Vice President Kamala Harris met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday (July 25) in her ceremonial office at the White House, Reuters reports.
The meeting will be closely watched for signs of how Harris, who was the first top U.S. official to call for a ceasefire, could shift American policy toward Israel if she becomes president.
Harris was expected to closely track the administration line in the meeting, a U.S. official said, focusing on the plight of Palestinians while also supporting Israel's right to self-defense.
The visit coincides with a shift in American politics. On Sunday (July 21), Biden, 81, stepped aside from the U.S. presidential race under pressure from fellow Democrats and endorsed Harris for the party's 2024 presidential nomination.
Netanyahu's visit, his first to Israel's most important international ally since his late 2022 return to power for a record sixth term as prime minister, comes on the heels of Biden's dramatic decision not to seek reelection.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris described her meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "frank and constructive" during a press conference on Thursday (July 25), reaffirming her "unwavering commitment" to Israel's security.
Harris emphasized that she strongly urged Netanyahu to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, a discussion closely monitored for potential changes in U.S. policy towards Israel if she becomes president.
"I expressed my deep concern about the severe humanitarian situation there," she stated. "I will not remain silent."
The Vice President's firm and serious remarks suggest a possible shift in approach from President Joe Biden regarding dealings with Netanyahu.
Relations between Biden and Netanyahu have been strained for months over Israel's Gaza offensive, in which more than 39,000 people have been killed, according to health officials in Gaza.
The U.S. is a major arms supplier to Israel and has protected the country from critical United Nations votes.
