Bernie Sanders and Israel-Palestine

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I don't expect Bernie to win the Dem nomination or, if he does, to win the presidency. But I find it ironic that the main reasons he's getting pushback now is not his economic policies but his position on Palestine.

The Green Party has been beating him up for a while on Facebook about Palestine. They're worried, of course, because most of Bernie's economic policies are very similar to their own and he's stealing a lot of Green voters.

The truth is that Bernie has a position on Israel and Palestine that's just a smidgen to the left of mainstream. He favors a 2-state solution, wants Israel's security guaranteed, and regularly votes for aid to Israel. All totally mainstream. On the other hand, he thinks Netanyahu is an asshole, doesn't kow-tow to AIPAC, criticizes the level of slaughter in Gaza (while endorsing Israel's right to defend itself), and thinks the US should use our aid as a lever to get them to undertake honest peace negotiations.

Hardly wild-eyed stuff. A lot of us here - left and right - have said much the same.

Here's a decent overview of Bernie's position and the shit he's getting for it from the left.

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/why-bernie-so-quiet-about-palestine

 

[ottumwan in tx]

there is a current two state solution and there is no tragedy

it's like saying Wisconsin and iowa are fighting and its a tragedy we don't bomb the heck out of Wisconsin, wipe them off the map, to let poor iowa exist in peace, it just isn't like that

 

[moral_victory]

stealing a lot of Green voters

I consider myself a Green, and I am in for Bernie. Progressives and Greens going after Bernie reminds me of a snake eating its own tail.

Netanyahu

AIPAC

Speaking of snakes.

 

[ottumwan in tx]

politicians are snakes and that is news somehow?

 

[22*43*51]

there is a current two state solution and there is no tragedy

it's like saying Wisconsin and iowa are fighting and its a tragedy we don't bomb the heck out of Wisconsin, wipe them off the map, to let poor iowa exist in peace, it just isn't like that

I would support the unlimited bombing of Wisconsin.

 

[moral_victory]

politicians are snakes and that is news somehow?

This breaking news just in: I don't think that is news to me.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I consider myself a Green, and I am in for Bernie. Progressives and Greens going after Bernie reminds me of a snake eating its own tail.

Are you registered as a Green?

I often vote Green and think Green, but have retained my D registration so I can vote in the primaries. I hope Bernie is still on the list by the time we get to my state. If not, O'Malley is my next choice - although I imagine he'll be forced to drop out sooner.

 

[moral_victory]

Are you registered as a Green?

I often vote Green and think Green, but have retained my D registration so I can vote in the primaries. I hope Bernie is still on the list by the time we get to my state. If not, O'Malley is my next choice - although I imagine he'll be forced to drop out sooner.

I was registered green but switched to democrat for the same reason. O'Malley is my second choice as well.

 

[naturalmwa]

there is a current two state solution and there is no tragedy

it's like saying Wisconsin and iowa are fighting and its a tragedy we don't bomb the heck out of Wisconsin, wipe them off the map, to let poor iowa exist in peace, it just isn't like that

You know you're crazy, right.

 

[aflachawk]

I don't expect Bernie to win the Dem nomination or, if he does, to win the presidency. But I find it ironic that the main reasons he's getting pushback now is not his economic policies but his position on Palestine.

The Green Party has been beating him up for a while on Facebook about Palestine. They're worried, of course, because most of Bernie's economic policies are very similar to their own and he's stealing a lot of Green voters.

The truth is that Bernie has a position on Israel and Palestine that's just a smidgen to the left of mainstream. He favors a 2-state solution, wants Israel's security guaranteed, and regularly votes for aid to Israel. All totally mainstream. On the other hand, he thinks Netanyahu is an asshole, doesn't kow-tow to AIPAC, criticizes the level of slaughter in Gaza (while endorsing Israel's right to defend itself), and thinks the US should use our aid as a lever to get them to undertake honest peace negotiations.

Hardly wild-eyed stuff. A lot of us here - left and right - have said much the same.

Here's a decent overview of Bernie's position and the shit he's getting for it from the left.

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/why-bernie-so-quiet-about-palestine

When it comes to the nations security any Israeli prime minister would not be more than an eyelash away from Netanyahu.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

When it comes to the nations security any Israeli prime minister would not be more than an eyelash away from Netanyahu.

There's "security" and then there's war crimes. I would hope there are viable candidates in Israel who are not only not war criminals but who wouldn't go into coalition with the most extreme-right theocrats in his country to form a government.

 

[ottumwan in tx]

the only tragedy here is how bias against jews and Christians and Israel, the libs and democrats are. I can understand wanting to stick up for the little guy, I.E. paestinians, but to wreck israel in the process?