The Backstory on Bernie Sanders and Israel-Palestine - Why Is He So Quiet About the Mideast Tragedy?

[LiberalArkie]

One of the most appealing qualities about Bernie Sanders' campaign for the presidency is how consistent he is. While Hillary Clinton continually faces questions about her changing positions, Sanders is seen as the good kind of broken record – someone who says what progressives want to hear over and over again, for decades.

But there is one area where Sanders used to be much more outspoken, and has in recent years been very quiet about: Palestine. Considering the elevated role of the Israel-Palestine issue in progressive circles, and Sanders' continued success leading up to the primaries, it's worth revisiting Sanders' history on the topic and his early approach to foreign policy.

Burlington's Foreign Policy

Sanders' first big political office was as mayor of Burlington, Vermont in the early 1980s. Under the Sanders administration, Burlington was rejuvenated, becoming a much more equitable and progressive city. But not all of his policies were focused at the city itself.


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Read More at Alternet

[TBF]

1. Bernie is in favor of a 2-state solution

which I heartily agree with. Some people may not like that, but that's the answer. He has said it in interviews.

Bernie Sanders on Israel and the Palestinians

Bernie Sanders has described the entrenched conflict between Israel and the Palestinians as both depressing and difficult, and considers the conflict one of the most important issues in the Middle East. He acknowledges that there is no magic solution to the problem, but Bernie believes in a two-state solution, where “Israel has a right to exist in security, and at the same time the Palestinians have a state of their own.” Finally, Bernie sees many other conflicts in the Middle East as exacerbating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

http://feelthebern.org/bernie-sanders-on-israel-and-the-palestinians/

[LiberalArkie]

2. I think Israel is also, once they have Palestine reduced to about 3 square feet of rocks.

[TBF]

3. Look, that particular writer at Alternet knows exactly where Bernie

stands. If you have a problem with his position just say so. I'm Jewish and I agree with Bernie 100% on this issue.
This is the exact quote from Bernie:

REHM: Tell me your feeling about whether there should be a two-state solution should Palestine be given statehood?

SANDERS: Absolutely. What you have in that part of the world is an unspeakable tragedy. And it seems like it’s never-ending and it seems like it every year gets worse and worse and more killing and more bombings and everything else. And again, Diane, if I had the magical solution to that problem I would be in the president’s office today giving it. I don’t have it. But clearly the goals are two-fold: number one the Palestinian people, in my view, deserve a state of their own, they deserve an economy of their own, they deserve economic support from the people of this country. And Israel needs to be able to live in security without terrorist attacks. Those are the goals of I think any sensible foreign policy in that region.

http://www.salon.com/2015/06/16/bernie_sanders_im_not_a_great_fan_of_benjamin_netanyahu_partner/

The article in which this quote appeared was written by the same guy. If he wants Bernie to come out stronger for Palestine that's fine, but I doubt that's going to happen during an election year in the US. And you're certainly not going to get that response from Hillary Clinton who supports Netanyahu.

[LiberalArkie]

4. Israel is going to go for a 2 state solution when they have settlements on so much of the old

Palestine that it amounts to a very small area. I don't think there is an American alive that can ever resolve it. However, I feel that if all aid was cut off from Israel, they would settle very quickly. The hardliners in Israel really don't see any reason to settle.

[TBF]

5. I don't disagree with you -

I'd cut the aid very quickly as well. I've never liked Netanyahu.