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October 21, 2024
Hi Steve,
When I read the false accusation about Kamala Harris agreeing that Israel was committing genocide, I almost spit out my Arnold Palmer. Spoiler alert: She did not and never has agreed with that statement.
With Election Day 15 days away, I did not want to wait until Sunday to cover it because, as Mark Twain is said to have said, "A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.”
I would be outraged if this accusation against Harris was true. I hope you would be outraged too. There is a lot of understandable fear and mistrust in the Jewish community post-October 7, and those pushing this bunk are trying to exploit our trauma.
Here's the truth: As reported by the Times of Israel, after telling students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee she is “invested” in them, a student accused Harris of being “invested in genocide.”
“I respect your right to speak. I’m speaking right now. I know what you’re speaking of. I want the ceasefire,” Harris said, as the heckler pressed her on “the genocide.”
In the video, Harris reiterates her positions on a ceasefire, returning the hostages, and ending the war, telling the protester that she was not there to speak about that. As he was ejected, the heckler questioned Harris on casualties in Gaza, to which Harris replied, “What he’s talking about, it’s real. That’s not the subject that I came to discuss today, but it’s real, and I respect his voice," clearly referring to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
If you watch the video, you’ll see that Harris obviously did not agree there was a genocide. If she thought there was a genocide she would not have supported $18 billion in weapons for Israel, sending U.S. troops to Israel to defend against Iranian missiles, working every day to get the hostages out, elevating the issues of sexual violence on October 7, and repeatedly supporting Israel’s right to defend itself and giving Israel the means to do so.
The Biden-Harris administration has consistently defended Israel against charges of genocide. Harris has been clear that the suffering in Gaza is a direct result of Hamas’s decision to launch an unprecedentedly brutal terrorist attack on Israel on October 7. She has publicly called Hamas “evil” and said it can have no role in Gaza’s governance. She does not believe a genocide is taking place in Gaza.
When South Africa accused Israel of genocide in a filing with the International Court of Justice, her administration called the charge “meritless, counterproductive, and completely without any basis in fact whatsoever.”
In May 2024, Biden said "that "contrary to allegations against Israel made by the International Court of Justice, what’s happening is not genocide. We reject that." Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the U.S. has seen no evidence that Israel has committed genocide. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the charge of genocide against Israel “meritless.” Harris's campaign clearly stated that Harris "did not and does not agree" with the heckler.
But the heckler was right about one thing. Harris has never accused Israel of genocide. Even if you think the video is capable of more than one reasonable interpretation--I don't, but maybe you do--ask yourself this: Given Harris's long and strong record on Israel, which pre-dates her vice presidency, what basis is there for thinking it is even remotely possible that she disagrees with Biden, Austin, and Blinken on this issue?
Compare how Harris responded to the death of Sinwar to how Trump reacted, commenting for the first time only in response to a question. Who do you think feels it more in their kishkes?
When has Trump ever defended Israel against charges of genocide? In April 2024, in response to a crowd chant of “Genocide Joe,” referring to President Joe Biden’s support for Israel, Trump said, “They’re not wrong, they’re not wrong.” Maybe you should ask your Republican friends what he meant.
Please re-familiarize yourself with Harris's record on Israel and ask yourself again if this charge makes sense. Melanie Nathan and Carol Goldman provide additional context regarding Harris's exchange with the protester.
Compare Harris and Trump on Israel, Iran, and antisemitism, and ask yourself who you trust more on these issues. Hint: We cannot trust Trump on Israel or Iran.
John Bolton, Trump's former national security advisor, is probably more hawkishly conservative than any of your undecided friends. Bolton said in April, "Trump’s support for Israel in the first term is not guaranteed in the second term, because Trump’s positions are made on the basis of what’s good for Donald Trump, not on some coherent theory of national security.”
On October 3, 2024, Bolton noted that Trump said "that this conflict between Iran and Israel is like two kids in a school yard fighting. And that's about a typical Donald Trump assessment of a complex, international problem. Those who think he's going to be reflexively supportive of Israel really should think again."
Those who are concerned about antisemitism and our safety but voting for Trump should think again to0.
Trump does not deserve a second term. We cannot afford to give him one. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are outstanding on all of our issues, especially Israel, Iran, and antisemitism.
I'll be back on Sunday with the regular newsletter.
Chag Sameach.
For those new to this newsletter. This is the newsletter even Republicans have to read and the original home of the viral and beloved Top Ten Signs You're At a Republican Seder (yes, I wrote it). If someone forwarded this newsletter to you, why not subscribe and get it in your inbox every Sunday? Just click here--it's free.
I periodically update my posts on why Democrats are better than Republicans on Israel and antisemitism. My definition of "pro-Israel" is here (it's a work in progress, as am I).
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