Two Jewish individuals who recently resigned from positions in the Biden administration due to concerns about its handling of the Gaza war have announced their intention to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.
In a joint op-ed released on the eve of Election Day, Lily Greenberg Call, aged 26, and Harrison Mann, aged 35, expressed disappointment that the Harris campaign did not publicly advocate for an arms embargo on Israel. Despite this, Call and Mann stated that they would support Harris as they see it as the best option to address the violence in the Middle East, especially in comparison to other pro-Palestinian activists who may choose not to vote for either major party.
The duo believes that Harris, leading a coalition with legislators pushing for a reevaluation of unconditional support for Israel, could potentially create a shift in policy that would hold Israel more accountable. They highlighted the efforts of several senators co-sponsoring legislation to restrict weapons transfers to Israel under a Harris administration.
Mann, a former Middle East intelligence officer, and Call, a former Department of the Interior staffer who also supported Harris during her 2020 presidential campaign, have been vocal advocates for Palestinian rights since resigning in protest of Biden’s approach toward Israel. Both individuals have emphasized their Jewish heritage as a driving force behind their opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Harrison Mann appeared on CBS News to discuss his resignation from the U.S. Army out of protest over Israel’s war in Gaza. (Screenshot)
This pair of former staffers are part of a nationwide network of activists urging Biden and Harris to reassess their support for Israel. By endorsing Harris in their op-ed, they join other pro-Palestinian activists encouraging their allies to vote for Harris despite disagreements, given the tight nature of the race.
Other figures, like Palestinian-American Georgia state lawmaker Ruwa Romman, have also expressed support for Harris, with Romman planning to “swap” her vote with someone in a safe blue state who will vote for a third party.
While not officially endorsing Harris, the pro-Palestinian Uncommitted movement has advised its followers against voting for Trump and has called for support for Harris. Even Senator Bernie Sanders, known for his criticism of the Israeli government, has urged voters who disagree with Harris on Israel policy to still support her, citing a better chance of policy change under a Harris administration as opposed to Trump’s close ties with Netanyahu.
In their op-ed, Call and Mann maintained their criticism of Israel’s actions as “openly genocidal” and expressed frustration at their inability to influence Harris’ campaign to address the issue to the satisfaction of pro-Palestinian voters. They acknowledged the challenge of shifting Biden and Harris’ stance on Israel, despite their efforts.
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