Critics Aghast at 'DISGUSTING SPEECH' Hillary Clinton Just Gave to AIPAC

[Segami]

Democratic presidential candidate speech praises "everything that is bad about Israeli policy and U.S. imperialism" In a statement to Common Dreams, Rebecca Vilkomerson, executive director of Jewish Voice for Peace, said that the speech "is a reminder of the current limits of the mainstream discourse on Israel, which rely on racist and Islamophobic tropes to justify unquestioning support for Israel."

"From Democrats to Republicans, the message is the same," Vilkomerson continued. "More arms for Israel, a stronger relationship between Israel and the U.S., no mention of Palestinian rights, and no recognition of the impossible contradiction of being both democratic and Jewish when the state is predicated on maintaining systems of unequal rights and rule by military occupation."

Hillary Clinton told the powerful AIPAC lobby on Monday that if elected president one of her first actions would be to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House. (Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty) Palestinian and human rights advocates were aghast over remarks made by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) convention on Monday, saying the her speech represented "everything that is wrong" with U.S. imperialism and policy in the Middle East. During the address, Clinton vowed to take the U.S.-Israel relationship to "the next level"—a level which seemingly includes more war and imperialism, few, if any, rights for Palestinians, and definitely no economic boycotts of Israel. Striking a hawkish tone, Clinton warned the powerful lobby group against rival candidates who want to "outsource Middle East security to dictators" and "cede the mantle of leadership for global peace and security," and instead vowed even more "security and intelligence cooperation."

"As president, I will make a firm commitment to ensure Israel maintains its qualitative military edge," she said. "The United States should provide Israel with the most sophisticated defense technology so it can deter and stop any threats. That includes bolstering Israeli missile defenses with new systems like the Arrow Three and David’s Sling. And we should work together to develop better tunnel detection, technology to prevent armed smuggling, kidnapping and terrorist attacks."

~snip~
Touting her "deep, personal commitment" to the "Jewish state," Clinton then said that "one of the first things I’ll do in office is invite Israeli Prime Minister [Benjamin Netanyahu] to visit the White House." The speech proved that, on matters of Israel, Clinton is "running to the right" of GOP front-runner Donald Trump, as noted by Mondoweiss' Philip Weiss, who wrote that the remarks were "filled with red meat for Israel supporters" and "contained scant reference to the peace process." Later, Clinton doubled down on her previous pledge to dismantle the growing international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, linking the campaign against Palestinian apartheid to anti-Semitism, saying "we must repudiate all efforts to malign, isolate and undermine Israel and the Jewish people."

"I’ve been sounding the alarm for a while now," Clinton continued. "As I wrote last year in a letter to the heads of major American Jewish organizations, we have to be united in fighting back against BDS."

Clinton then specifically called on young people "on the front lines" to resist efforts to boycott Israel, saying: "I hope you stay strong. Keep speaking out. Don’t let anyone silence you, bully you or try to shut down debate" —to which Naomi Dann, media correspondent for Jewish Voice for Peace, responded:

Naomi Dann @naomi_dann

.@HillaryClinton please STOP enlisting young people as soldiers on the 'frontlines' to silence the mvmt for Palestinian rights

#AIPAC2016

Though unsurprised by the candidate's vigorous support for the policies and tactics of the Israeli state, observers pointed to the remarks as a frightening indicator of what a Clinton presidency could mean for the Middle East.

Naomi Dann @naomi_dann

everything that is bad about Israeli policy AND US imperialism is being praised by #HillaryClinton right now at #AIPAC2016

Glenn Greenwald ✔‎@ggreenwald

Can't say it enough: the ability/willingness of progressives to simply ignore all this is breathtaking

10:57 AM - 21 Mar 2016

Rania Khalek @RaniaKhalek

Hillary Clinton at #AIPAC2016 pledged to "provide Israel w/ the most sophisticated defense technology so it can deter & stop any threats."

