Vice President Kamala Harris dodged a direct question about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's reliability as an ally during a *60 Minutes* interview, highlighting growing tension between the Biden administration and Israel as war rages in the region.
Vice President Kamala Harris sidestepped a direct question on Sunday regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reliability as an ally, during an interview on CBS News’ *60 Minutes*. The exchange followed a presentation of Netanyahu's controversial wartime decisions, which had gone against public demands from the Biden administration. When asked whether the U.S. still holds any “sway” over Netanyahu, Harris gave a noncommittal response, describing diplomatic relations with Israel as an “ongoing pursuit.”
Pressed further on whether Netanyahu himself remains a trusted ally, Harris shifted the focus. “I think, with all due respect, the better question is do we have an important alliance between the American people and the Israeli people?” she said, emphasizing the strength of that broader relationship rather than addressing Netanyahu specifically.
Harris’s reluctance to directly address Netanyahu's standing comes amid increasing tension between the Biden administration and the Israeli leader. Harris had previously boycotted Netanyahu’s July address to Congress, opting instead to attend a sorority lunch. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has also distanced himself from Netanyahu, even backing calls from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer earlier this year for Israelis to oust the prime minister and hold new elections.
Despite the chilly reception from many U.S. Democrats, Netanyahu’s standing in Israel has surged following the October 7 terrorist attacks. Recent polls indicate his coalition would win re-election if elections were held today, a striking contrast to his lukewarm reception among American Democrats.
Netanyahu’s government, however, has expressed wariness of Harris. On Sunday, one of his ministers criticized her announcement of hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Lebanon, even as Hezbollah continued launching attacks against Israel from Lebanese territory. Many in Israel view Harris as unsympathetic to their interests, a sentiment likely exacerbated by her handling of this latest interview.
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