Bernie pushing for revisions in the platform re Israel, elevating Palestinian rights

[cali]

Why pro-Israel Democrats Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton could have a fight about Israel

By Anne Gearan May 20

The only Jewish candidate in the 2016 presidential race, who calls himself "100 percent pro-Israel," and one of Israel's strongest U.S. defenders are nearing a fight over what being a pro-Israel Democrat means.

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont plans to push for revisions in the Democratic Party position about relations with Israel, with a focus on elevating Palestinian rights as a U.S. priority. People involved in discussions over potential changes to the Democratic Party's platform said Sanders would demand revisions in wording about U.S. relations with Israel and commitment to seeking peace between the U.S. ally and the Palestinians

The proposed new language on Israel has not been submitted to the Democratic National Committee but is expected to seek what Sanders has elsewhere called a more even-handed U.S. approach to Israeli occupation of land Palestinians claim for a future state.

The current platform does not address the nearly five-decade occupation directly but endorses “a just and lasting Israeli-Palestinian accord, producing two states for two peoples.”


Speaking last month during a contentious debate with Clinton, Sanders said Israel’s 2014 military assault on the Gaza Strip was “disproportionate” to the threat posed by Hamas rockets launched from the Palestinian territory into Israel.

While declaring himself “100 percent pro-Israel,” Sanders said that if the region is ever to achieve peace, “we are going to have to treat the Palestinian people with respect and dignity.”

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/05/20/why-pro-israel-democrats-bernie-sanders-and-hillary-clinton-could-have-a-fight-about-israel/t

[cali]

1. This is a small step but a big deal. There will be fierce resistance from Clinton

[ericson00]

37. and there should be; majorities/pluralities of Democrats stand with Israel

as do bigger amounts of the general electorate as a whole.

Especially as more Americans sympathize with Israel given terrorism done against people accompanied by the words "Allahu Akbar," which Israel, like America, and other countries, have been subject to. Its already hard enough Trump has a monopoly on the word "Islamic terrorism" bc Dems didn't wanna listen to Bill Maher.

[Tarc]

2. Sorry, but on this, Bernie is waaaaaay out of step with the American public

The region is a mess and Netanyahu is an absolute loon, but the inescapable fact here is that Israel is an ally that has been under attack since its inception. I'd support platform calling for an end to settlement expansion but something major has to come from the PLO as well, like booting Hamas from the table completely.

Your link is bringing up a WaPo page for some dude running for the OK Senate seat btw. Try the shortener; http://wapo.st/25693jm

[cali]

4. Not only is it the right thing to do- particularly now-

the American people are slowly changing regarding I/P. And with young people that is happening at a quicker pace.

[leftynyc]

3. Looks like Bernie is TRYING to get Trump elected

This is completely out of step with the majority of Americans and the majority of Democrats.

[cali]

5. Like Howard Dean?

What utter nonsense. And you are an Israel does no wrong person.

[leftynyc]

6. LOL

Except for complaining LOUDLY about bibi getting elected and posting JUST THIS MORNING that Yaalon did a good thing by resigning so he wasn't part of the nest of vipers and religious freaks that support bibi. You mean OTHER THAN THAT?

Howard Dean is one person. The yearly gallup poll showed the story with Americans - who sympathize with Israel HEAVILY no matter which party, age group, religion (or lack therof). Those are the facts that Bernie thinks he can change with language.

[cali]

7. Oh please. I've read your posts in I/P. You insist that

BDS is based in antisemitism, that virtually anything critical of Zionism is anti-Semitic.

And what Bernie is proposing is a tiny step.

[leftynyc]

8. Based on antisemitism?

No - I've never said that. What I've said is that far too many of the leadership and followers are anti-semites. Too bad for you they continually prove me right. And you were the one who said I ALWAYS support Israel. You can just admit you're wrong any time now.

[leftynyc]

9. Forget the dismal failure of bds

in the US - not even FRANCE wants anything to do with them:

http://www.jpost.com/International/Exclusive-Major-French-bank-closes-anti-Israel-BDS-account-454436

[shira]

26. Bernie says antisemitism involved in BDS...

[cali]

30. I didn't say there wasn't antisemitism in the BDS movement

I said it's not rooted in antisemitism. Big difference

[shira]

31. If by BDS you mean the kind headed by Omar Barghouti, Ali Abunimah....

....and founded in 2005, then THAT kind of BDS is rooted in hatred.

Here's notorious antizionist Norman Finkelstein on that:

[Ghost Dog]

10. Perhaps.the majority of Americans and Democrats, if so,

are mistaken.

Do you want peace and security for Israel or not? If you do, how, realistically, do you see the way to achieve it?

[leftynyc]

11. The ONLY way to achieve it

is the Palestinians and the Israelis sitting down and hammering out an agreement. Neither side is going to accept outside parties forcing one on them.

The gallup poll question is "In the Middle East situation, are your sympathies more with the Israelis or more with the Palestinians?" Nothing to mistake about that. BTW - those numbers are 62% for Israel and 15% for the Palestinians. And those numbers have gone UP for Israel since 2000. Bernie is out of touch with this.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/189626/americans-views-toward-israel-remain-firmly-positive.aspx

[cali]

14. Occupation damages the soul of occupying nations

as well as destroying the occupied.

And there are polls that indicate public opinion here is shifting.

Here's an interesting poll.

