Vice President Kamala Harris spoke today with President Isaac Herzog of Israel. She extended Passover greetings to him and the people of Israel. The Vice President noted that this Passover—a holiday when the history of persecution of Jews is recounted—is especially painful and resonant given the brutal Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, during which Hamas killed more than 1200 innocent people, including 44 Americans, took 240 people hostage, including Americans, and committed horrific acts of sexual violence.

They discussed developments in the Middle East and the Vice President underscored the Biden-Harris Administration’s unwavering commitment to Israel’s security, including international efforts to ensure Israel can defend itself against Iran and its proxies, and welcomed the supplemental funding package passed by the House of Representatives. The Vice President reiterated her deep concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and discussed steps to increase the flow of life-saving humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians and ensure its safe distribution. The Vice President reaffirmed that we are working to establish an immediate and prolonged ceasefire in Gaza as part of a deal that releases hostages and enables the delivery of additional humanitarian aid. Following her meeting earlier this month with families of Americans taken hostage on October 7, the Vice President underscored our commitment to secure the release of all hostages and bring home the remains of those deceased.

The Vice President and President Herzog discussed recent developments in the United States, including deplorable cases of harassment and calls for violence against Jews. The Vice President condemned this reprehensible Antisemitism as well as the rise in Antisemitism around the world, and she underscored her and President Biden’s commitment to speak out against it. The Vice President and President Herzog agreed to work together to combat Antisemitism and hate in all forms. 

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