Rania Khalek ‎@RaniaKhalek

Expect many more hundreds of children to be massacred under a Hillary presidency.

12:04 PM - 21 Mar 2016

Glenn Greenwald ✔‎@ggreenwald

Has even one single Clinton supporter denounced the disgusting speech she gave today?

1:08 PM - 21 Mar 2016

cont'

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/03/21/critics-aghast-disgusting-speech-clinton-just-gave-aipac

[MaggieD]

1. You mean "Hillary Haters and extremists aghast"

Let's be accurate here.

[NWCorona]

3. It's been proven that Hillary can do no wrong amongst her supporter's

[6chars]

40. noun's are not made plural by adding apostrophe and s

that construction actually makes them possessive!

And while we're at it, last names are also not made plural by adding apostrophe and s.

For example, Hillary and Bill together are the Clintons, not the Clinton's.

[NWCorona]

43. Thanks for the tip Urkel

[6chars]

45. You are quite welcome.

Glad to see it is already paying dividends for you!

[BillZBubb]

66. Wow, you're a grammar-nazi?

[emsimon33]

73. Or a former high school English teacher

[nichomachus]

88. High school

Should have been hyphenated - "high-school English teacher." You're welcome.

[hollysmom]

104. I have never seen High School hyphenated.

capitalized, not hyphenated. I went to Linden High School.

[nichomachus]

114. It's a compound adjective -- requires a hyphen.

She teaches in high school.
She's a high-school teacher.

Otherwise you could think she was a teacher who had been smoking dope. A high school teacher. Or a teacher who was on a ladder.

[hollysmom]

116. nope

Compound Words: When to Hyphenate

One way to decide if a hyphen is necessary is to see if the phrase might be ambiguous without it. For example, "large-print paper" might be unclear written as "large print paper" because the reader might combine "print" and "paper" as a single idea rather than combining "large" and "print." Another such example is "English-language learners." Without the hyphen, a reader might think we are talking about English people who are learning any language rather than people who are learners of the English language.

On the other hand, no one is going to be confused by the phrase "chocolate chip cookies" or "Saturday morning cartoons." In other words, the open compounds (i.e., no hyphen) "chocolate chip" and "Saturday morning" are so well known that there is no room for ambiguity. The open compound "high school" is so common, for another example, that we would not hyphenate the phrase "high school students." We would, however, hyphenate "high-risk" in the phrase "high-risk students."

[Brainstormy]

111. that's ridiculous. From a college English professor. n/t

[nichomachus]

115. Well, that explains why you don't get it. nt

[Hissyspit]

4. It was an awful speech.

[MaggieD]

8. Well you can't prove it by those kooks....

... the OP is listing as her "critics."

[Hissyspit]

11. Ad Hominem

[MaggieD]

17. They are objectively kooks

... and extremists. I'm sorry you're not aware of that. I guess that is what happens when you predetermine to hate every word out of a Democrat's mouth.

This crap here needs to stop. There are better places to go if ones goal is to smear Democrats.

[Segami]

27. Sure,...this so called "crap here needs to stop"

so you can convert this place into 'HillaryUnderground'.......the place for brain-dead discourse.


Give it a rest.......

[Uponthegears]

32. I'm sorry Maggie

am I hearing you say that anyone who has a position which is to the left of the presumptive Republican nominee (Trump is who I am talking about, btw) is a "kook?"

Nice

[Kittycat]

59. Some might call Hillary an extremist for her position. I would be one of them

This is outrageous and disgusting. Pushing for peace, not murder is the solution.

[840high]

85. Who the heck are you

to decide what is crap? Take a look in the mirror.

[noiretextatique]

112. She's supporting an extremist position

in your defense of her, you are alsi supporting an extremist position, one that many Jews disagree with.

[glinda]

113. But it is position that some Christians believe because 'Jews are the Chosen People'.

I have seen some who adamantly support her because of this and her 'love of children". Saddens me.

