Harris Urged to Take 'Clear Stance' Against Weapons Sales for Israel.

ModerateImprovement@sh.itjust.works to News@lemmy.world – 208 points –
Harris Urged to Take 'Clear Stance' Against Weapons Sales for Israel | Common Dreams
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I agree that she should, though I kind of wonder how realistic it is that she will before her official nomination. Last thing we need is AIPAC getting triggered at such a precarious moment and trying to turn the table over.

I don't know everything about her views on Israel, other than she's signaled she's uncomfortable with Biden's zealotry in the past and has been very quiet. But she will probably need to address the issue before the election, she needs to be percieved as distinct enough from Biden to get back the people in places like Deerborn, MI and such. A major reason Biden abandoned his run was because the Uncommitted vote just wasn't going away.

I'm personally willing to accept Biden stepping down as a win for the party and a blow to zionists, to me it's enough of a referendum on his zionist policies for me to stomach a compromise on Harris. But I'm not arab american and I don't have family in Palestine, so I would still understand people who won't accept anything but stark condemnation by Harris.

Yeah, my expectation for Harris is an unspecific call for peace and support for a two state solution. Biden is out of the mainstream in the party, she just needs to not be that.

I am not big on Harris but if she mirrors Biden on everything except Israel I will be extremely happy with her.

I wouldn't say extremely happy, I think he's too fixated on corporate welfare at the expense of progressive policy, but it'd be good enough as a stop gap.

She definitely needs to be more aggressive on climate change mitigation though, as far as I'm concerned it would be hard for a president to be too radical in that regard. Biden should've been pushing hard for the Green New Deal. Putting aside all other political battles against fascism, we are in deep trouble with the climate.

Of course there are a lot of things I would like her to do as well. I’m simply stating she is a lukewarm candidate but if all I got was a Biden replica that took a stand against genocide I would be happy with her presidency.

I think there is a real issue with Americans that want the moon and if they don’t get it they throw a tantrum.

I would love for her to lower the national debt, fix climate change, stop our dependence on oil, fix the housing shortage. I could keep going. My point is I know even accomplishing 1 of those would be extremely difficult so I would accept Biden 2.0.

I think there is a real issue with Americans that want the moon and if they don’t get it they throw a tantrum.

Wanting someone who treats climate change with the seriousness and urgency it deserves is not asking for the moon. Wanting a functioning healthcare system is not asking for the moon. Wanting bodily autonomy is not asking for the moon. Wanting your politicians to aggressively pursue a policy that was already implemented and proven to halve child poverty is not asking for the moon.

The narrative needs to stop that progressives are demanding "perfect". Basic center-left policy should not categorized as excess. That narrative is what brought us to this crisis we're in, all the compromises on the most basic left wing positions. The "asking too much" narrative needs to end, people need to keep demanding and making themselves a thorn in the sides of neoliberals every time they try to drag the overton window to the right.

I'm voting for Harris, that's my compromise as a progressive, I'm not going to stop criticizing the democratic right-wing or stop demanding better policy though, that's not part of the deal.

Last thing we need is AIPAC getting triggered at such a precarious moment

Yeah, the last thing we need is others making their own decisions based on truth.

Firstly, AIPAC has no relationship to the truth, they're only there to disrupt the truth.

And no one said she shouldn't be honest about her positions, but it's still politics and we can all pretty much guess where she stands on Israel already; not as far left as anyone wants her to be, but not as right-wing as Biden/Trump. That's the best deal we're getting this cycle as far as I'm concerned.

But again, I'm not going to tell anyone who feels they can't vote for Harris if she's not strong enough in her condemnation of Israel that they need to vote for her. I just spent the last 6 months being told that I need to accept Biden's genocidal policies and it's pointless to threaten the party with a non-vote, I would never turn around and do that to other voters because it's bullshit.

Firstly, AIPAC has no relationship to the truth, they're only there to disrupt the truth.

I understand. Because you disagree with their message whatever goes.

And no one said she shouldn't be honest about her positions

You just recommended she engage in propaganda to thwart the propagandists.

I didn't read the rest because the core of what you're saying is rotten.

Stop making this an election issue. It's not. You're just helping Trump

Having your tax dollar fund an active genocide is an issue for many of us

Except you don't have a choice, so it isn't. The only election issues are ones that you can participate in. The US will sell arms to Israel. That's not going to stop, no matter who is elected. How about we elect the person who may not actively encourage them to use them relentlessly on civilians. That's an issue you get to vote on.

This is the issue for me. I care about other things too, but I won't vote for someone funding a genocide.

I'm hoping I can throw my support behind Kamala (if she is the nominee). She seems to be a less blindly pro-Israel than Biden, but I'll feel better if she confirms it.

