When U.S. Vice President Harris addresses the Democratic National Convention today, it will mark a historic moment for our nation, emblematic of what the future of representation can look like. As the first Black and Asian woman to earn a major party’s nomination, communities of color, much like my own, see in her the opportunity for a new direction in our country.
But for a majority of Americans, that new direction must include charting a different path than that of President Joe Biden and his predecessors when it comes to the war in Gaza and Palestinian rights.
As a Palestinian American who is an elected Democrat to the Colorado State House, it has been disheartening to witness Biden facilitate and abet Israel’s brutal war on Gaza with billions of dollars in U.S. weapons. While Israel has traditionally been the top recipient of U.S. foreign military aid (now surpassed by Ukraine since Russia’s invasion), the U.S. has, on average, sent Israel a weapons shipment every four days over the last 10 months, appropriating over $18 billion in weapons transfers during that period—and the administration just approved another $20 billion worth of military funding.
Harris can set a precedent in defending human rights without prejudice. Not only is this the right thing to do, it will also bolster her chances in November.
When I speak with my constituents, they are keenly aware of the billions in economic and military aid sent to Israel each year. Imagine if those funds were invested in education, housing, and healthcare right here at home.
Over the past 10 months, Israel has killed over 40,000 Palestinians, including upwards of 15,000 children. It has used starvation as a weapon against the population and violated every “red line” set by Biden. The International Court of Justice and a U.S. federal court have even ruled that Israel may be guilty of genocide and opened up an investigation.
In May, the chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defense minister for war crimes. In July, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel’s military rule over Palestinians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza violates international law and constitutes apartheid.
Shortly after the court’s ruling, Israel’s parliament overwhelmingly voted to reject the creation of a Palestinian State, officially declaring what has been unofficial Israeli policy for decades. This rejectionist Israeli position is problematic for the U.S. at best.
For decades, the two-state solution has been the default talking point the U.S. uses to deflect from acknowledging the reality of Israel’s apartheid system, but Israel is making it harder and harder to maintain this fiction.
Biden has followed in the footsteps of his predecessors, providing, in essence, unconditional support to Israel despite its violations of international law and U.S. policy. This has fostered a sense of impunity among Israeli leaders, paving the way for and worsening the current crisis.
Earlier this year, however, more than 750,000 voters chose “uncommitted” on their ballots in the Democratic primaries, signaling a demand for a new direction.
Harris has expressed concern and empathy for Palestinian suffering in ways Biden has not, but she hasn’t shown any openness toward a fundamental policy change—at least not yet. Her notable absence during Netanyahu’s speech to Congress and her choice of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate—seen as more favorable to progressive and Palestinian rights supporters—are encouraging signs.
However, these symbolic gestures need to be matched with concrete policy changes.
Harris has said that an arms embargo—which human rights organizations have been calling for—is off the table, but that she supports a cease-fire. To truly reach a cease-fire and prevent a regional conflict, the U.S. must halt the arms shipments that fuel the conflict.
As a former attorney general and as current vice president, Harris has taken an oath to defend the Constitution. She is no stranger to the responsibility to enforce existing laws and policies that prevent weapons transfers to foreign military units that commit gross human rights violations. Meanwhile, U.S. made bombs continue to kill Palestinians seeking safety in schools, tents, and hospitals.
Harris can set a precedent in defending human rights without prejudice. Not only is this the right thing to do, it will also bolster her chances in November.
Polls and recent protests show that a majority of Democrats want an immediate cease-fire and a change in U.S. policy toward Israel and Palestine, including sanctions imposed on Israel over settlement construction, and sympathize more with Palestinians than Israelis. Indeed, most Americans of all political stripes want a cease-fire, a halt in weapons transfers to Israel until it ends its assault on Gaza, and for the U.S. to be neutral between the two parties. By committing to policy changes, Harris can regain the support of communities that have distanced themselves from the Democratic Party in recent months—Arab and Muslim voters, young people, people of color, progressives, anti-war advocates, and the uncommitted movement.
The national Democratic party platform states, “We will speak and act with clarity and purpose on behalf of human rights wherever they are under threat.” This week, the Democratic Party has a chance to correct course on the war in Gaza and revive our democratic principles. We must adhere to the values that define us as Democrats.