[G_j]

69. listening to the speech

one can form their own opinion..

[rhett o rick]

7. You want accuracy? LOL. Ok, Clinton is a neocon that reveles in American Exceptionalism.

Heaven help the young families that will lose loved ones in our continued war in the middle east.

[Ken Burch]

97. AIPAC is an extremist group. It's extremist to argue that all disagreement

with Israeli security policies is antisemitic.

There is no hope for peace between Israel and Palestine if the status quo in the West Bank is maintained.

[NWCorona]

2. Get ready for the hate in regards to the video source

Regardless of the fact that it's just footage of her speech.


"The United States should provide Israel with the most sophisticated defense technology so it can deter and stop any threats."

I'm sure some were very happy to hear this.

[Trust Buster]

6. Who wouldn't agree with defensive weapons systems for Israel. I'll bet Sanders agrees with that.

[rhett o rick]

9. How about defensive weapons for Palistine? It's American Exceptionalism at it's worst.

Heaven help us all.

[artislife]

12. But she says she is for a two state policy

Or at least she did.



Once.

[Trust Buster]

16. You quoted her defensive weapons remark. Why move the goal post ?

[1StrongBlackMan]

18. Do you think Bernie will offer defensive weapons to the

Palistine{sic}?

[NWCorona]

24. Note sure but probably not.

I'd think he'd be more fair and balanced tho.

[brooklynite]

26. Has Sanders promised this to the Palestinian Authority?

[NWCorona]

19. Yeah, using flechette munitions against rock throwers

Is really defensive.

[Trust Buster]

5. Were they also aghast that Sanders didn't see fit to show up ?

[Peace Patriot]

14. I'm glad he didn't go to that warmongering group!

x 1,000 for Bernie!

[Karma13612]

78. agree! +1000

[Pastiche423]

90. + 1001

[Hissyspit]

15. "See fit?"

I think he did what he should. And avoided being seen with war criminal Netanyahu.

[haikugal]

29. Copious use of pissy language by the authoritarians....

[Trust Buster]

30. The "A" in AIPAC stands for American Jews. It's an American lobby.

[geek tragedy]

25. AIPAC wanted a war with Iran, so not exactly his type of people nt

[Karma13612]

77. He was previously engaged, and offered to be there via a teleconfernce link

which they turned down.

He also submitted a speech or some form of statement. Not sure what happened with that.

I think he also knew that Trump would turn the whole thing into a spectacle.

Nice try, but Bernie was concentrating on the American voters, not an AIPAC Hillary/Netanyahu love fest.

[Luminous Animal]

80. You can read the speech here….

https://berniesanders.com/sanders-outlines-middle-east-policy/

[Karma13612]

84. Oh thank you! This is great! eom

[Arugula Latte]

86. It's to Bernie's credit that he skipped Panderpalooza 2016.

[Scurrilous]

98. Obama's too.

Hanging out with Fidel instead. Oy!

[1StrongBlackMan]

10. Yeah ... she lost her critics at the 0:07 mark, when she said ...

"Thank you, so much"

[Armstead]

38. I tried to listen with an open mind, despite your condescending generalization

Israel is frankly not one of my own personal emotional hot-button issues. My own opinion is that it's all such a mess it is probably insoluble (at least in my lifetime). The best we can do is contain the tensions and try to limit the damage.

And I've always appreciated Obama's efforts to be as even handed as possible.

But I was appalled at her speech. The tone, the unequivocal support for Israel, not matter what it does....The willful ignoring of the plight of the Palestinians......The embrace of Bebe.......The basic thumb in the eye of the rest of the ME.....The "emotional heartstrings" about Israeli victims of violence with nary a mention of Palentinians who were bombed in their homes

If israel decides to once again overreact and blast the hell out of Lebanon cities and its civilian population because of militants at that country's border, will we be sending US fighters in to aid in that kind of carnage?

