So Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren are all in agreement when it comes to Israel

[Cali_Democrat]

Senate passes resolution supporting Israel
July 29, 2014, 07:31 pm


The Senate passed a resolution Tuesday that states the Senate’s support of Israel’s right to defend itself from Hamas rocket attacks and condemns a “bias” United Nation’s report.

S.Res. 526 was passed through a unanimous consent agreement. The resolution also condemns a United Nation’s Human Right Council report that stated Israel had committed human rights violations against the Palestinian people.

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/213746-senate-passes-resolution-supporting-israel

This is why Israel will never be reigned in and the military aid will continue to flow.

[BillZBubb]

1. Absolutely disgusting. Not a spine in the bunch.

The Israel lobby runs our foreign policy.

[Cali_Democrat]

9. This needs to stop.

I can't believe we are letting this happen.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

2. Well, we wouldn't want to fuck with he Rapture don't ya know.

[onecaliberal]

3. Geezus Christ

[Electric Monk]

4. In many respects, Sen. Warren is a leader I admire. In this one, she's a follower. nt

[cascadiance]

6. Part of me wonders if she's trying to focus on other issues and not get too drawn in here...

And I DO feel this is an important issue, but if she's someone trying to get focused on other issues and lets the media, etc. get her to speak against Israel, and draw attention away from what else she's working on, she might be doing more damage than helping with the issues with Israel.

I think she's been kind of that way in general with foreign policy issues, perhaps for the same reason even before these latest violent incidents.

At some point, I hope she does stand up for what is right, but I could see how she might be trying to avoid getting pushed in to a corner.

[Cali_Democrat]

8. Warren basically states on her website that she supports sending high tech weapons to Israel

Those same weapons are obviously used to slaughter Palestinians.

So it's not like she has avoided this issue.

[PoliticAverse]

28. Her state is home to many defense contractors. n/t

[nilesobek]

13. Yes she should give this issue lip service only.

It should be noted that the fear level of AIPAC is very high. Even if you disagreed with Israel she might want to stay quiet because of the wild recriminations from extreme right wingers in both parties.

[MADem]

5. Hmmm. I somehow doubt that two out of three of those will get the "Clinton treatment." nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. +1

[morningfog]

20. It's a stupid headline. There was no record of the vote and only 5 co-sponsors.

There were no objections, but the 3 named in the OP were not sponsors either.

[MADem]

22. You do know what "unanimous consent" means?

If they had objections, they should have voiced them, as ... a single senator's objection can stop a unanimous consent agreement...

Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/unanimous-consent-agreements#ixzz38y3JBSbN

[morningfog]

27. Yes, I know what it means. It means it is a simple resolution passed from a committee.

Yes, anyone could have objected. Anyone could have signed on in support, too. It is a pretty insignificant procedure that doesn't mean much.

I wouldn't attach much to any particular person based on unanimous consent agreements.

[MADem]

35. And no one objected. And it isn't "insignificant," given the subject matter. nt

[morningfog]

36. It is insignificant given the subject matter. It would have been significant had there

been an objection.

My point remains, it is silly to attribute any great weight to any particular senator based on this unanimous consent agreement.

[MADem]

37. It is very signficant to those who perceive EW as being opposed to Israel--which she's not.

And neither is Senator Sanders.

[morningfog]

38. No, what is significant is what they have said on it, not whether they

object to a non-binding PR statement from the senate.

Having said that, I don't think anyone who suggests that Warren or Sanders are "opposed to Israel" could possibly be taken seriously. Whether they agree with and support everything Israel does is another question. Whether they support a two-state solution and whether and which of the Palestinians' positions they may support is much more important. What they would do as a potential president with respect to Israel and the Palestinians cannot be divined from a non-binding unanimous consent agreement to which they did sponsor or object.

[MADem]

40. OK....EW supports a two state solution, but she doesn't care for the elected

government of Palestine: http://elizabethwarren.com/issues/foreign-policy#israel

The U.S.-Israel Relationship and Middle East Peace

Since its founding more than 60 years ago, Israel and the United States have been steadfast, trusted, and reliable allies. I unequivocally support the right of a Jewish, democratic state of Israel to exist, and to be safe and secure. The U.S.-Israel relationship is rooted in shared values and common interests, based on a commitment to liberty, pluralism, and the rule of law. These values transcend time, and they are the basis of our unbreakable bond.

To me, it is a moral imperative to support and defend Israel, and I am committed to ensuring its long-term security by maintaining its qualitative military edge. Israel must be able to defend itself from the serious threats it faces from terrorist organizations to hostile states, including Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and others.

I am also a strong proponent of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which I believe to be in the interest of Israel and the United States, with a Jewish, democratic state of Israel and a state for the Palestinian people. The U.S. can and should play an active role in promoting a diplomatic resolution to the conflict that is agreed to by the parties, but I do not believe that a lasting peace can be imposed from the outside or that either party should take unilateral steps - such as the Palestinians' application for UN membership - that move the parties further away from negotiations.

I am also deeply proud that Israel and Massachusetts are natural economic allies. Like Massachusetts, Israel has a real commitment and advantage in high-tech and innovative industries. There are approximately 100 companies in Massachusetts with Israeli founders or based on Israeli technologies - creating $2.4 billion in value and thousands of jobs for our economy.

