Israel is Caught in the Cross Hairs of the Left-Wing Dreamers of the Democratic Party

As noted previously, Elizabeth Warren said that "everything is on the table" when it comes to aid to Israel. Pete Buttigieg has similar views. Now, yet another Democratic presidential candidate has come out against Israel. Bernie Sanders: "...we need an even-handed proposal for both peoples (Israelis and Palestinians). What is going on in Gaza right now, for example, is absolutely inhumane. It is unacceptable. It is unsustainable." Bernie wants to blame Israel for the poor living conditions in Gaza. Sanders: "I would use the leverage of $3.8 billion - it is a lot of money, and we cannot give it carte blanche to the Israeli government, or for that matter to any government at all. We have a right to demand respect for human rights and democracy."

I agree that we can not give aid "carte blanche" to any country. Sanders is saying there must be a "quid pro quo" with regard to US foreign aid. Sounds familiar. But our aid to Israel already requires them to use most, if not all, of that aid to buy military equipment from the USA. That acts as an indirect subsidy to our industries. And it gives the US military the benefit of seeing how new weapons systems work in the field, as Israel almost always needs to use the military hardware they buy.

As a throwaway line, Sanders gave a not terribly severe critique of the Palestinian leaders: "Let us recognize there has been corruption in terms of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. Let's recognize that as well." So, let's "recognize" the Palestinians have some issues, but let's punish Israel. And let's not recognize that Hamas get millions of dollars in foreign aid that they use to build rockets, buy missiles, and build underground tunnels into Israel in order to be able to capture and kill Israelis. And let's definitely not insist that Hamas cease buying weaponry that they use to attack civilian targets in Israel.

Sanders: "I think it is fair to say that some of that $3.8 billion should go right now into humanitarian aid in Gaza." Good to know that Sanders trusts Hamas to use money flowing into Gaza for humanitarian purposes. Also nice to know that Sanders does not care about the fact that the aid to Israel was approved by Congress. Hmmm, Sanders wants to divert money approved by Congress to some other purpose.

Kelly Craft is the current US Ambassador to the United Nations, having been appointed by President Trump. Compare the Trump Administration's attitude towards Hamas and Israel with the Democrats' attitudes. At the recent UN Security Council meeting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, most countries condemned Israel, just like the Democrats are doing. On the other hand, Craft called Hamas "a terrorist organization that oppresses the Palestinian people in Gaza through intimidation and outright violence, while inciting violence against Israel."

Craft said that when Hamas fires rockets into Israel they are "just as likely to hit a classroom full of children as it is to strike a military asset." Craft: "If there is anything more despicable than Hamas' attacks on civilian areas, it is the way they treat their own children as pawns in a political game. Every Friday, Hamas encourages minors to join riots at the security fence (between Israel and Gaza), hoping that violence will erupt, and that the children will be injured or even killed as a result, thereby feeding their propaganda machine. A more cynical and shameful approach could not be devised. This is child abuse, plain and simple, and I condemn it. We all should."

Notice how the Trump Administration is very clear about Hamas being a terrorist organization, with no qualms about describing their tactics, such as attacking civilian targets in Israel, and using their own children as props. Craft does not give us a meaningless throwaway line like Sanders did about Palestinian "corruption." The Trump Administration acknowledges the reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Sanders, Warren, Buttigieg and other Democrats continue to live in their dream world, speaking as if more money going to Hamas will result in hope for the Palestinian people. But I've said it before: conservatives let reality dictate their beliefs, liberals let their beliefs dictate their reality.