John Legend Urges Kamala Harris to Condition Aid to Israel, Use It as ‘Leverage’ Amid War in Gaza
Singer John Legend performs at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, USA, at the United Center on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Photo: Annabelle Gordon / CNP/Sipa USA
American singer-songwriter John Legend wants US Vice President Kamala Harris to make America’s aid to Israel conditional and use it as “leverage” as Israel continues its military operations in Gaza targeting Hamas terrorists in the Palestinian enclave, he said in an interview published on Wednesday.
Speaking with Mehdi Hasan for the podcast series “Mehdi Unfiltered,” the “All of Me” singer criticized Harris and the Democratic party’s unconditional support for Israel’s ongoing military actions during the war in Gaza. Hasan asked the Grammy-winning singer if he thinks Harris needs to do something different from the Biden administration, “policy-wise,” in terms of America’s relationship with Israel as the Israel-Hamas war rages on in Gaza.
“It really revolves around the idea of accountability and using our aid to Israel as leverage,” Legend replied. “I don’t think we should we writing blank checks to any country that we’re allied with and that any kind of assistance we provide, any kind of weapons we send, should come with conditions. I think that’s a very sensible way to conduct foreign policy. We do it just about everywhere else. So let’s do it there, too.”
The “Green Lights” singer, a longtime Democratic Party supporter who performed at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in August, also condemned Israel’s attacks targeting Hamas terrorists in Gaza and the Palestinian children who have been killed in the crossfire.
“It also makes me very frustrated how easily we dehumanize certain people based on where they live, the color of their skin, their religion, whether or not they’re allies with our country. No matter what political disagreements and political animus and anger we have at Hamas and the leadership in Gaza, those kids are innocent,” he said.
Hasan additionally asked Legend why so many people have stayed silent about the war in Gaza. Legend blamed it on the “cancel culture” that has made celebrities hesitate to speak out about the violence in the Middle East.
“They’ve seen people get punished for it. You know, they’ve seen people lose their agent or lose jobs from it. And I think some people are afraid of that possibility,” he said. “They’re afraid they’ll suffer professional consequences.”
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