[1StrongBlackMan]

48. You realize my "condescending generalization" ...

should have no affect on your ability to listen with an "open mind", right?

And, one would be safe in a belief that your having to announce the latter belies the former.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

13. Damned "extremists" also wanted to boycott South Africa because of Apartheid.

Now, the fringies want to boycott Israel for the same reason!!

[EndElectoral]

20. This is no surprise. Did she even attempt to give lip service to a two state solution?

She's a hawk. The neocon Kagan loves her, Bibi loves her, Kissinger loves her.

Anyone who expected differently was simply guilty of "wishful thinking"

I think Biden's statement about a two state solution was kind of damage control.

[geek tragedy]

23. she gave it lip service, but less so than George W Bush did.

it was pretty bad

[EndElectoral]

42. Yeah, just read the transcript and then Biden's damage control from the WH

I heard Kissinger loved it.

[geek tragedy]

52. No wonder Bibi is just trying to run out the clock on the Obama administration.

He'll be getting a blank check from Hillary.

[geek tragedy]

21. The only question for Clinton is what kind of bad she'll be on the Middle East.

The problem is that she seems to be determined to go all-in on the middle east and blow all of our diplomatic and political capital in that shitmire.

I had hoped she'd have tilted more towards the "don't give a fuck about the Palestinians, but don't really get involved" but alas she appears determined to be an active part of the problem.

[bahrbearian]

22. She probably just thought she was at another fund raiser . Tell them what they want to here.

[arcane1]

28. "David’s Sling"? Really?

I guess the Palestinians are "Goliath" in this?

[haikugal]

31. Amazing isn't it?

[arcane1]

35. Orwell would be proud. Well, not proud, but you know what I mean n/t

[hack89]

39. No. Hezbollah is the threat. nt

[MattSh]

102. There was no Hezbollah before Israel occupied Lebanon. nt

Israel created it's own threat.

[hack89]

105. You are right. It was the PLO that used Lebanon as a base to attack Israel.

There is no shortage of people in the ME that want to exterminate the Jews. Hezbollah is the latest but certainly not the last.

[Bread and Circus]

33. The woman seems indifferent to the death and suffering of others.

So sad.

[dana_b]

94. Seems? She IS n/t

[Clifton]

34. Her true colors....finally shown (again)

I sometimes have trouble believing that she knows what she's saying.....

[Uponthegears]

36. I guess we know

what happens when a candidate and her supporters have decided that it no longer matters what a majority of the rest of the Democrats in this country believe.

[6chars]

37. It is amazing what comes out of the mouths of "Israel" haters

whether "critics" as in the OP or their buddies at DU. Literally, these people will say horrible things about anyone who gets in their way, and then pat each other on the back for it. Now Hillary is in their crosshairs.

[EndElectoral]

46. Is Biden an "Israel Hater"?

http://in.reuters.com/article/israel-palestinians-usa-idINKCN0WN04M

Biden says Israel settlements raise questions about commitment to peace
Reuters, 03/21/16

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden called on Israel's government on Sunday to demonstrate its commitment to a two-state solution to end the conflict with the Palestinians and said settlement expansion is weakening prospects for peace.

"Israel's government's steady and systematic process of expanding settlements, legalizing outposts, seizing land, is eroding in my view the prospect of a two-state solution," Biden said in a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a leading pro-Israel lobbying group.

Biden said he did not agree with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government that expanded settlements would not interfere with any effort to settle the conflict.

"Bibi (Netanyahu) thinks it can be accommodated, and I believe he believes it. I don't," Biden said.

Biden said the region instead seems to be moving toward a one-state solution, which he termed dangerous.

[6chars]

47. Nope.

He states his position and belief and respectfully explains how he disagrees with Netanyahu. Focused on finding a path to a better future rather than trying to demonize anyone. No vitriol. No bizarre accusations. Statesmanlike. Compare to the people quoted in the OP.

