A conservative group is demanding “a definitive stance” from the Harris-Walz campaign on Israel in light of several ambiguous statements and actions, according to a letter exclusively obtained by The Post.
The Faith and Freedom Coalition sent the missive Thursday to Harris campaign chair Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, asking the Democratic candidates to “clarify your position on the defense of Israel and condemn the evils of antisemitism without qualification.
“In this decisive moment for US national security and the survival of the State of Israel, our support for our ally and the only democracy in the Middle East must be clear, strong, and resonant,” Faith and Freedom executive director Timothy Head wrote.
“Unfortunately, your campaign has failed to articulate clear policy positions regarding Israel’s right to defend itself,” Head said. “Whether deliberate or not, such ambiguity undermines regional stability and projects weakness abroad.”
Vice President Kamala Harris, in her speech accepting the Democratic presidential nomination last week, pledged to “stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself” if she is elected in November.
The veep also promised at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago that her administration would gain the release all US and Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and reach a cease-fire deal with the terror group.
But the letter notes Harris’ decision not to preside over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s joint address to Congress in July — and her public chastisements of the Jewish state after meeting with its leader, reportedly expressing support for his side, in a private powwow.
After the sit-down with Netanyahu, Harris accused Israel’s military of having killed “far too many” Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and claimed the war was not a “binary issue,” meaning there were two sides to the conflict.
Those remarks were “suggesting moral equivalence between the Israeli people and Hamas and displaying little compassion for Israel’s fight for survival,” Head charged.
Harris’ comments “do not inspire confidence in the US-Israel alliance, nor do they strengthen deterrence against the forces that threaten our relationship with Israel and domestic security.
“It is true that the Biden-Harris administration has called for a general lowering of tensions, but the onus has continuously been placed on Israel to avoid escalating regional tensions instead of demanding this of Hamas, Hezbollah, or Iran,” Head added, referring to terror groups backed by Tehran.
He also said Harris’ expression of solidarity with “the emotion behind” anti-Israel protests nationwide has “contributed to disturbing scenes,” with “demonstrations favorably displaying the flags of terrorist groups that have killed Americans and anti-Israel protests across college campuses and, most recently, at this week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago.”
The Uncommitted National Movement, a group that got hundreds of thousands of Democratic primary voters to cast ballots against President Biden over US support for Israel, reportedly showed that Harris’ equivocations continued in July, when it said she agreed to meet with members to talk about an arms embargo on Israel.
While the veep’s national security adviser, Phil Gorden, denied the interaction and said Harris would “always ensure Israel is able to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups,” the vice president has yet to publicly remark on it.
Her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, also caught flak for donating more than $100,000 to the nonprofit of an extremist Muslim cleric who promoted a film that praised Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler as well as pro-Hamas propaganda on social media.
The Democratic vice presidential candidate hailed the cleric, Imam Asad Zaman, as “a master teacher,” according to video footage first uncovered by the Washington Examiner, and had hosted her several times as governor.
“Governor Walz, the American people deserve to know the extent of your association with Mr. Zaman, including any recent meetings you have held with him or discussions you have had about the ongoing war in Israel,” Head wrote in the letter.
He also listed other concerns — including the decision by the Harris-Biden administration to withhold some weapons shipments from Israel in an attempt to stop its ground assault of Rafah in southern Gaza.
“Now is the time for clarity, transparency, strength, and resolve,” Head urged. “We ask you to join the majority of Americans who support Israel’s right to self-defense.”
According to a Harvard CAPS/Harris survey in April, 80% of US voters supported Israel’s war against Hamas, and 68% were opposed to a cease-fire that would allow the terror group to continue running Gaza.
Nearly three-quarters (72%) wanted the Israel Defense Forces to “finish the war” and invade Rafah at the time.
The Harris-Walz campaign did not immediately respond to a Post request for comment Tuesday.
