Kamala Harris to urge Israeli PM Netanyahu to end the war and suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza

Vice President Kamala Harris meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, discusses ceasefire efforts, and supports Israel's security.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will meet the visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House this week, but will not be able to preside over a joint session of the U.S. Congress which would be addressed by him, according to her aide.

“We anticipate the Vice President will convey her view that it is time for the war to end in a way where Israel is secure, all hostages are released, the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can enjoy their right to dignity, freedom, and self-determination. And they will discuss efforts to reach agreement on the ceasefire deal,” an aide to Vice President Harris told PTI.

Mr. Netanyahu is scheduled to address a joint session of the US Congress on July 24. This will be his fourth address to a U.S. Congress, the most that any foreign leader has delivered.

“The Vice President is meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu this week at the White House. This meeting is separate from President Biden’s planned meeting. The Vice President is travelling to Indianapolis on July 24 for a previously scheduled event and will be unable to preside over Prime Minister Netanyahu’s planned address to a joint session of Congress,” the aide said.

The joint session is normally presided over by the Vice President, but Ms. Harris would not be able to attend this because of her pre-scheduled event in Indianapolis.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who had invited Mr. Netanyahu for the joint address, slammed Harris for skipping the meeting. “Madam Vice President, you say you want to be the leader of the free world and yet you can’t bring yourself to sit behind our most important strategic ally at this moment. That is not a good look for you. It’s not a good look for America. It’s not a good look for her party that she aims to lead,” he told reporters at a news conference here.

However, Ms. Harris’ aides defended the decision and insisted that not too much be read into the absence. “Her travel to Indianapolis on July 24 should not be interpreted as a change in her position with regard to Israel. This is a statement confirming her travel plans,” her aide told PTI responding to a question on the criticism of this coming from her political opponents.