[EndElectoral]

67. So it's the manner you object to, NOT the content of their message.

[6chars]

100. Largely

People disagree all the time. If they do so respectfully and honestly, it leads to a good conversation. If they do so by ascribing horrible motives to the other side and putting words in their mouths, it is impossible to identify or respond to the underlying disagreement.

If a pro-Israel person said something crazy like: "Oh-bummer made a deal with Iran because he wants Iran to nuke Israel and then the US...because he's Muslim and that's what Muslims want" that comment would not be taken seriously even in the RW equivalent of Common Dreams. But if someone from the anti-Israel left says "Nut-and-Yahoo wants to kill all Arab children because they are brown" it would get a pass. Both the anti-Obama and anti-Netanyahu statements here basically serve to rile up fellow extremists in making things that are not us vs them into us vs them.

I have even seen similar things said about both Democratic candidates here at DU. Why?

Biden's comments hold Netanyahu to account for his policies but do not insult or exaggerate.

[cpwm17]

41. Not surprising, coming from a leader in the brown-lives-don't-matter movement

Last edited Mon Mar 21, 2016, 04:36 PM - Edit history (1)

which is popular in the US.

Expect more obliterated brown people from around the world if she becomes president, smashed like roaches, since their lives mean little to the bigots.

There's a thought process, that when one group of people have more wealth or power than another, they consider themselves superior and the weaker as inconsequential. For example, drivers of expensive cars are less likely to stop for pedestrians, presumably they feel superior and entitled:
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31854075

Rich people often look down their noses at poor people. Americans sometimes look down their noses at brown people in poor countries. People in position of power in all walks of life often look down on the weaker.

Liberals, or anyone else, shouldn't do this.

Check out this disgusting racist shit from Hillary:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/03/hillary-and-the.html

"And I believe that at the same time that we have to make clear to the Iraqis that they have been given the greatest gift that a human being can give another human being – the gift of freedom. And it is up to them to decide how they will use that precious gift that has been paid for with the blood and sacrifice and treasure of the United States of America."

[6chars]

101. fail

The majority of Israeli Jews are brown.

Your calling Hillary's Iraq comment "disgusting racist shit" says more about you than about Hillary. I guess that makes this your comment a double fail.

[Uponthegears]

44. Oh, and in case no one noticed

Her supporters' defense (and I mean ONLY defense) for this outrage, this kowtowing to a foreign leader that is so obvious that it makes the Republicans' invitation of a Netanyahu to a joint session of Congress to attack OUR PRESIDENT look like a unanimous vote IN FAVOR of the Iran missile deal, is to immediately start complaining about how nobody in GD-P likes her.

Defend it or condemn it . . . is that too much to ask?

[pdsimdars]

49. I can only take a certain level of disgust from her statements and actions every day.

This goes over my limit for the day.

[leftynyc]

50. Glad I'm on the opposite side

of those critics who I couldn't possibly care less about. I thought it was a great speech.

[Warren DeMontague]

57. One thing she could do to help Israel, she could stop waging war on the nascent cannabis industry.

http://money.cnn.com/2016/03/08/news/cannabis-israel-medical-exports/index.html

[leftynyc]

60. Medical marijuana

should be legal in the US just as it is in Israel. I have a friend who was diagnosed with MS (lives in Safed) and is able to get it from the government. Swears it helps. Compared to all the LEGAL crap that is killing people every day, I don't understand why it's still illegal.

[Warren DeMontague]

63. It should all be legal. Recreational and medical. But the first step is to deschedule it federally.

Unfortunately Hillary's proposal to move it from schedule i to ii leaves the conflict between federal law vs. state recreational AND medical laws in place, meaning that sick people who use medical marijuana legally by state law are still subject to arrest and imprisonment at the whim of any future DOJ that decides to crack down.

