Bernie Sanders’ Stance On Israel Has Caused Some Tension For Him In The Past

[King_David]

Well, we’ve 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 — that’s 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, he’s in it! He’s not exactly a household name, however, so maybe you have some questions. Like, where does Bernie Sanders stand on Israel?

It’s 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, America’s 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 that’s how it’s 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 that’s the perception within major party politics, and that can put somebody who’s 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]

1. where-does-bernie-sanders-stand

' 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]

3. If those are his positions, he's on the right track.

[King_David]

7. Agreed

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1134&pid=104643

[King_David]

2. Jewish candidate Sanders kicks off White House bid

http://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-candidate-sanders-kicks-of-white-house-bid/

[King_David]

4. said the militant Palestinian Islamist group did not want Israel to exist.

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]

5. No matter what your opinion on those folks over there might be

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]

6. Sanders’ Israel policy seems likely to tilt more toward Tel Aviv than that of Obama

http://www.juancole.com/2015/04/president-bernie-sanders.html

[King_David]

8. Sanders is leftwing on economic issues, but sees Israel as up against ISIS

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]

9. Oh Boy... look at this crazy stuff...

Let’s not be fooled by “progressives” who can’t 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]

10. Even Left-Wing Politicians Can’t Quit Israel

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/07/30/even-left-wing-congressmen-can-t-quit-israel.html

[King_David]

11. A lot of people do not like the fact that Bernie is a Jewish Zionist :

Blinded by Israel, Visionless in Gaza


The US Senate votes unanimously to defend Israel including Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. I don’t 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 Obama’s 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]

12. I'm sure some of his followers on here wouldn't like that

wonder how many heads will explode

[King_David]

13. Yes that fact that he is a Jewish Zionist

Seems to be ignored .



LOL

[Scootaloo]

15. I'm such a "follower." No head asplosions, I'm afraid

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]

16. Can you give us examples.

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]

17. How is my post "incorrect?" I'm telling you what I think.

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]

20. Well

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1134&pid=104643

Here is Juan Cole

[Scootaloo]

25. Yeah, I read it

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. ‘Excuse Me! Shut Up!': Bernie Sanders Defends Israel from Town Hall Hecklers

http://www.mediaite.com/online/excuse-me-shut-up-bernie-sanders-defends-israel-from-town-hall-hecklers/

[Jefferson23]

18. Balanced stand on ME is political suicide, says Carter

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

[King_David]

22. Is that from 2002 or 2007 ?

LOL

[Jefferson23]

30. 2007, is the date not clear? The content is as relevant today as ever. n/t

[King_David]

31. Maybe it applied to Carter but look at what Obama is saying in 2015

And Obama has nothing to lose.

“That’s not a true measure of friendship,” Obama told about 1,200 people, including members of Congress, gathered at Congregation Adas Israel. “The people of Israel must always know America has its back.”

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134104287

[Jefferson23]

32. Say what? You either have no idea how politics works in the US or you're being disingenuous

on the matter.

[King_David]

33. No that's not it.

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]

34. Uh huh. n/t

[King_David]

35. I edited and added to my post as you were answering it. I said:

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]

36. That's nice to know, about your conscience. n/t

[King_David]

37. Thanks for the reply .

[leftynyc]

45. Relevant to a thread about Sanders?

Why? Or are you just flailing about trying to deflect from this story about Bernie Sanders?

[King_David]

46. Not only that but it's from 2007. nt

[leftynyc]

47. That makes it even

more pathetic.

[Little Tich]

19. He skipped Netanyahu's speech to Congress.

At least he's got a spine.

[orpupilofnature57]

26. + 1000 !!!

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]

29. Agreed

Nobody can argue with that.

However it wasn't disrespectful to Israel at all... Netanyahu yes but not to Israel.

[orpupilofnature57]

38. No please !! I don't nor do I I think Bernie meant Disrespect to ISRAEL

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]

41. No problem,

Thank you for the clarification .

[azurnoir]

23. Just out of curiosity tell us please which Democratic Candidate do you support? Hillary or Bernie?

[King_David]

24. They are both very strong defenders and supporters of Israel

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]

27. Honest answer, your vote is hinged on Israel .

[King_David]

28. Among other issues

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.

“That’s not a true measure of friendship,” Obama told about 1,200 people, including members of Congress, gathered at Congregation Adas Israel. “The people of Israel must always know America has its back.”

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134104287

[orpupilofnature57]

39. As we should, and I did read your post and it has a main theme,

Israel .

[King_David]

40. Take a look which group you wondered into

[orpupilofnature57]

42. Oh no, I'm an IDIOT

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]

43. LOL

Cheers !

[hack89]

44. Supporters of Israel never have to worry about where the Democratic Party stands on Israel

there are no hard choices regarding candidates this election cycle - there is no pro-Palestinian voice in American politics.