In Tuesday night's high-stakes presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump, Israel made a brief appearance. Despite the media's frequent focus on Israel, the candidates dedicated just over two minutes of the 90-minute debate to discussing Israel and the Israel-Hamas War.
Trump's Apocalyptic Vision
Trump wove a fantasy scenario, claiming that Harris harbors hatred for Israel He also made the startling prediction that "if she's president, I predict that Israel will not exist within two years from now." This extreme claim appeared to play on fears some Jewish voters might have about a Democratic administration potentially catering to the party's anti-Israel progressive wing.
Trump also asserted that:
- Hamas would not have attacked on October 7 had he been president
- He would "get that settled, and fast" if elected
- The removal of sanctions on Iran under the Biden administration led to increased funding for terrorist proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis
## Harris's Two-State Solution Pledge
Vice President Harris carefully balanced her words to appeal to both Jewish voters and progressive Arab-Americans. She:
- Reiterated her lifelong support for Israel
- Committed to giving "Israel the ability to defend itself"
- Expressed concern over the loss of innocent Palestinian lives
- Pledged to work towards a two-state solution
Harris stated, "We must have a two-state solution where we can rebuild Gaza, where the Palestinians have security, self-determination, and the dignity they so rightly deserve."
Analysis
The brief mention of Israel in the debate serves as a reminder that while the country often features prominently in U.S. media coverage, it is not a top priority for American voters. In fact, both candidates' statements about Israel seemed more focused on securing votes at home than addressing the complexities of the Middle East situation.
Trump's apocalyptic vision and Harris's commitment to a currently unrealistic two-state solution highlight how Israel is often reduced to a political talking point in American debates.
The upcoming election will likely be decided based on domestic (and not international) issues such as the economy, immigration, abortion, and Trump's character.
Herb Keinon's analysis, featured on JPost, contributed to this article.