Meanwhile, legalization - medical and recreational- WORKS. The writing is on the wall.



http://time.com/4263411/oregon-marijuana-tax-revenue/

[Hiraeth]

99. *^*^* K&R for this post alone *^*^*

[leftynyc]

107. Agree completely

When I look at all the LEGAL stuff that truly messes you up, it's mind boggling that pot is still a schedule 1 while booze is still legal.

[tritsofme]

51. Wonderful speech! Very proud to see her take a stand against the hate of BDS!

I hadn't heard about her BDS comments yet, so I am particularly happy to see that! Thanks for sharing!

Hillary will be a great friend and ally to the Jewish state!

[6chars]

54. Her stand on that is based on rightness, not expediency

She explained in her speech why America benefits from its relationship with Israel and why it is the right thing to do to support Israel. She also called for a two-state solution. While it is true AIPAC explicitly supports a two-state solution as well, she has solid reasons for supporting it - like her husband did.

[Uponthegears]

55. Some easy "yes" or "no" questions

Were the proponents of divestment in South Africa also "haters?" Were the proponents of the California grape boycott "haters?"

I'm just wondering whether you consider encouraging the use of economic pressure to induce political change in countries where our government has failed/refused to exert diplomatic pressure is "hateful" as a matter of principle or whether you consider it "hateful" because you actually support Likud's policies?

[tritsofme]

58. I reject the moral equivalence. BDS is the modern incarnation of the anti-Jewish boycott movement.

I'll stand with the Anti-Defamation League and the Simon Wiesenthal Center who correctly classify BDS an anti-Semitic movement.

[Uponthegears]

61. Okay, fair enough

starving migrant farm workers . . . economically and physically imprisoning a majority black population . . . are not the "moral equivalent" of bombing babies in their cribs in order to "get" their parents for violently resisting occupation.

I guess I can understand then why you felt comfortable taking the next step of chanting "anti-Semitic," but now I wonder why you didn't just go full bore with pigeon-holing Likud's critics?

[tritsofme]

62. I don't expect to convince you. I'll just say that I agree with the ADL and SWC

BDS is an anti-Semitic movement, and the Jewish state has a right to defend itself from terrorism.

[Uponthegears]

68. Once again

I have to respect your forthrightness. Sometimes people disagree.

[Warren DeMontague]

53. Corporation (LMT) -NYSE 221.26 Up 0.35(0.16%) 4:02PM EDT After Hours : 221.26 0.00 (0.00%) 4:05PM ED

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=LMT

[Nye Bevan]

56. Great speech! Has Bernie criticized it? (nt)

[MohRokTah]

64. BWAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

Glenn Greenwald??????

[sibelian]

81. Didn't you just post this exact response with exactly the same pattern of emoticons somewhere else

recently?

hmmmm...

Think you're getting a little bit lazy...

[MohRokTah]

82. When a post cracks me up, they ALWAYS deserve a wall of 100 ROFLs!

It's my "you just CRACK ME THE FUCK UP" signature!

[sibelian]

83. ....Nah.

You just can't think of anything to say, can you?

[Doctor_J]

65. Everyone who is against war and death is against this speech

Why are all (and I do mean all) hillarians so anxious for more death and destruction?

[FlatBaroque]

70. Glenn Greenwald:

Can't say it enough: the ability/willingness of progressives to simply ignore all this is breathtaking

HINT: They are not progressives.

[Dem2]

75. Being the "decider" eh?

Reminds me of someone ... hmmmmm

[whatchamacallit]

71. She told them what they wanted to hear, and now she'll "clarify" (walk back) parts for the base

from the campaign trail.

[Arugula Latte]

87. Yeah, nudge nudge wink wink.

She's shameless and completely untrustworthy.

Ugh.

I'm so, so, so sick of her already.

[FreakinDJ]

72. Hillary channelling Henry Kisenger again

[FlatBaroque]

74. I guess it is no longer useful to say how much she loves her some Obama.

Pathetic.

