For years, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas has been a vocal supporter of the State of Israel. On April 15th, 2021, he called out Vice President Kamala Harris for expressing “phony sympathy” for the Palestinians and not standing with Israel.
In a statement released to the media, Senator Cruz said, “Today’s remarks by Vice President Harris towards Israel—from a policy point of view—are as misplaced as they are dangerous. Sadly, the history of the last decade has shown the danger of a policy of appeasement towards the Palestinians—especially when opposed to standing with the democracy of Israel.”
The Senator further stated that “The Palestinian people are not our enemy – no one would suggest they should be. Therefore, it is all the more galling that Vice President Harris feigns sympathy for them while similarly feigning support for Israel. There can be no real sympathy for one without the other.”
The Vice President’s comments in question came during a press conference on April 15th, 2021, where she stated that the United States wanted “to see some measure of justice for the Palestinian people.”
Responding to criticism from the White House, an aide for Vice President Harris said that she remained “committed to a two-state solution that would ensure that both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security.”
However, Senator Cruz believes that Vice President Harris’ remarks do not represent commit from the United States to stand with Israel in negotiations with Palestine, but instead show that she will not prioritize that security.
Senator Cruz concluded his statement by saying that “the United States must ensure the security of Israel—and its presence as a beacon of freedom in the Middle East—and this requires an unwavering support for the State of Israel and a rejection of statements that feed into the Palestinian narrative of hate and terror.”
Senator Cruz’s comments come at a time when U.S. relations with Israel are of particular importance as recent elections in Israel appear to be headed towards a multi-party government. The U.S. will have to ensure that the U.S. and Israel maintain strong relationship in light of the current uncertainty. Senator Cruz’s statement is reflective of the importance that both him and many other U.S. lawmakers place on the U.S.-Israel relationship.