Kamala Harris criticized by pro-Netanyahu camp despite pro-Israel stance

A toxic, racist, and misogynistic narrative has flourished within the right-wing pro-Netanyahu camp in Israel since Kamala Harris was nominated as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate. This narrative manifests itself in contempt for Harris, her abilities, and her judgment, and in deliberately distorting her impressive pro-Israel record. This criticism is inspired by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has been generous with derogatory labels directed at Harris.

Netanyahu natives, Channel 14 TV pundits Erel Segal and Shimon Riklin, also added their share to the hate-fest when, in a promotional video for their show, they asked the disgusting question: “Is Harris a proxy for Hamas?”

But as usual, when it comes to insulting comments about the leaders of friendly countries, they were led by Anti-Semitism Minister Amichai Chikli, who, in a disparaging post on the X platform, decided to edit Harris’ speech after her meeting with Netanyahu. He omitted the beginning, about her commitment to the security of the state of Israel, and left only the part where she talks about the harsh reality in Gaza. He concluded that he believes that “the Democratic presidential candidate has not heard about the events of October 7.”

Chikli is so busy flirting with right-wing populist leaders that he fails to realize that the problem lies primarily with him and others like him who pride themselves on being detached from the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, without realizing that their stance also cuts them off from the entire free world.

Amichai Chikli speaks at the National Conservatism conference. (source: NATCOM)

Free the hostages, protect Israel

Harris and other Biden administration leaders have been relentlessly engaged in efforts to free the hostages and protect Israel, unlike the Netanyahu government, which places the survival of the coalition above the survival of the country’s citizens.

Harris’s contemptuous criticism is reminiscent of the Israeli right’s treatment of former US President Barack Obama. Of course, it has since become clear that Obama was responsible for the largest ever security assistance to Israel, and the international coalition he established to contain Iran’s nuclear capabilities contributed significantly to Israel’s security until Trump transformed Iran into a threshold nuclear weapons state by abandoning the agreement.

While the propaganda mouthpieces have labeled Harris as a “progressive” (most of the Progressive Caucus on Capitol Hill are Zionists), she has actually been one of the senators closest to the Jewish community in California and pro-Israel organizations in Washington. She traveled to Israel in her first year as a senator, in 2017, and the first resolution she promoted as a senator was a condemnation of UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which declared settlements illegal. Kamala Harris has never been a favorite of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, certainly not when it comes to her support for Israeli policies. But why confuse racists and misogynists with facts?

More sensible critics, those who try to cloak their criticism in facts, will refer their listeners to Harris’ speech in March of this year, in which she called for an immediate ceasefire. In their eyes, this is her terrible sin. The fact that she realized then, half a year after the fighting began, that it was time for a ceasefire and for an agreement to release the kidnapped, indicates her political wisdom – wisdom that the Israeli side sorely lacks.

A ceasefire desired by all

Currently, all U.S. and Israeli government and security officials, as well as Republican candidate Trump, are pushing for a ceasefire, despite the opposition of Netanyahu, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

Even Trump, the darling of the Israeli right, has said that “Israel must end the war—and fast.” But that hasn’t stopped right-wingers from continuing to heap praise on him, because their criticism of her has never been substantive, only personal.

They’re not really concerned about what Harris said, but rather they’re concerned about the image of a democratic and energetic woman who could be an excellent president, especially compared to an older, racist Republican candidate who has no interest in leading the free world.

Why is the right, both in the US and in Israel, afraid of the daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica, who fought anti-Semitism as attorney general and senator, and who as vice president, together with her Jewish husband Doug Amhoff, took responsibility for implementing the Biden administration’s plan to combat anti-Semitism; and this is a politician who has a long history of supporting Israel?

They may have difficulty criticizing Harris for the Netanyahu government’s conduct. But that criticism is no different from the criticism of most Israeli citizens and most of the Jewish community in the United States, and stems from support for and a sense of responsibility to Israel.

Harris’ candidacy has injected new life into a presidential race that has once again become an open race, a scare for Trumpists and their Israeli allies who attack her, who fear she will not prevent Trump from returning to the White House.

The author is the executive director of J Street Israel. He has served as an Israeli diplomat in Washington and Boston and as a political advisor to the president of Israel.