Trump Vs. Kamala Harris and the Future of Palestine
- Donald Trump’s pro-Israel stance is reinforced by his previous actions, including the Abraham Accords and withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.
- Kamala Harris supports Israel's right to defense, with a cautious emphasis on civilian protection, aligning with the Biden administration's two-state solution approach.
- The next U.S. administration's foreign policy will be pivotal in de-escalating tensions and fostering stability amid the volatile Middle East landscape.
As the US gears up for the 2024 general elections, the Middle East finds itself at a critical juncture, with ongoing tensions over the Hamas-Israel conflict, Iran’s attack on Israel, and Hezbollah’s confrontation with Israel, all of which will require the next U.S. administration to carefully navigate a conglomerate and volatile geopolitical landscape. Now, the question that lies here is, which administration in the US could do phenomenally to de-escalate the situation in the Israel-Palestine war and promote peace and stability for the civilians of all acting sides?
The conflict aisle is one of the deadliest periods in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with profound implications for both regional stability and international relations. On October 7, 2024, the war entered into another year of instability, anarchy, and a nasty situation. According to Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights;
“Today marks a grim milestone for the world. The people of Gaza are now grieving 40,000 Palestinian lives lost, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Most of the dead are women and children. This unimaginable situation is overwhelmingly due to recurring failures by the Israeli Defense Forces to comply with the rules of war.”
These are what are reported yet, but there could be many who went unreported and it would continue to be more and more as there’s little role of diplomacy by Global Powers to diminish the situation.
Donald Trump, nominated by The Republican Party for the general elections 2024, is on his election campaign, all set to compete with the opponent, Kamala Harris, nominated as The Democratic presidential candidate for the general elections 2024, replacing incumbent President Joe Biden as a potential candidate. Both leaders articulated discernible perspectives on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in their election campaign.
Trump seems to be pro-Israel in the context of his perspectives announced in rallies and speeches. Trump has consistently described himself as “The Best Friend that Israel has ever had.” On September 5, 2024, he stated, “No president has defended Israel and Jewish Americans more than Donald J. Trump.”
In remarks on September 10, 2024, Trump said that “the Biden administration cast blame for these deaths on Israel” and added, “The October 7th attack on Israel would never have happened if I was President.” In July 2024, Trump eulogized Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to “do what you have to do” and “finish up the war.”
These statements are also endorsed by the efforts he made during the Abrahamic Accord, which led to the normalization of the relations of Arab states with that of Israel. Similarly, Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in May 2018. This decision was part of his administration’s broader strategy to confront Iran’s nuclear program and its regional influence. So, undoubtedly, it could be said that President Trump would stand beside Israel in this war and Israel would channel all the possible means
Contrairily, Kamala said on 10 August, 2024, “Israel has a right to go after the terrorists that are Hamas.” While emphasizing “the need to prevent harm to civilians” in her remarks in Arizona.
Critically, the US foreign policy lies on the side of Israel, as both of the leaders have defended Israel’s right to defend itself, whereas Trump seems to be having more staunch relations with Israel, which is proven by the statements and his past perspicacity.
Harris does play well on both sides, with a sentimental note for humanitarian loss as well as her support for Israel’s actions. Kamala Harris’s position on the Palestine ceasefire would be dictated by her function within the Biden administration, which she perceives as advocating for the right of Israel to defend itself but always with a human touch. From a historical perspective, she favors a two-state solution, so presumably she could support ceasefires that are part of larger peace-making processes. However, her position will depend on the political pull from within the Democratic Party and from progressive members pushing for stronger action. Public opinion and current events would also weigh upon her direction of approach. So, her possible support for the truce is probable but depends on an ever-changing situation.
It’s all about the foreign policy of the United States of America. As Henry Kissinger, an astounding figure in U.S. foreign policy, famously said, “America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests.” The Jews-Americans possess more credibility in the affairs of the state regarding the Middle East. But, being the superpower of the world, the US should play a consequential role in the Middle East crisis. Researchers do have a view of the escalation of war; if Iran and Israel confront each other again, it could lead to the instability of the whole region. As a potential rising leader of global power, Kamala should justify her statements of reconstruction of the people of Gaza. As she holds the incumbent presidential office as Vice President of the United States of America, she has an opportunity to make a peace deal to prevent more losses and the escalation of the war.
The author is an International Relations student at the University of Central Punjab, Lahore.