?la=en
http://www.brookings.edu/research/reports/2014/12/05-american-opinion-poll-israeli-palestinian-conflict-telhami

[leftynyc]

16. I hate they are forced

to occupy the West Bank. I wish the Palestinians had taken the state they were offered in 1947 and again with Clinton as President. But they didn't. And far too many want to reward them for that (both those offers were met with war and violence, as was the unilateral pulling out of gaza). I wish Israel had a partner in peace - but they don't. I do notice that even among Democrats, more would prefer the US abstain from a UN resolution than would support one.

[cali]

27. Oh ffs. Israel is not forced to brutally occupy or steal land through illegal settlements

[shira]

32. Tell that to Israelis who saw Gaza evacuated in 2005 & immediately....

...got rockets in response.

With a similar W.Bank pullout, the threat is worse since Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Ben Gurion airport are extremely close. Take a look at a map. Having Hamas at their doorstep is unacceptable and I think you'd agree with that.

Convince Israelis and you'll see an end to occupation.

[leftynyc]

47. Yes, they are forced to occupy

Unless they wish to commit suicide. Given what happened with gaza, how could you, with righteous indignation no less, claim that pulling out will bring peace? We can't pretend the Palestinians have EVER engaged in living side by side with Israel with peace since they've NEVER done it AND given Israel has tried unilaterally pulling out of settlements with nothing but violence in return.

[leftynyc]

17. By the way, Cali

It's crap like this that explains why the majority of Americans feel the way they do:

http://www.mediaite.com/uncategorized/police-called-after-campus-protesters-disrupt-pro-israel-event-block-exits/

[cali]

18. I in no way support that, but you? You won't even agree that israel

should dismantle illegal settlements. And you didn't address the poll I posted.

Americans, particularly younger ones, are shifting their views on Israel.

[leftynyc]

46. Considering I've ver discussed

the settlements here on DU, you are making an assumption you know zero about. And I did address your poll, just not in that post.

[Ghost Dog]

19. Leaving aside the current polling, if you will, to the main point:

The ONLY way to achieve it.is the Palestinians and the Israelis sitting down and hammering out an agreement.

Why is this not happening?

[leftynyc]

48. Because both the

thoroughly corrupt Abbas AND the terrorist hamas has shown zero willingness to do so.

[ericson00]

35. it could be summed up here:

[cali]

12. Yes I want peace and security for Israel. I also want that for Palestinians

And a good start would be halting all settlement building and the dismantling of some of the illegal settlements.

[Fawke Em]

23. Then Americans are wrong.

Time to lead.

For too long, Americans have only heard the side of Israel, but social media is making it more difficult for that country's right-wing to hide the overkill of the Palestinians. People are changing their minds.

[Ghost Dog]

29. Indeed. Opinions are formed

in the contexr of the information available (true and false, as filtered) and received, assesed and considered).

Most people...

[grossproffit]

40. THIS!

[6chars]

13. respect and dignity

that's kind of insightful. if you think about it, the UN, the EU, obviously the entire body of Muslim nations, at least some quoted members of various US administrations, has treated Israel with no respect and no dignity. UNESCO resolution that Jews have no connection to the Western Wall and Jerusalem etc. That has certainly made Israel less flexible.

[cali]

15. I think the UN is often full of shit and biased when it comes to israel

but Israel building illegal settlements is a huge part of the problem

[tritsofme]

20. Hillary should draw a firm line in the sand and shut down this nonsense.

[cali]

22. Hilly is all AIPAC

[tritsofme]

25. Definitely, she gave a great speech there a few months back.

Her Israel policy and rhetoric will be a very positive improvement from Obama's administration.

[grossproffit]

41. It was a great speech.

[Fawke Em]

24. Glad to know you're biased.

I guess, like her, you don't recognize that Palestinians are people who deserve land to call their own.

[tritsofme]

36. Unfortunately, at this time Israel has no partner for peace.

Today we only get incitement.

Abbas and his predecessor have rejected multiple peace plans over the last 15 years that would have created an independent state. However peace with Israel would destroy Abbas' position in a political culture that generally demands her destruction. There will not be peace until this culture changes, and Palestinians are ready to live peacefully next to the Jewish state.

[Ghost Dog]

38. Yes, Palestinians need to think and act constructively

about building the new state, rather than destructively / defensively in the context of perceived Israeli oppression.

Perhaps it is hard to.collectively think and act constructively under the siege conditions in Gaza or the expanding-settlement zoned occupation in the Occupied Territories of the West Bank, over neither of which do Palestinians in or out of their governing institutions have any control.

[Jitter65]

21. This one area where i agree with Bernie more than Hillary. nt

[shira]

28. Hard to make Israel responsible for Palestinian rights when they live under Hamas....

.....rule in Gaza. Hamas is dedicated to making life miserable for Palestinians and to use that against Israel.

[ericson00]

33. Its like Bernie WANTS people like me to leave the party. The HRC fight BETTER fight this!!!

because myself, the pro-Israel majority/plurality (depending on Pew vs. Gallup) of the party will not stand for this!

[ericson00]

34. also, against the backdrop of Islam-inspired terror, this is also horrid news

because the GOP would hammer home being soft on "radical Islamic terror" and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hamas, etc.

The Pro-Palestine movement needs to get the F out of the party. NOW

[chascarrillo]

39. You take your anti-refugee rhetoric and YOU leave.

NOW.

[grossproffit]

42. Wait, what?

[tritsofme]

43. lol, who died and made you Skinner?

[cali]

45. Disgusting. And what happened to your big tent preaching?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

44. Doing the right thing is seldom the same as being politically expedient. K&R