Bernie Sanders smashes the Israel status quo

[bemildred]

New York (CNN)Bernie Sanders is taking a sledgehammer to the political status quo on Israel.

Sanders refused to back down Thursday night from his claim that Israel in 2014 used "disproportionate" force to respond to Hamas rocket fire from Gaza while calling for the United States to stop being "one-sided" in the conflict there. In doing so, he upended a long-standing tenet of American politics: that unflinching support for Israel is non-negotiable.

Sanders' unorthodox remarks at CNN's Democratic debate came just days before voters head to the polls in New York, where Sanders is fighting to narrow the significant, but not insurmountable, deficit he faces against former New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.

The Empire State's 19.79 million residents include the country's largest Jewish population -- some 1.8 million of the country's 6.8 million Jews live there, according to the 2014 American Jewish Year Book -- and one of the most active pro-Israel constituencies.

http://us.cnn.com/2016/04/16/politics/bernie-sanders-israel-democratic-politics/index.html

[yourpaljoey]

1. Great stuff

[King_David]

2. Think this will help BS in the NY vote ?

Among the large pro Israel Jewish community,who are 90%+ Demorats ?

Maybe the campaign calculated they support HRC to a large extent anyway.

[oberliner]

4. I don't think it is a top 10 issue for most people, even in New York

The Democrats who do put this issue at the top of their list already know which way they are going to vote, I would think.

[King_David]

6. Yep

Agreed

[King_David]

7. Agree but Sanders campaign not as sure as you are,

Hence the suspension of the AntiZionist , Jewish outreach lady.

[grossproffit]

9. It's one of the top issues for many in my family.

My husband refuses to vote for Bernie if he's the nominee. He went from maybe to hell no.

[oberliner]

11. Yes, there are some voters for whom this is a top issue

I just think it's a pretty small percentage of the electorate.

[grossproffit]

10. I remember your "All he had to say was 'I love the Jew, denounce the zionist" post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511702031#post32

[oberliner]

3. Bernie's position is not particularly different from the current administration position

The Obama administration has leveled the same criticism on Israel about Gaza and settlements.

This actually seems to be a topic where Bernie is much more on the same page with Obama than Hillary is.

[bemildred]

5. Yes. nt

[Igel]

8. So he's obviously smashing the status quo.

I guess.

[geek tragedy]

12. He may have challenged the status quo, but it's a very determined opponent.

The danger of taking a bold stand before an election is that the results of that election get spun as a referendum on that issue.

[ericson00]

13. and he got smashed in New York effin badly

there is no place for anti-Zionism in the Democratic Party, or America, EVER. America is a pro-Jewish pro-Israel country, now and forever, unlike European countries.

[grossproffit]

14. +1

[King_David]

15. +1