I'll understand if she has to wait until after the convention before declaring a stance.

The US was founded on genocide. Right here, on this soil. And everyone at the time went along with it in the name of Manifest Destiny. But it didn't end there. The US either directly or indirectly enabled genocide around the world through most of its history.

What happens when you can't support Kamala? And Trump wins? He absolutely supports genocide and will help it along at a scale we've yet to see in Palestine. And worse. And he'll bring problems directly to you, in your own home.

Would you trade millions of dead men, women, and children in Palestine for millions of dead men, women, and children in Palestine, other countries, and here at home as well?

Because I don't see what you have to gain by helping Trump win.

The US was founded on genocide. Right here, on this soil. And everyone at the time went along with it in the name of Manifest Destiny. But it didn't end there. The US either directly or indirectly enabled genocide around the world through most of its history.

Well, I guess genocide’s okay then.

Sorry for bothering you with my conscience.

Would you trade millions of dead men, women, and children in Palestine for millions of dead men, women, and children in Palestine, other countries, and here at home as well?

I don’t trade lives. If I can’t back Kamala (and she’s the nominee), I’ll vote third-party.

This comment is honestly so telling. You're okay with Trump getting re-elected and sending even MORE weapons to Israel, just so long as you personally don't have to feel anything on your "conscience".

Sounds more driven by selfishness than actual compassion if you ask me.

just so long as you personally don't have to feel anything on your "conscience".

And if you’re willing to do unconscionable things because your twisted logic tells you it’s actually for the greater good, then you’re not much different from Biden.

What a childishly simplistic worldview.

It’s called doing the right thing, and I wish everyone knew how to do it and did it with me.

The rest of us do know how to do the right thing. You're not doing anything, your lily-white inaction is moral masturbation. Doing the right thing requires considering the suffering of others over your own passive comfort. Often that means making tough decisions. How much will suffering increase because puritanical children refused to sully their hands on anyone who wasn't perfect? Childish and simplistic.

Doing the right thing requires considering the suffering of others

That’s what I’m doing.

And you’re trying to spin that as something selfish, as if I don’t have to live with the consequences of US politics as a gay man.

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I honestly don't know how to write this so it doesn't sound like I'm attacking you but I'm going to try.

Disclaimer, Kamala Harris hasn't stated anything on her stance involving Israel/Gaza conflict yet (as the presidential nominee), so my statements below may be a non-issue for you come election time anyway...

While it might feel like "doing the right thing" by not voting or voting third party, you are giving a vote to Trump if you do so, which is worse. It fucking sucks that we have this shitty two party system and all of sane people who aren't just "my team vs your team" hate it... but I really hope you decide that your vote won't be for Kamala but against Trump, since he will be far worse, not only for Gaza but Ukraine as well.

you are giving a vote to Trump if you do so

Nope. That’s not how it works.

It is though. We've effectively been given the Trolley Problem, and instead of playing you're choosing to walk away and whatever happens, happens, as long as you feel good.

I'm sure Biden feels fucking awful about what's going on. But he was elected to do the job the best he can and unfortunately a psychopath that we have little control over is in charge of Israel. Until something can be done about him. America has to play nice.

Netanyahu wants Trump. Not voting Democrat gives him a better chance.

Again, it really sucks but the presidential election is a unfortunately two party.

I’m sure Biden feels fucking awful about what’s going on.

I think he fuckin' loves it, because he's a racist piece of shit. He thinks brown people are supposed to submit to their white colonial overloads, and the Palestinians are getting what they deserve for being troublemakers.

He's from a generation where that was almost universally believed. He probably hates that he has to pretend he believes otherwise.

Unfortunately a psychopath that we have little control over is in charge of Israel. Until something can be done about him. America has to play nice.

Biden is HELPING Israel commit genocide. Biden is using his UN Security Council veto to prevent the UN from acting against Israel. He is sending Israel munitions and billions of dollars.

Biden is not a bystander. He is an active and enthusiastic participant.

Edit: And the Democrats all suck for acting as if what Joe Biden is doing is normal. The Democrats, as a party, don't deserve to exist anymore. If Trump weren't a fascist, I wouldn't be considering voting for the Democrats at all.

He vetoed cease-fire agreements that called for permanent cease-fires but without the release of hostages as a condition to the cease-fire*. All that does is give Hamas time to recoup without any stipulations, leading to an even longer war. They are a terrorist organization hiding behind Palestinians and hostages.

Listen, I am by no means a fan of Israel. Their treatment of the Palestinian people has been atrocious but, regardless of who is president, weapons will be sold to Israel by the US.

Your edit about democrats only being a player here because Trump is a fascist is a real problem. A problem that you can directly affect with your vote/non-vote.

