Israel/Palestine
Related: About this forumBernie Sanders’ Stance On Israel Has Caused Some Tension For Him In The Past
Well, weve finally got another Democrat in the race to stand-off against Hillary Clinton! At least, kind of. Although he personally identifies as an independent socialist thats right, GOP, there are actual socialists in Washington Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders will run for president in 2016 as a Democrat. Sanders announced his candidacy on Thursday, and now, well, hes in it! Hes not exactly a household name, however, so maybe you have some questions. Like, where does Bernie Sanders stand on Israel?
Its a pretty important question for any would-be Democratic presidential contender, even though Sanders hitherto scant resources might preclude him from posing a true challenge. Israel is, after all, Americas foremost Middle Eastern ally, despite apparent tensions between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Obama. And in a general election, any criticism of Israel or its military operations is something of a political third-rail or thats how its treated, at least.
This can lead to some odd, awkward moments when Democrats (or independent left-wingers like Sanders) field questions from their constituents. The American left tends to be much more sympathetic to the Palestinian people than the general public is, or at least thats the perception within major party politics, and that can put somebody whos otherwise well-aligned with a liberal crowd in a tough spot.
http://www.bustle.com/articles/79871-bernie-sanders-stance-on-israel-has-caused-some-tension-for-him-in-the-past
King_David
(14,851 posts)' He favors a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and says he wants to see no more settlements in disputed territories as well as an unequivocal acknowledgment by the Palestinians of Israel's right to exist.
http://www.wisconsingazette.com/political/where-does-bernie-sanders-stand-a-look-at-key-issues.html
BillZBubb
(10,650 posts)King_David
(14,851 posts)King_David
(14,851 posts)King_David
(14,851 posts)At a town hall meeting in Cabot, Vt. over the weekend, Sanders began to answer a question about the conflict by saying that Israel had overreacted, but that Hamas was firing missiles into Israel from populated areas, and later said the militant Palestinian Islamist group did not want Israel to exist.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2014/08/20/answering-question-on-israel-bernie-sanders-tells-townhall-hecklers-to-shut-up/
Warpy
(111,339 posts)you're going to piss somebody off. You might as well hold your honest opinion and let the chips fall where they may. I never knew a single opinion on what the problem is or what should be done about it that didn't make an enemy here or there.
King_David
(14,851 posts)King_David
(14,851 posts)Sanders is leftwing on economic issues, but sees Israel as up against ISIS - See more at: http://mondoweiss.net/2015/05/sanders-leftwing-economic#sthash.spkKJbY8.dpuf
King_David
(14,851 posts)Lets not be fooled by progressives who cant find their spines when the colonial regime in Israel bombs the crowded ghetto of Gaza.
https://www.popularresistance.org/lets-not-be-fooled-by-bernie-sanders/
King_David
(14,851 posts)King_David
(14,851 posts)Blinded by Israel, Visionless in Gaza
The US Senate votes unanimously to defend Israel including Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. I dont think he did it for the money. He is a paid-up member of POEEI (Progressive on Everything Except Israel and pronounced pooee) the liberal segment of US society, which is not progressive on many things, including Israel.
Take, as one example, the case of Colonel Sanders. I thought my late friend Alexander Cockburn was sometimes too harsh on Sanders, but I was wrong. Sanders has been arselickin bad for a long time now as Thomas Naylor informed us while exploding the myths surrounding the Senator in a CounterPunch piece in September 2011:
Although Sanders may have once been a socialist back in the 80s when he was Mayor of Burlington, today, a socialist he is not. Rather he behaves more like a technofascist disguised as a liberal, who backs all of President Obamas nasty little wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen.. Since he always supports the troops, Sanders never opposes any defense spending bill. He stands behind all military contractors who bring much-needed jobs to Vermont.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/bernie-sanders-vote-on-israel/
dlwickham
(3,316 posts)wonder how many heads will explode
King_David
(14,851 posts)Seems to be ignored .
LOL
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)i think some of his angles in I/P are wrong. But of course the challenge is finding an American politician who doesn't have that going on to a lesser or greater degree.
