If the Democrat wins the presidential election, she would set the tone for US foreign policy. Will the alliance with Israel then remain in place?
Washington DC – After the Iranian attack on Israel last week, a Israeli counterattack expected –possibly on Iranian nuclear or oil facilities. Jerusalem has warned Tehran not to attack its infrastructure. “Any attack on Iranian infrastructure will bring an even stronger response,” Iranian state television quoted Foreign Minister Abbas Araghshi as saying on Tuesday (October 8).
Harris hesitant in interview about Netanyahu: trust no, alliance yes?
Now the Democratic presidential candidate also commented Kamala Harris on the Middle East conflict – albeit hesitantly. In an interview on the political show “60 Minutes” with Bill Whitaker, the US vice president gave way to the question of the reliability of Israel’s head of government Benjamin Netanyahu one namely a clear answer. “I think, with all due respect, the better question is: Is there an important alliance between the American people and the Israelis? And the answer to that question is yes.”
Harris also said that Israel has the right to defend itself. But it depends on how Israel does it. “Far too many innocent Palestinians have already been killed. This war must end.”
When asked whether the US had influence over Netanyahu, Harris was somewhat cryptic: “We will not stop doing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand, that this war must end .”
While the U.S. remains behind its ally, Harris said the U.S. government’s work with Israel’s leadership at the diplomatic level is “an ongoing effort to clarify our principles.”
Biden advises against Israel: attack on oil facilities in Iran could worsen conflict
Just last week, US President Joe Biden Israel advised against targeting oil facilities in Iran. Rassul Sanairad of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards had described an attack on Iranian energy infrastructure as a “red line”. Like the news agency Fars reported, Sanairad also raised “the possibility of a change in Iran’s nuclear strategy.” An attack on Iranian nuclear facilities would “affect the nature of Tehran’s response,” said General Sanairad.
This could lead to a regional war involving the previously hesitant US. Compared to the scene of such a war between Israel and Iran, the current conflicts in the Gaza Strip and seem rather insignificant in Lebanon.
The greatest fear that has plagued Israel and its allies for years is that Iran will actually become a nuclear power. Recent evidence suggests that the country is not far from achieving this goal. Despite sanctions, Iran has expanded its nuclear program and amassed a stockpile of enriched uranium that is 22 times larger than once agreed limits and for which there is no credible civilian use.
First Iranian atomic bomb test suspected: earthquakes indicate nuclear events
In fact, the Hindustan Times, an Indian daily newspaper, reports on possible nuclear tests by Iran. A magnitude 4.5 earthquake was reported in Iran’s Semnan province on October 5th. The quake’s epicenter was reportedly about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) underground and near an Iranian nuclear power plant. The depth of the earthquake and proximity to a nuclear facility could indicate a nuclear event.
Israel has made numerous efforts in recent years to disrupt Iran’s nuclear program. These included a cyberattack on Iranian centrifuges, a bomb at the nuclear enrichment facility and the assassination of the country’s top nuclear scientist. (bg/dpa)
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