'Pro-Palestinian' Harris skips Netanyahu's US Congress speech... Will Democratic base return?

Biden's Middle East Policy and Distancing That Caused Supporter Defection
Appeals for Black Women’s Support During Indiana Visit
Criticism of Conservative Think Tank's Policy Proposal Project 2025

Kamala Harris, the U.S. Vice President widely expected to be the Democratic Party's next presidential candidate, did not attend the speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the U.S. Congress during his visit to the United States. Analysts interpret this as a move to distance herself from President Joe Biden's Middle East policy, which, due to its pro-Israel stance, has caused a defection among the Democratic Party's traditional support base.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

During his visit to the U.S., Prime Minister Netanyahu delivered a joint session address to both houses of Congress on the 24th (local time). This was Netanyahu's first speech to the U.S. Congress since Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, attacked Israel in October last year.

Although it is customary for the Vice President, as the President of the Senate, to attend such events, Harris did not attend the speech and instead traveled to Indiana to carry out previously scheduled campaign activities.

In this context, U.S. media have interpreted the situation as revealing a difference in perception of Israel between Vice President Harris and President Biden. Harris is seen as placing more emphasis on the suffering of Palestinians compared to Biden. In March, she criticized Israel's humanitarian aid efforts to the Gaza Strip as insufficient. This has led to speculation that Arab-American and progressive factions, who had defected from the Democratic Party criticizing Biden's Middle East policy, might return to the party's core support base. Earlier, anti-war protests opposing Biden's pro-Israel policy spread rapidly across U.S. college campuses, signaling signs of defection among Democratic supporters.

Some analysts suggest that if Vice President Harris distances herself from Israel, a key ally, it could unsettle moderate voters.

Meanwhile, President Biden and Vice President Harris are both scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu on the 25th.

Vice President Harris, who did not attend Netanyahu's congressional speech, visited Indiana on the same day to appeal for support from her most loyal base, Black women.

At an event hosted by the Black female college student club 'Zeta Phi Beta,' she stated, "When we organize, we move mountains; when we unite, we change the country; when we vote, we make history." She added, "You helped elect Joe Biden as President of the United States and me as the first female Vice President," emphasizing, "At this moment, our country needs your leadership again."

Vice President Harris also criticized Project 2025, a policy proposal from officials of the first Trump administration. Former President Donald Trump has recently distanced himself from Project 2025, fearing the policies it contains could be controversial.

Harris described the policies proposed by Project 2025 as "a full-scale attack on our children, families, and future," stating, "These extremists want to take us backward, but we will not go back."