US Vice President Kamala Harris' office is quietly seeking to mend relations with pro-Israel Democrats after failing to push back on a student who, in asking her a question, accused Israel of "ethnic genocide," POLITICO magazine reported on Friday.
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On Thursday, according to the report, Harris' senior staff contacted the influential Democratic Majority for Israel to amend remarks she made Wednesday at George Mason University, where Harris was visiting a classroom of students.
"We were pleased Vice President Harris' senior staff reached out to us today to confirm what we already knew: Her 'commitment to Israel's security is unwavering,'" Mark Mellman, the president of the group, told POLITICO.
Mellman, according to POLITICO, quoted Harris' senior staff member as reassuring them that the vice president "strongly disagrees with the George Mason student's characterization of Israel."
A senior adviser to Harris also reached out to Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fl.) the co-chair of the Bipartisan Anti‐Semitism Taskforce, a source familiar with the details told POLITICO, and also reached out to Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League.
Harris has come under fire for not condemning a student after she accused US policy of facilitating "ethnic genocide" of Palestinians. Harris could be seen nodding as the female student lambasted the US for its support of its allies in the Middle East.
WATCH: Kamala Harris nods as student accuses Israel of "ethnic genocide": "your truth cannot be suppressed" pic.twitter.com/FcqCyT7Uo8
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 28, 2021
"I see that over the summer there have been, like, protests and demonstrations in astronomical numbers," the student, who identified as half-Iranian, half-Yemeni, said on the Palestinian protests during the latest Gaza flare-up in May.
"Just a few days ago there were funds allocated to continue backing Israel, which hurts my heart because it's ethnic genocide and displacement of people, the same that happened in America, and I'm sure you're aware of this," the student continued, referring to the special budget passed by the US House to support Israel's air defense system, Iron Dome, accusing this and other such measures as "inflaming Israel and backing Saudi Arabia and what-not."
Harris did not directly address her accusations but said she was "glad" that she was not afraid to come forward with her grievances. "This is about the fact that your voice, your perspective, your experience, your truth, should not be suppressed and it must be heard, right? And one of the things we're fighting for in a democracy, right?" Harris said. "Our goal should be unity, but not uniformity, right?" Harris stated.
The vice president then added, "Unity should never be at the expense of telling anyone personally that, for the sake of unity, 'Oh, you be quiet about that thing. You suppress that thing. Let's not deal with that thing.' That's not unity. True unity is everyone in that room has a voice." She then touted once again that pluralism should be cherished, but once again did not take the opportunity to call out the accusations of genocide.
"The point that you are making about policy that relates to Middle East policy, foreign policy, we still have healthy debates in our country about what is the right path, and nobody's voice should be suppressed on that," she added.
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Harris nodding gestures and decision to let those anti-Israel comments on genocide go unopposed led to an online backlash.
"Kamala Harris supports a student who accuses Israel of ethnic genocide – there goes Kamala doing what she does best – supporting terrorists and insulting allies," one commentator tweeted.
