Clinton's Israel stance expected to rule DNC despite energized left

[ericson00]

http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/24/politics/hillary-clinton-israel-dnc-platform/

Democrats -- seeking to unify after a bruising primary -- are poised for a fight over the party's stance on Israel this summer.

Advocates for greater recognition of Palestinian positions are hoping that the progressive surge spurred by Bernie Sanders could give them their best shot yet at changing the Democratic platform at next month's convention. But they're running into a party establishment that insists the position won't change -- especially with Hillary Clinton, who has deep ties to Israel, at the top of the ticket.
The issue could come up Saturday in St. Louis, where the drafting committee is having its final meeting on the platform before approving draft language. And even with a vote at that level, the fight won't go away as any draft will need to pass the full platform committee and the full convention floor.

[bluestateguy]

1. Because Florida.

And rightfully so.

[Ken Burch]

2. HRC supports everything Netanyahu has done.

Netanyahu doesn't want the conflict ever to end. If it did, the Likud Party would cease to exist.

[Little Tich]

3. Fortunately, even one of Clinton's own handpicked members for the drafting committee is pushing for

a change of the Platform on Israel.

Clinton and Sanders Delegates Call to Revise Democratic Party's Platform on Israel
Source: Haaretz / Jewish Insider, Jun 24, 2016

Two members of the Democratic Party’s platform drafting committee – one chosen by Hillary Clinton and the other picked by Bernie Sanders – on Thursday issued a joint call to action to push panel members to change the party's platform on Israel.

“Some have speculated about divisions within our party over the future of American foreign policy in the Middle East. The truth is that when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we’re on the exact same page,” Reps. Keith Ellison and Luis Gutierrez said in an email sent out by J Street.

Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/world-news/u-s-election-2016/1.726798

[King_David]

4. Bernie:

From your article:

Meanwhile, Sanders – who has yet to concede defeat to Clinton – appears to have dropped his demand for changes to the Democratic platform on Israel.

[Little Tich]

5. Well, yes - but the issue is in the hands of the drafters now.

It's still possible that the platform will have language that reflects the consensus of Democrats on the Israel issue.

Besides, it seems as if Bernie managed to include the $15 minimum wage in the platform draft, which is way more important.

[King_David]

6. The platform will reflect the majority of democrats

On the issue of Israel... The Jews will continue to support the Democratic Party as the Democratic Party will be pro Jewfish and Zionist as always.

[Little Tich]

7. A consensus platform that that favors human rights over the interests of a single country would

probably mean that more people vote for the Democratic Presidential nominee.

[King_David]

8. Oh I don't think she will have problems..

Any hint of BDS in the platform however would be very risky indeed ...
That's how Bernie lost New York.

[Little Tich]

10. It seems like consensus won, check #9. n/t

[Little Tich]

9. J Street lauds Democrats for putting Palestinian rights in platform

Source: Times of Israel

Despite rejection of language calling for ‘end to occupation and settlements,’ new stance still marks step forward, head of dovish lobby says

Dovish Israel lobby J Street offered full-throated approval for the Democratic Party’s new platform late Saturday, saying the draft document’s recognition of Palestinian rights marked “an important step forward.”

Drafting of the document lasted into the early hours of Saturday, with the committee eventually voting down an amendment led by James Zogby that would have called for providing Palestinians with “an end to occupation and illegal settlements” and urged an international effort to rebuild Gaza.”

Instead, the draft dropped that language and advocated working toward a “two-state solution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict” that guarantees Israel’s security with recognized borders “and provides the Palestinians with independence, sovereignty, and dignity.”

J Street head Jeremy Ben-Ami said in a statement that the language nonetheless represented a “more balanced approach” from previous Democratic party platforms.

Read more: http://www.timesofisrael.com/j-street-lauds-democrats-for-putting-palestinian-rights-in-platform/

[King_David]

11. I guess Jeremy Ben Ami had to pretend they made gains,

I don't think anything changed significantly.

We all want a 2 state solution- always has been - even with the fluff.

He's pretending he won a concession, whereas Democratic Party principle is unchanged .