U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris confirmed today that "the United States will commit to providing $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund" and urged leaders to accelerate action and increase investments and to lead "with courage and conviction" to address climate change. According to excerpts from her remarks for the climate summit "COP28" in Dubai, which were obtained in advance, she stated: "Today, I am proud to announce that we will make a new commitment of $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund, which helps developing countries access the capital they need to invest in resilience, clean energy, and nature-based solutions."
Vice President Kamala Harris had previously outlined the main U.S. objectives regarding the end of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, emphasizing the necessity of ultimately reuniting the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank under a single governing entity. Harris will participate in a series of meetings at the United Nations climate conference "COP28" in Dubai after being sent by President Joe Biden to represent him at the summit while he focuses on the war between Israel and the Palestinians.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby mentioned that "Harris will carry a message about post-conflict Gaza as the region faces the repercussions of the war that has upended the Middle East." He noted during a press briefing in Washington that "Harris will emphasize that any post-conflict plan for Gaza must include a clear political horizon for the Palestinian people and ensure the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank under a single entity."
Kirby indicated that "Harris, in her meetings, will outline guidelines regarding post-conflict Gaza and propose specific recommendations that contribute to engaging Palestinian voices in the process and building regional support for our efforts." He stated: "She will certainly clarify that, as we have said many times before, we believe the Palestinian people need to be involved in determining their future and have a role in it, and that there needs to be governance in Gaza that addresses their aspirations and needs."
The Palestinian Authority, backed by the West, governs parts of the occupied West Bank. Hamas has controlled the Gaza Strip since it seized power from the Fatah movement led by President Mahmoud Abbas in 2007. Harris's role in the administration is increasingly being scrutinized as Biden (81 years old) runs for a second presidential term. She has been tasked with helping to address a series of major challenges such as immigration, abortion, and voting rights from home.
How Gaza should realistically be managed in the post-conflict phase is an issue that confounds regional leaders and Middle East experts. U.S. officials discussed reinforcing the Palestinian Authority so that it could expand its operations to include Gaza, but no firm plan has been agreed upon yet. Some U.S. officials have privately expressed doubts about the Palestinian Authority's ability to manage Gaza after the war. Critics have accused the Palestinian Authority of corruption and mismanagement, and surveys have shown that its credibility among the Palestinian people is low.
Harris will meet with regional leaders and consult them on the latest developments in Gaza, including the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In her statements later today, Harris will express the United States' desire to return to calm between Israel and Hamas to facilitate the release of more hostages from Gaza and the flow of humanitarian aid once again.
