Dean on Israel-Palestine [View All]

One of my major reservations concerning Dean has been his position on the Israel-Palestine conflict. I am uncertain if this represents a shift in his position, or simply a clarification. Regardless, it is the most reasonable statement I've heard on the issue recently, and could well cement my willingness to support his candidacy.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45122-2003Sep8.html


Rivals Criticize Dean For Mideast Comment

Howard Dean came under fire yesterday from two rivals for the Democratic nomination for saying the United States should not "take sides" in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Five days after Dean told supporters in New Mexico that "it's not our place to take sides" in the conflict, Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.) accused him of advocating a "major break" from the United States' long-standing policy of explicitly siding with Israel in the Middle East.

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Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.) said: "It is either because he lacks the foreign policy experience or simply because he is wrong that governor Dean has proposed a radical shift in United States policy towards the Middle East. If the president were to make a remark such as this it would throw an already volatile region into even more turmoil."

In an interview, Dean sought to clarify his statement but did not back down from his belief that the United State cannot negotiate peace unless it is seen as a neutral party in the region. "Israel has always been a longtime ally with a special relationship with the United States, but if we are going to bargain by being in the middle of the negotiations then we are going to have to take an evenhanded role," he said.

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