*The release of hostages is mentioned but not as a condition.. meaning the agreement called for a cease-fire with or without the release of hostages.

We've effectively been given the Trolley Problem, and instead of playing you're choosing to walk away

That’s exactly what I would do if I were driving the trolley. I’m not going to choose to sacrifice some people who otherwise weren’t in danger, even if it saves a larger number of people.

I would do what I can to trying to save the larger number of people (by trying to fix the trolley’s brakes, etc), but I’m not going to kill an unrelated group of innocent people to do it.

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I'm sure the guy who chopped his arm off (or whatever it was) when he was hiking and it got trapped didn't want to do so, but sometimes we have to make choices we don't like. You're choosing to let trans people, people of color, immigrants, Palestinians, and a whole lot of other people get fucked by Republicans because you can't do a little dirty work.

I hope you don't have a pet, because you sometimes have to clean up shit. It sucks and no one likes doing it, but sometimes we have to choose to do things like that so other people don't have to suffer the consequences of if we decide to take the easy route and pretend it didn't exist.

You're choosing to let trans people, people of color, immigrants, Palestinians, and a whole lot of other people get fucked by Republicans because you can't do a little dirty work.

A “little dirty work” you say of voting for a genocider.

Voting for the less genocider.

FTFY

You could vote for Cornel West, who does zero genocide.

Yeah can also vote for Santa Clause. He also doesn't do any genocide as far as I'm aware, and probably has a better chance of being elected.

Vote for progressive people for local office. You don't get a choice in the US presidential election except for the top two currently. Cornel West has zero chance of winning, so it has the exact same result as not voting. It's just a way to try to make yourself feel better while other people get hurt.

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Well, what I mean is that voting "against" a genocide across the globe could very well enable a genocide here, because it can and has happened before.

I live in a reservation, but I can drive 20 minutes to see the house my great grandmother lost to a white man because he was more important. My family tree has lots of people that died in their 20's and 30's of "Tuberculosis" and other BS reasons just to lose their land allotments, and we didn't even have headrights to our land in our tribal deal to be removed from our homeland by force.

So yes, genocide in the US is always fresh in my mind and I don't see that it'd take a lot to whip up Proud Boys and MAGA heads into doing the next round on anyone that wasn't straight, white, and Protestant. And I cannot fathom why anyone would enable Trump to do that again because of Palestine, which Trump would enable anyway.

You do trade lives. You actively are making a choice. If that choice is to do nothing when you otherwise can, that isn't not choosing. Make your choice. I hope you can live with the consequences, because so many others won't if you choose to not vote against active support of genocide.

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Mind you, I don’t live in a swing state, so my vote doesn’t matter. But I might send $50 to the Harris campaign to help her beat Trump (if she indicates that she’ll stop supporting the genocide).

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Either side she chooses will lose her votes. I don't know that anyone will accept any sort of fence riding, either.

What right do you have to tell people what issues are important to them when they are deciding who to vote for? What about Muslim voters? Should they just forget about the genocide because you said so?

Both parties and candidates support Israel. That in itself makes it a useless issue to decide an election on. It needs to be dealt with in a different way clearly. You don't want to vote for Dems, stay home or vote Trump. See how that works out for Palestine

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i truly think the twitter "left" thinks hamas will just pack up and go home or israel will just drop everything if the us stops weapon sales

i truly think the twitter "left" thinks the US should stop supplying weapons towards genocide.

Of course not. But I'd be a lot more comfortable with our president not actively supporting it. I don't use Twitter, I'm just an American jew who is deeply ashamed of Israel's behavior.

She already had my vote... If she trully stops the US from supporting a Genocide by sending money and weapons to Israel, then she has my full support.

No presidential candidate is going to do more than lip service until the situation there changes drastically. From a political standpoint, this is only an issue at all for the under 30 crowd. Even then, it's almost exclusively an issue for the demographics that are going to vote democrat or just stay home, most are smart enough to realize that the other side would be worse. Even if the youth turnout somehow doubled, this probably still wouldn't make up for how deeply deeply unpopular the Palestinian government is with every other demographic. Anyone who is old enough to remember when the current organization in charge first got going is looking at the younger generations like they are insane.

She's much more likely to just be more generically silent and passive on the issue now that her exposure is higher. I would bet she actually dials it back even more than she did on her last speech.

I'm very curious how Harris will act now that she doesn't need to secure the nomination. Here's hoping it unleashes her better judgement to call things out.

The copycat former VP's VP being expected not to also copycat.

Unless she actually became president, I doubt her stance would change unfortunately

If you told people in the 90s about the rise of Chatgtp and AI, and then told them that AIPAC had control over both parties and was forcing them to support genocide....