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Gaza is the one thing Kamala Harris and Donald Trump agree on
By James M. Dorsey
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Ms. Harris and Mr. Trump have different reasons for wanting the war to end with the US vice-president’s stance likely to be more consequential than that of her Republican rival.
Mr. Trump couched his insistence that Israel should “finish up and get it done quickly” in terms of the significant self-inflicted reputational damage Israel has suffered as the result of its war conduct.
More likely, Mr. Trump wants to ensure that the Gaza war doesn’t sit at the top of his agenda should he emerge victorious from the November election.
In contrast to US President Joe Biden’s refusal to express heartfelt compassion for the plight of 2.3 million Gazans, Ms. Harris put the pain suffered by Palestinians at the core of her demand for a ceasefire.
“We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering, and I will not be silent,” Ms. Harris said.
What Ms. Harris did not say but implied was that support for Israel did not mean support for Mr. Netanyahu and his policies.
In response to Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris’ insistence on a ceasefire, Mr. Netanyahu appeared to put their determination to the test.
Ceasefire negotiators asserted shortly after Mr. Netanyahu’s meetings with the president and vice-president that the prime minister was wittingly complicating talks by demanding Israel screen displaced Palestinians that would be allow to return to northern Gaza as part of a ceasefire.