As a United States Senator, I will work to ensure Israel's security and success, and I will support active American leadership to help bring peace and security to Israel and the region.

And Bernie, well, he's Jewish--I am not surprised at his POV at all; he worked on a kibbutz as a young man. It's not like there's no connection.

Even Keith Ellison is parsing.

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

That said, if they don't object, they are consenting to the language--they can't claim anything other than that. Here's the actual resolution that they didn't object to:

http://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/S.%20RES%20498%20As%20Reported1.pdf

[onenote]

23. It was passed by unanimous consent. Any one of them could have prevented it from passing.

[U4ikLefty]

10. Is there a major national political official that dares stand against Israel's slaughter?

[riverwalker]

11. ex-Congressman Paul Findley

(R) Illinois. He wrote a book "They Dare Speak Out"
from Amazon:
The first book to speak out against the pervasive influence of the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) on American politics, policy, and institutions resonates today as never before. With careful documentation and specific case histories, former congressman Paul Findley demonstrates how the Israel lobby helps to shape important aspects of U.S. foreign policy and influences congressional, senatorial, and even presidential elections. Described are the undue influence AIPAC exerts in the Senate and the House and the pressure AIPAC brings to bear on university professors and journalists who seem too sympathetic to Arab and Islamic states and too critical of Israel and its policies. Along with many longtime outspoken critics, new voices speaking out include former President Jimmy Carter, U.S. Representative Cynthia McKinney, Senator Robert Byrd, prominent Arab-American Dr. Ziad Asali, Rabbi Michael Lerner, and journalist Charles Reese. In addition, the lack of open debate among politicians with regard to the U.S. policy in the Middle East is lamented, and AIPAC is blamed in part for this censorship. Connections are drawn between America’s unconditional support of Israel and the raging anti-American passions around the world—and ultimately the tragic events of 9/11.

[riverwalker]

12. he recently wrote an article

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=67353

US Complicity in Israel’s Crimes
Virtually the entire US news media and almost every national politician bends to the desires of Israel’s government regardless of its behavior, a reality that enables the persecution and even slaughter of Palestinians, writes ex-Congressman Paul Findley.
Middle East Online

[PAProgressive28]

14. Can't defend it but not surprised

Regular citizens get called anti-Semitic for criticizing Israel in the slightest. Coming out in any way against Israel is career suicide whether we like it or not. I'd rather Sanders and Warren just go along with this so they can help us elsewhere.

Sometimes things just suck

[Warren DeMontague]

15. clouds rain, kings reign, and horses get reined in.

...sorry. Just sayin'.

[Scuba]

16. Sorry, Elizabeth, but you're wrong on this one.

[Chathamization]

17. Funny, when Greenwald mentioned this a week ago he was "trying to attack Warren" because she was

gaining support for 2016. What a difference nine days makes. Glad the substance is finally being addressed.

[Cali_Democrat]

26. Greenwald's tweet was based on a video in which Warren says nothing

This was a Senate resolution.

[Chathamization]

31. A question where she said nothing about it; a senate resolution where she said nothing about it

Completely different criticism!

Eh, I remember the early days of the Iraq War and what a sin it is to be right too early. The switch usually doesn't happen this early, though.

[treestar]

18. The right to defend itself needs more discussion as to what that means

Overkill can occur and there's a point where it's not mere self defense.

[TBF]

19. It's always in the numbers -

from wiki:

In the 2008 presidential election, 78% of Jews voted for Barack Obama, who became the first African-American to be elected president. Polls indicate during this election, 83% of white Jews voted for Obama compared to just 34% of white Protestants and 47% of white Catholics, though 67% of those identifying with another religion and 71% identifying with no religion also voted Obama. In the 2012 presidential election, 68% of Jews voted for Barack Obama.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_views_and_involvement_in_US_politics

Elizabeth and Bernie are not going to want to lose that support.

Ted Cruz is very religious - he may well identify with the conservative Jews who are running Israel right now.

But in any case we need to stop funding this genocide and see if we can work with the leaders of both groups (Israel and Hamas) on a 2-state solution. I really think that is the only thing that can work at this point.

[morningfog]

21. There were no votes. It was a unainimous consent agreement.

No votes, no objections. Only 5 sponsors, none of which were the 3 you identify.

[onenote]

24. as posted above: any one of them could have blocked it

[Avalux]

25. AIPAC will destroy them if they don't agree.

I expect more than this from Sanders and Warren, but they are politicians after all, and there are some lines that cannot be crossed.

[oberliner]

30. Has Wendy Davis taken a position?

Or made any statements about the current situation?

[Avalux]

33. Not to my knowledge, No.

I wouldn't expect her to wade into that since she's in a shitty Gov. race. Texas has too many batshit crazy bible beaters expecting the apocalypse to happen any day now.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

29. If you're a U.S. politician, you MUST show support for Israel or you will not

be a U.S. politician.

[Bettie]

32. It gives them tacit permission to exerminate everyone in Gaza

and take the land for their settlers.

[MineralMan]

34. No surprise there. Under the bus with all of them, I guess.

Support for Israel is strong in our government, and that's unlikely to change.

Even Bernie and Elizabeth won't block such a resolution. Not surprising.

[Iggo]

39. I bet they all like dogs, too.