The Democrats and Israel

And still on the subject of US politics, JTA has published the statements of the Democrat hopefuls.

Preserving Israelís security is a ‘bedrock principle’ that will guide his administrationís foreign policy

Will guarantee Israel’s long-term defense and security because it is in America’s interests

The US will play the role of a fair and honest broker

Peace will not occur as long as Yasser Arafat is in control

Affirms that Israel has both the right and the responsibility to protect and defend its citizens against terrorists

The security fence is a logical extension of Israelís right to self-defense, but is neither a long-term solution nor a sustainable substitute for peace

Will send a high-level negotiating team to the region and task them with helping the parties renew and complete the peace process

America will be an honest broker

Pledges to combat anti-Semitism

Dick Gephardt

Believes that the Bush administration has failed to undertake meaningful diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful outcome to the Middle East conflict, and has failed to encourage other countries to adopt more constructive policies toward Israel

Highlights his good track record with regards to Israel

Will work tirelessly to foster the US-Israel relationship and maintain military and economic aid to Israel.

Will work to move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, to clearly affirm American support for a united Jerusalem at the center of Israel

Believes in a permanent two-state solution

Will ensure a sustained U.S. presence and engagement in the Middle East

John Kerry

Sees the endgame as two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security

The Bush Administration has jeopardized the security of Israel, encouraged Palestinian extremists and undermined US long term national interests.

Will appoint a presidential ambassador to the peace process

Will work to hold the Saudis accountable for their continued reluctance to root out terrorism in the Middle East

Dennis Kucinich

Peace in the Middle East will be one of his highest priorities

Affirms his committment to the Israel and the security of the Israeli people as it battles the terrorist infrastructure in PLO Arab areas

Supports a PLO Arab state with territorial contiguity and economic viability

Supports the Road Map

Does not believe that the security fence will protect Israelis, but will only breed deepening resentment and hatred

John Edwards

Will promote peace between Israel and the PLO Arabs through sustained, high-level engagement, including the appointment of a senior envoy

Supports a two-state solution, with the Jewish state of Israel and a legitimate, democratic and territorially viable PLO Arab state living side by side in peace

Israel has a right to take measures to defend itself, and these defensive measures are not the cause of terrorism, but rather the response to terrorism. However, these measures should not be a substitute for negotiations that can lead to a long-term settlement.

The US will not impose a solution on the parties

Joseph Lieberman

Recognizes the US’s special relationship with Israel, built on shared values and interests

Peace in the Middle East is vital to America’s national security

Believes in a two-state solution

The first step is for the PLO Arab leadership to make a 100 percent effort to stop terrorism and dismantle terrorist organizations

America must remain engaged in the region, but cannot force a solution on the parties

Carol Moseley Braun

Peace in the Middle East is vital to US security

The Bush administration allowed diplomacy to collapse and abandoned the goals of the Oslo Accords

Believes in the two-state solution laid out in the Oslo Accords

Control of Jerusalem, geographic boundaries of a PLO Arab state and security against terrorism will be addressed meaningfully only when we return to the negotiating table

About the author

David Lange

A law school graduate, David Lange transitioned from work in the oil and hi-tech industries into fulltime Israel advocacy. He is a respected commentator and Middle East analyst who has often been cited by the mainstream media

The Democrats and Israel

About the author

David Lange

David Lange

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