Democrats Want to be “Progressive Except for Palestine”

FEATURING DR. STEPHEN ZUNES – Democratic Presidential contender Kamala Harris is launching her campaign with a bang. After a massive gathering over the weekend in Oakland, California she headed to the key electoral state of Iowa. While there is much media coverage of her positions on domestic issues like healthcare and gun control, there’s not so much emphasis on her foreign policy record. Now, Middle East expert and writer Stephen Zunes has published a new analysis entitled, ‘More AIPAC Than J Street’: Kamala Harris Runs to the Right on Foreign Policy,’ detailing in particular her uncritical backing of Israel over Palestinian human rights.

Like many liberal Democrats, Harris appears to be “progressive except for Palestine.” In fact, a number of prominent Democratic operatives have formed a new pro-Israel lobby group whose goal will be to keep the Democratic Party firmly behind Israel. The newly formed organization is called Democratic Majority for Israel, and according to the New York Times it, “is planning to wage a campaign to remind elected officials about what they call the party’s shared values and interests with one of America’s strongest allies.” The group was formed out of concern that a number of younger and more liberal members of the party are increasingly pro-Palestinian.

Read Stephen Zunes’ article HERE.

Dr. Stephen Zunes is a Professor of Politics and International Studies at the University of San Francisco, where he serves as coordinator of the program in Middle Eastern Studies. He also serves as a senior policy analyst for Foreign Policy in Focus, a project of the Institute for Policy Studies. He is also an associate editor of Peace Review. He recently published an article in Foreign Policy in Focus entitled ‘More AIPAC Than J Street’: Kamala Harris Runs to the Right on Foreign Policy.