Kamala Harris blasts ‘Zionist’ Joe Biden, Donald Trump over Gaza war

Harris accuses both Biden and Trump of giving Netanyahu a “blank check” to fight Hamas, blaming Biden’s stance on the war in Gaza for Trump’s election.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News Staff

Former Vice President Kamala Harris lashed out at both President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden over their stances vis-a-vis Israel since October 7th, 2023, accusing both leaders of giving the Israeli government a “blank check” in the war against Hamas.

Harris kicked off a speaking tour on Wednesday for her new book, 107 Days, which chronicles her failed presidential bid in the 2024 election.

In the book, the former vice president referenced the Gaza war and her belief that it significantly harmed her campaign last year and again touched on the issue during Wednesday’s book tour event.

Held at Town Hall in New York, Wednesday evening’s gathering drew dozens of anti-Israel protesters, who gathered outside the performance center to condemn Harris’ role in the Biden administration.

A number of demonstrators attempted to crash the event, heckling Harris.

“Your legacy is genocide,” one protester shouted before being removed from the building by security guards. “The blood of the Palestinians is on your hands.”

Following the disruptions, Harris emphasized her frustration with Israel’s conduct in the Gaza war, and said she sympathized with Gazans.

“What’s happening to the Palestinian people is outrageous and it breaks my heart,” Harris said, while lambasting President Trump’s handling of the war, claiming he has given Israel a “blank check” in the war.

“Donald Trump has given Netanyahu a blank check to do whatever he wants.”

The accusation echoed nearly identical comments made in her new book against Trump’s predecessor and her former running mate, Joe Biden.

In her book, Harris said there was a “perceived blank check” by President Biden to Netanyahu to do whatever Israel felt was necessary to combat Hamas, something which Harris lamented hurt her 2024 presidential bid.

“I had pleaded with Joe, when he spoke publicly on this issue, to extend the same empathy he showed to the suffering of Ukrainians to the suffering of innocent Gazan civilians,” Harris wrote.

Harris claimed Biden refused her overtures to pressure Israel to limit its attacks in Gaza after October 7, telling her he is “a Zionist.”

“But he couldn’t do it: While he could passionately state, ‘I am a Zionist,’ his remarks about innocent Palestinians came off as inadequate and forced.”

The former vice president blasted what she called the “ferocity” of Israel’s response to October 7, saying it “weakened Israel’s moral position internationally and created angry dissent within Israel itself.”

During Wednesday’s book tour event, Harris voiced support for mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani’s campaign.

Mamdani, who has drawn sharp criticism over his refusal to disavow calls to “globalize” the intifada, is “bringing people in, and you are showing that there are voices that want to be heard, have felt left out and are now a part of what you are doing,” Harris said. “That is so powerful.”

Harris again repeated her claim that Israel has received a “blank check” from the US in terms of its handling of the war in Gaza when she responded to the third protester who was removed from inside the event.

“I understand your concern and how you feel. I think I do,” Harris said. “And the reality of it is where we are right now didn’t have to be this way — in terms of the blank check that this president has given.”