“Well if I do go — I don’t think I am, I don’t think it’s going to be on my schedule — but you know, I have no objection to going, but the question is what I say when I get there. That’s the point. And what I will say is something that I have said for years, and I speak as somebody who’s Jewish, and that is we need a foreign policy in this country, we need a Mideast policy which absolutely protects the integrity and the independence and safety of Israel, but also understands that the Palestinian people have needs and they have got to be treated with respect and dignity. And that is not the case right now. So that is my view. We will treat all people with respect and dignity.”

Palestinian-American activists discuss why they are supporting Bernie Sanders for president despite his long-standing and seemingly unshakable appreciation for Zionism. Although not all in the community are on board.

The Democrats who say that we only need to get rid of Netanyahu for Israel to be great again should be aware of the long history of plans by the Labor politicians to annex the Jordan Valley, lately endorsed by Netanyahu’s “liberal” rival, Benny Gantz. Annexation is the buzzword.

Elizabeth Warren’s very-carefully modulated position on Israel/Palestine– praising Israel as a great ally and liberal democracy but also saying she might condition aid over annexation of the West Bank — reflects official liberal thinking, and the J Street line.

The foreign policy talking point for mainstream Democratic presidential candidates is fighting “terrorism.” Amy Klobuchar went so far as to call Iran a “terrorist regime.” Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren did not use that word, while offering eloquent statements about the failures of U.S. foreign policy.

Exceptions to the mainstream voices who see the U.S. as playing a beneficent role in the Middle East, Geraldine Brooks and Bernie Sanders cite American war crimes and call for diplomacy, not assassinations.

As he becomes a mainstream contender, Pete Buttigieg has shifted on the Israel Palestine issue. After saying directly that he would seek to condition aid to Israel if the country moves toward annexing the West Bank, the South Bend Mayor dodged this question entirely at the last debate, offering platitudes about the need for U.S. “leadership” in the world. 

Our top 10 stories in 2019 focused on BDS, the Democratic Party primary, Trump’s thus far secret Deal Of The Century peace plan, and the ongoing daily oppression of the Palestinian people. Hopefully 2020 will see justice for the Palestinian people. Let’s make it happen.

Bernie Sanders is being painted as an antisemite by some pro-Israel idelogues because he has taken strong positions in support of Palestinian human rights. Progressive defenders of Palestinian rights need to mobilize to oppose the campaign against Sanders, even if they don’t support Sanders’s presidential ambitions.

Takeaway from the latest Democratic debate: the Israel brand is not so popular in the Democratic Party. The embraces were lukewarm. Bernie Sanders said Benjamin Netanyahu is a racist and if elected, Sanders would have an even-handed policy, including being “pro-Palestinian.” Joe Biden was the only candidate to laud the “Jewish state” but he said Netanyahu’s actions in the West Bank are “outrageous.”