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Jewish Dems Pleased with Israel Language on Dem Platform

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Friday released a draft of the party’s 2016 platform as approved by the platform drafting committee in St. Louis last Friday.

On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the draft – as promised by the Clinton campaign – reflects the Democratic Party’s longstanding support of Israel and Hillary Clinton’s vision for peace and security in the Middle East.

“We will continue to work toward a two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict negotiated directly by the parties that guarantees Israel’s future as a secure and democratic Jewish state with recognized borders and provides the Palestinians with independence, sovereignty, and dignity,” the draft reads. “While Jerusalem is a matter for final status negotiations, it should remain the capital of Israel, an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths.”

“Israelis deserve security, recognition, and a normal life free from terror and incitement. Palestinians should be free to govern themselves in their own viable state, in peace and dignity.”

The language is reflective of Clinton’s stance as expressed in a speech she delivered at the Saban Forum in Washington, DC, in December 2015. “Only a two-state solution can provide Palestinian’s independence, sovereignty and dignity and provide Israelis the secure and recognized borders of a democratic Jewish state,” Clinton said. “Israelis deserve security, recognition and a normal life free from terror and Palestinian’s should be able to govern themselves in their own state in peace and dignity.”

The Democrats also express their support for President Obama’s Iranian nuclear deal “because, if vigorously enforced and implemented, it verifiably cuts off all of Iran’s pathways to a bomb without resorting to war.” While rejecting Donald Trump’s view that  the U.S. should have walked away from the deal, the Democrats vow to “continue the work of this administration to ensure that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon and will not hesitate to take military action if Iran violates the agreement.”

Scroll down for the full wording on Israel and the Iran deal

Last week, members of platform drafting committee voted down an amendment that would have called for “an end to occupation and illegal settlements” and an international effort to rebuild Gaza, as proposed by James Zogby at the behest of Bernie Sanders.

The National Jewish Democratic Council said they were pleased with the outcome of the debate that could’ve complicated the party’s electoral outreach to Jewish voters. “We welcome the most progressive platform in history. On a wide range of issues, from LGBT rights to the death penalty to preventing a nuclear-armed Iran and fighting BDS, we strongly support this draft,” the NJDC said in a statement. “In particular, we are pleased with the draft language in the Middle East section which reflects Hillary Clinton’s well-established record of leadership and her steadfast support Israel and the US-Israel relationship.”

The The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Wednesday praised the Democratic Party for affirming America’s “longstanding commitment to Israel’s security” and the pursuit of the two-state solution, and urged the Republican Party to approve “similarly strong and unifying language” in its platform “so that both platforms reflect America’s strong bipartisan support for Israel.”

Below is the language in the platform draft re: Israel and the Iran deal: 

Iran: “We support the nuclear agreement with Iran because, if vigorously enforced and implemented, it verifiably cuts off all of Iran’s pathways to a bomb without resorting to war. We reject Donald Trump’s view that we should have walked away from a deal that peacefully dismantles Iran’s nuclear program. We will continue the work of this administration to ensure that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon and will not hesitate to take military action if Iran violates the agreement.

“Democrats will also address the detrimental role Iran plays in the region and will robustly enforce and, if necessary, strengthen non-nuclear sanctions. Iran is the leading state sponsor of terrorism. It violates the human rights of its population, denies the Holocaust, vows to eliminate Israel, and has its fingerprints on almost every conflict in the Middle East. Democrats will push back against Iran’s destabilizing activities including its support for terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, counter Iran’s ballistic missile program, bolster the capabilities of our Gulf partners, and ensure that Israel always has the ability to defend itself.”

Israel: “We will continue to work toward a two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict negotiated directly by the parties that guarantees Israel’s future as a secure and democratic Jewish state with recognized borders and provides the Palestinians with independence, sovereignty, and dignity. While Jerusalem is a matter for final status negotiations, it should remain the capital of Israel, an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths. Israelis deserve security, recognition, and a normal life free from terror and incitement. Palestinians should be free to govern themselves in their own viable state, in peace and dignity.”

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