Liz Goes to Israel

The Jerusalem Post reported that Warren met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday.

The senator’s Middle East trip, first reported by the Boston Globe, is her first trip abroad as a senator. And given the importance of U.S.-Israeli relations, it was bound to stoke speculation about a potential 2016 presidential bid. The liberal favorite has insisted that she is not running for president, but progressive activists are making a push to convince her to run as an alternative to the likely Democratic frontrunner, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

  Politico

See, I wonder if there would really be that much difference in a Clinton presidency and a Warren presidency. We know what Hillary would likely do in that office, but as much as I hear about Elizabeth Warren that I like, she is a serious backer of Israel, always excusing its actions, and as long as our president holds that position, there isn’t going to be any difference in Middle East policy. And while domestic/corporate issues are no doubt better in her hands, the issues of the Middle East have taken over to the point that everything else takes a back seat. Plus, Warren wouldn’t have the clout that Clinton would when it comes to domestic (or any) issues.

This summer Warren demonstrated her Israeli support at a Town Hall meeting in her home state of Massachusetts.

Noreen Thompsen, of Eastham, proposed that Israel should be prevented from building any more settlements as a condition of future U.S. funding, but Warren said, "I think there's a question of whether we should go that far."

[...]

"America has a very special relationship with Israel. Israel lives in a very dangerous part of the world, and a part of the world where there aren't many liberal democracies and democracies that are controlled by the rule of law. And we very much need an ally in that part of the world."

Warren said Hamas has attacked Israel "indiscriminately," but with the Iron Dome defense system, the missiles have "not had the terrorist effect Hamas hoped for." When pressed by another member of the crowd about civilian casualties from Israel's attacks, Warren said she believes those casualties are the "last thing Israel wants."

  Cape Cod Times

Reality check, Liz.

Also…

The last thing. That, ladies and gentlemen, is your inspiring left-wing icon of the Democratic Party.

[...]

Even as conservative Democratic Senate candidates from red states such as Nebraska’s Bob Kerrey were vehemently condemning the threat of war against Iran during their [recent Senate] campaigns, Warren was claiming (contrary to the U.S. Government’s own assessment) that “Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons”, adding: “I support strong sanctions against Iran and believe that the United States must also continue to take a leadership role in pushing other countries to implement strong sanctions as well.” Those claims about Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons remained her position even after she was told that they squarely contradict the U.S. intelligence community’s clear assessment of Iran’s actions.

  Glenn Greenwald

Also...

“The United States must continue to ensure that Israel can defend itself from terrorist organizations and hostile states, including Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and others,” she wrote. “I also believe firmly that a two-state solution is in the interest of Israel and the United States. Lasting peace, however, requires negotiations between the parties themselves, and although the United States can and should aid in this process, we cannot dictate the terms. Unilateral actions, such as the Palestinians’ membership efforts before the United Nations, are unhelpful, and I would support vetoing a membership application.”

  Jerusalem Post