US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week at the White House during his U.S. visit, an aide to Harris announced on Monday.
Harris will not preside over Netanyahu’s planned address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday due to her scheduled trip to Indianapolis for a prior engagement. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Ben Cardin will preside over Netanyahu’s address in her absence.
Harris’ meeting with Netanyahu is separate from his expected meeting with Democratic US President Joe Biden, who has endorsed Harris for the 2024 elections. Biden is currently recovering from COVID-19.
Politico reported that Netanyahu also requested an in-person meeting with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, but the former president has yet to agree.
Harris’ aide reaffirmed her support for Israel and noted that she will express concerns to Netanyahu over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The Gaza health ministry reports that Israel’s assault has killed over 39,000 Palestinians, flattened nearly the entire enclave, caused a hunger crisis, and displaced almost the entire population of 2.3 million.