[itsrobert]

76. LOL, Glenn Greenwald.

Desperate.

[misterhighwasted]

79. And now that bernie's FP speech transcripts are out..the Outrage shifts

..to Sanders!!
APAIC was miffed that the only Jewish candidate running didn't think it important enough to show up.

His video prepared speech is now being ripped as pandering.
Boy some days ya just can't please anybody!

[RiverLover]

89. Both Clintons stepped in it with these speeches today. (MSM will spin it for them, though.)

Its strange. But then every thing about this election is strange, so its kind of fitting.

[Beacool]

91. No US president is going to impose economic boycotts on Israel.

[harun]

110. Someday they will

[senz]

92. Likud is Israel's rightwing party. Of course Hill courts it.

Every American Jewish liberal of my acquaintance opposes Bibi and his Likud party.

So warlike. She sounds like she's aching to to invade Iran. Oh, and she's letting them know that she'd reverse Obama's Iran position, reimposing sanctions.

All those college students she kissed up to in her opening? She'd be happy to send them to war in Iran.

Fear mongering. God she's ominous.

Ah, Hill's against the UN Security Council. Righties will love her for this.

She's pandering as usual. Yes, disgusting.

[Impedimentus]

95. Hilary Clinton is a master of the art of pandering.

I find find the speech to a one of the most egregious examples of pandering ever undertaken by as candidate of the Democratic Party. Has she no shame?

SANDERS - 2016

[Ken Burch]

96. The AIPAC slogan "Come Together" is also offensive.

It basically means "silence all dissent against anything Netanyahu does". Giving Israel unquestioning support is not good for the world and it is not good for Israel or Israelis.

Nothing Netanyahu is doing in the West Bank and Gaza is morally defensible. The Israeli government does not need to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state or to prevent any change in the status quo in the West Bank to keep Israeli civilians secure.

[Uncle Joe]

103. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Segami.

[eridani]

106. If Trump’s Racism Shocks You, So Too Should AIPAC's

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/03/21/if-trumps-racism-shocks-you-so-too-should-aipacs

The reality is many of the alarming statements and political proposals that have even AIPAC goers up in arms over Trump’s participation are already policy in Israel. Israel’s Law of Return privileges Jewish immigrants over non-Jews, Israel already refuses to open its doors to Syrian refugees (many of whom are of Palestinian origin), and is building highly militarized walls both on its southern border to keep out migrants and refugees, and throughout the West Bank to seize land and limit Palestinian freedom of movement. There is not much difference between Netanyahu’s racist fear-mongering to get votes in the 2015 Israeli election, and the blatant racism of Trump, or the no-less-racist dog-whistling by other candidates. And AIPAC unquestioningly supports Israel’s rights to continue these oppressive practices.

Those who are frightened by what they hear from the US Republican frontrunner ought to be dismayed by what they see coming out of AIPAC. One can only hope that AIPAC’s alignment with Trump will help to reveal the lobbying group for what it is: a tired political institution that has peddled in Islamophobic and racist tropes against Palestinians, Muslims and Arabs for decades as part of their work in securing unquestioning US support for Israel; and their grasp on American politics is slipping.

There is a growing progressive movement in this country. Americans everywhere are voicing their concern with police brutality, mass incarceration, economic inequality, and structural racism. More and more, people are drawing connections between the various forms of oppression here in the US and those in Palestine. Those who care about social justice and equality are supporting the movement for justice for Palestinians.

Despite all of this, AIPAC continues to champion the Israeli government’s racist and oppressive practices. Democratic and Republican politicians eager for campaign contributions may still feel the need to pander to AIPAC, but there is growing criticism of Israel among key demographics, including young people, people of color, and women.

[Babel_17]

108. Those (widely held to be illegal) settlements will continue to goad many to violence

Israeli politics with its coalition government are tricky. But if the US insists on some action on them, then a new consensus can be formed.

[harun]

109. * vomit *