Sanders favors Israel. Okay. That's just how american politicians go. however what i know of him, and some of his other I/P stances, point that he's probably going to be the fairest shake the Palestinians get out of a current US politician. It might not be completely fair, but you know, work with what you have, apparently.
King_David
(14,851 posts)I have no problem supporting a fellow Jewish liberal lefty Zionist myself .
The rest of your post was incorrect as usual.
Juan Cole recognizes him to be a more ardent Zioniat than Obama .
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1134&pid=104643
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)Do you disagree with the notion I put forward, that Sanders is, of the current candidates, probably going to give palestine the fairest shake? If so, argue the point.
King_David
(14,851 posts)Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)1) it's Juan Cole's personal opinion
2) he claims that Sanders is more pro-Israel than Obama, without any actual supporting evidence.
King_David
(14,851 posts)Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)Hinting Israel is not interested in fair peace, former US president says any member of Congress taking balanced stand on conflict risks 'political suicide'
Yitzhak Benhorin
Published: 02.26.07
WASHINGTON - "I don't see any present prospect that any member of the US Congress, the House or Senate, would say, "Let's take a balanced position between Israel and the Palestinians and negotiate a peace agreement," said Former US President Jimmy Carter in an interview to the ABC network on Sunday.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3369679,00.html
Response to Jefferson23 (Reply #18)
King_David This message was self-deleted by its author.
King_David
(14,851 posts)LOL
Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)King_David
(14,851 posts)And Obama has nothing to lose.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134104287
Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)on the matter.
King_David
(14,851 posts)The candidates reflect the views of the people who elect them.
If a party had such s fundamentally differing view from myself for so many years on an issue that I was so passionate about I would not be able to vote for that party and would look elsewhere.
I have been a Democratic Party supporter for many years with no problems with my conscience.
Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)King_David
(14,851 posts)The candidates reflect the views of the people who elect them.
If a party had such a fundamentally differing view from myself for so many years on an issue that I was so passionate about I would not be able to vote for that party and would look elsewhere.
I have been a Democratic Party supporter for many years with no problems with my conscience.
Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)King_David
(14,851 posts)leftynyc
(26,060 posts)Why? Or are you just flailing about trying to deflect from this story about Bernie Sanders?
King_David
(14,851 posts)leftynyc
(26,060 posts)more pathetic.
Little Tich
(6,171 posts)At least he's got a spine.
orpupilofnature57
(15,472 posts)A sign of respect to our President, and our country , not Israel . Netanyahu's speech was a commercial for the MIC and that's why Boner and his buddies invited him .
King_David
(14,851 posts)Nobody can argue with that.
However it wasn't disrespectful to Israel at all... Netanyahu yes but not to Israel.
orpupilofnature57
(15,472 posts)OR Prime Minister Netanyahu, But to the Republicans that usurped our process to disrespect the President and in essence Our country, I could of made that point more clear , Sorry .
King_David
(14,851 posts)Thank you for the clarification .
azurnoir
(45,850 posts)King_David
(14,851 posts)Fiscally and economically I am closer to BS than I am to HRC.
They are both friends of the LGBT community and both have very strong connections to and are even members of the Jewish communities.
I have no problem at all supporting either and I support their positions on Israel 100%.
Democratic candidates always support Israel as does Obama.
Obama Restates Support of Israel in Synagogue Speech
http://time.com/3894355/barack-obama-adas-israel-synagogue/
orpupilofnature57
(15,472 posts)King_David
(14,851 posts)Did you not read my post?
There's no need to hinge my vote on Israel , this is the Democratic Party and the candidates and reps always have Israel's back... Always.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134104287
orpupilofnature57
(15,472 posts)Israel .
King_David
(14,851 posts)orpupilofnature57
(15,472 posts)I don't know what my problem is I've been here over ten years and I've done that three times in the last month, Thanks for being cool about it King_David .
King_David
(14,851 posts)Cheers !
hack89
(39,171 posts)there are no hard choices regarding candidates this election cycle - there is no pro-Palestinian voice in American politics.