Kamala Harris 'disagrees' with student who said Israel commits genocide

• Published date: 02 October 2021
• Author: RON KAMPEAS/JTA
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

"Throughout her career, the Vice President has been unwavering in her commitment to Israel and to Israel's security," Harris's spokeswoman, Symone Sanders, said Friday in a statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. "While visiting George Mason University to discuss voting rights, a student voiced a personal opinion during a political science class. The Vice President strongly disagrees with the student's characterization of Israel."

Harris had reached out to Jewish organizations after sustaining criticism from Republicans and some Jewish communal figures for not correcting the student during a visit to a political science class. Harris was on the campus Tuesday to attend a voting rights rally.

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Harris spoke for about 15 minutes to the class about the importance of organizing and making one's voice heard, tying it to Democratic Party efforts to push back against a spate of laws in Republican-led states that add restrictions to voting.

"Your vote is an expression of your voice, and we should never support anything that would stifle a person's voice," Harris said.

She took questions, and one woman, who said she was Yemeni and Iranian, challenged Harris' claim that speaking out brings change.

"You brought up how the power of the people and demonstrations and organizing is very valuable in America, but I see that over the summer there have been protests and demonstrations in astronomical numbers standing with Palestine," she said. "But then just a few days ago there were funds allocated to continue backing Israel, which hurts my heart because it's ethnic genocide and displacement of people, the same that happened in America, and I'm sure you're aware of this."

The woman appeared to be referring to protests in May during Israel's conflict with Gaza, and then to the US House of Representatives' overwhelming approval last week of $1 billion to replenish Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system, which was depleted during the conflict.

"The people have spoken very often of what they do need and I feel there is a lack of listening," the student said.

Harris said she was glad the student spoke up, saying, "your voice, your perspective, your experience, your truth should not be suppressed."

The vice president then pushed back against the student's argument that expressing opinions in America was fruitless.

"The point that you are...