Nika Soon-Shiong, daughter of Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong, blocked the newspaper from endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris due to her accusations against the Biden-Harris administration of supporting what she described as Israel’s “genocide” of Palestinians. The United States is a strong ally of Israel and has provided billions in military aid to the country. Following the attack by Hamas on Israel, resulting in casualties and hostages, the White House backed Israel’s military operations and deployed additional troops to the region. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also announced additional aid to the Palestinians and urged Israel to seek a cease-fire deal.
Nika Soon-Shiong shared her family’s reasoning for blocking the endorsement, citing apartheid in South Africa where her father worked as a surgeon during the Soweto Uprisings. Last year, South Africa brought a case against Israel in front of the International Court of Justice alleging genocide in Gaza. Israel has denied these claims and stated that its operations are defensive measures against Hamas. Human rights organizations have accused Israel of enacting apartheid policies against Palestinians, which Israel has also denied.
According to Nika Soon-Shiong, Israel’s operations in Gaza have resulted in thousands of casualties and attacks on hospitals and shelters, including a school where 17 people, mostly women and children, were killed. She pointed out the profitability of apartheid, illegal settlements, and genocide in Palestine, with US arms dealers witnessing record profits. Lockheed Martin, a manufacturer of the THAAD system deployed in Israel, has seen a surge in stock prices. Pro-Palestinian and anti-war demonstrations have taken place outside facilities of weapons manufacturers in response to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Nika Soon-Shiong clarified that blocking the endorsement of Harris is not a vote for Donald Trump but a refusal to endorse a candidate overseeing a war on children. She highlighted the dehumanization of Palestinians throughout the conflict, including calls for a siege of Gaza by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Over 200 journalists have signed a letter calling for transparency on the issue of the Los Angeles Times’ non-endorsement. The Washington Post also announced it would not endorse Harris or Trump, leading to responses and subscription cancellations.
In a statement sent to The New York Times, Nika Soon-Shiong expressed her perspective as a citizen of a country openly financing genocide and a family that experienced South African Apartheid. She saw the endorsement as an opportunity to repudiate justifications for the ongoing war on children and widespread targeting of journalists. Amidst growing concerns over the conflict in Gaza and US support for Israel, the decision of media outlets not to endorse political candidates has sparked discussions on journalistic integrity and ethical considerations.
