surrounding Israel is crucial as she emerges more prominently on the national stage.
Political Pressures and Coalitional Dynamics
Harris faces significant pressures from various factions within the Democratic Party, including its elected officials and active voting base, particularly concerning her views on Israel. The podcast delves into the need for Harris to recalibrate her political persona, balancing her past far-left positions with the mainstream Democratic consensus that generally supports Israel. The discussion provides examples of how other Democratic figures, like Senator John Federman, successfully aligned their pro-Israel sentiment with their political strategies, suggesting that Harris could follow a similar path. This balancing act reflects the broader tension within the party between progressive ideals and mainstream expectations.
Impact of Family Background and Personal Views
Harris's personal background, including her family connections to Jewish identity, could influence her public stance on Israel and her political strategies moving forward. The dialogue highlights potential conflicts stemming from her family's views, particularly her stepdaughter's activism against Israel, which presents both a unique liability and opportunity for Harris. Navigating these complexities will be crucial as voters assess her authenticity and alignment on Israel-related issues. The discussion suggests that being transparent about her background while reinforcing pro-Israel sentiments could enhance her electability.
Navigating Internal and External Political Landscapes
The podcast outlines the challenges and opportunities Harris encounters as she navigates both online and offline discourse surrounding her political image. There's recognition that engaging with social media dynamics may distort perceptions, emphasizing a need for Harris to remain attentive to public sentiment rather than react solely to activist rhetoric. The potential for domestic and international crises, particularly related to Israel, may further shape her foreign policy rhetoric and public perception as election day nears. Overall, Harris is at a critical juncture where her decisions and stance on key issues could significantly impact her political future and party alignment.
Suddenly, Vice President Kamala Harris is the Democratic party’s candidate for president. She’s been in the public eye for much less time than Joe Biden or Donald Trump, and much less is known about her views on many subjects—including on the U.S.-Israel relationship or America’s posture in the Middle East.
For instance, as Israel’s war in Gaza ramped up earlier this year, Harris became an outspoken critic of it, and a champion of a ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Hamas on the grounds of humanitarian concern for Palestinian civilians. But it’s possible that these attitudes were a product of her role in the Biden administration, that she was assigned the role of bad cop to the president’s good cop.
So what does Harris really think about the subject? What role might her Jewish family members play in her views? How does she understand the politics of the U.S.-Israel relationship? To answer those questions, host Jonathan Silver speaks here with Noah Rothman, a senior writer at National Review and the author of a recent essay there called “The Left Thinks It’s Getting an Anti-Israel Radical in Kamala Harris.” Together, the two also survey the wide coalition of the Democratic party—its elected officials, its voting base, its NGOs and operatives—and try to understand the pressures, the points of leverage, the incentives, and the political vulnerabilities to avoid on questions related to Israel.
Musical selections in this podcast are drawn from the Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, op. 31a, composed by Paul Ben-Haim and performed by the ARC Ensemble.
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