No, this diary is not about Hillary’s vote to invade Iraq, or her subsequent stay-the-Bush-course rhetoric concerning our troops, nor is it about her Iran votes like the one backing the Kyl-Lieberman amendment, which accorded the Iranian Revolutionary Guard the status of a terrorist organization. Her position on Iran, recited again last month in Foreign Affairs, leaves little doubt that on the issue of Hillary’s experience, many of her positions are right out of the Cheney-Bush handbook, including her refusal to engage Iran diplomatically, and threats of attack if Iran does not desist from enriching uranium.
It is rather about Hillary’s default position on Israel-Palestine and the seemingly interminable Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where Hillary Clinton is actually to the right of Bush, way right. Her campaign position paper on Israel (note not Israel and Palestine), which was issued on Sept. 10, 2007, is disturbing, and not just for its quotations of AIPAC.
From her first trip to Israel on New Year’s Day in 1982 through her years as a U.S. Senator, Hillary Clinton has a long history of steadfast leadership on behalf of a strong US-Israel relationship. Her connection to the State of Israel, which began when she brought an innovative Israeli preschool education program to Arkansas, has grown, and today, she stands as one of Israel’s leading defenders and supporters in the United States Senate.
The importance of the US-Israel relationship:
Hillary Clinton has a deep and abiding commitment to a strong US-Israel relationship – one rooted in the shared tradition of open democracy, free expression, women’s rights, the rule of law, and reinforced by our shared interest for peace, freedom, and prosperity. She believes that this unbreakable bond, which has been a hallmark of American foreign policy for more than 50 years, must continue to be the cornerstone of America’s Middle East policy. Hillary recognizes that Israel is a most important strategic ally against the scourge of terrorism and radicalism. She has proven this commitment by consistently leading the way in support of legislation that strengthens this mutually-beneficial relationship. “Israel,” she said, “is not only a friend and ally for us; it is a beacon of what democracy can and should be.” [AIPAC 5/24/05]
Standing with Israel against terrorism:
Hillary Clinton believes that Israel’s right to exist in safety as a Jewish state, with defensible borders and an undivided Jerusalem as its capital, secure from violence and terrorism, must never be questioned. Having visited Israel more than half a dozen times on both political and personal trips, Hillary has first-hand understanding of the challenges that Israel faces. “It is essential for those of us who care deeply about what is happening in and to Israel, to recognize that Israel’s struggle is a struggle on behalf of a future where people will be able to live with peace and security.” [AIPAC 2/1/07]. Hillary has consistently stood with Israel in its fight against terrorism. She was a strong supporter of Israel’s right to build a security barrier and spoke out against the International Court of Justice for questioning Israel’s right to do so. Hillary introduced legislation calling for the immediate release of the three Israeli soldiers being held captive by Hamas and Hezbollah and co-sponsored a resolution expressing support for Israel during last summer’s war with Lebanon. As a co-sponsor of the Syria Accountability Act, Hillary also believes that the United States must pressure Syria to stop hosting, supporting and sponsoring international terrorist groups that threaten both US troops in the Middle East and our ally, Israel.
Stopping Iran’s nuclear ambitions:
Hillary Clinton believes that Iran’s nuclear pursuit, coupled with its leadership’s despicable anti-Semitic rhetoric, require that the United States do everything it can to deny nuclear weapons to Iran. “U.S. policy must be clear and unequivocal. We cannot, we should not, we must not, permit Iran to build or acquire nuclear weapons. And in dealing with this threat, as I have said for a very long time, no option can be taken off the table.” [Speech on the floor of Senate 2/14/07] Hillary has issued statements denouncing the Iranian President’s anti-Israel rhetoric and denial of the Holocaust, and called on Secretary Rice to place the United States at the forefront of delivering a strong, united, and unambiguous condemnation before the international community. Hillary believes that the United States should use every tool in its arsenal – from imposing economic sanctions to siphoning off funds for Iran’s nuclear program to initiating a process of direct engagement with Iran. Since she was elected to the Senate in 2000, Hillary has been a strong leader on legislative action aimed at mounting economic and political pressure on Iran through support of the Iran Counter-Proliferation Act and the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act. Hillary also believes in pursuing vigorous diplomacy with Iran. Just as the US government was engaged in direct talks with the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War, so today should the US talk to Iran in order to gain valuable insight, intelligence and information about how to pressure its leadership to change course. But Hillary has said that as president she would not commit to personal meetings with leaders of rogue states without conditions, such as Iran. In dealing with our adversaries, she would plan carefully, and lay the groundwork, and make sure that we achieve meaningful progress as the most responsible way to enhance U.S. security.
Securing Magen David Adom’s acceptance into the International Committee of the Red Cross:
Outraged by the exclusion of Magen David Adom from the International Red Cross, Hillary Clinton became a champion for MDA’s cause. She sponsored legislation that limited US contributions to the International Committee of the Red Cross until it recognized MDA, urged the Swiss government to find a solution that would bestow full participation for the MDA, and spoke out tirelessly on this issue. Finally in the summer of 2006, the ICRC righted this historic wrong and admitted MDA into the International Red Cross.
The leading voice against Anti-Semitism in Palestinian schools:
In 1999, Hillary first spoke out against the textbooks used in Palestinian schools, which reject Israel’s right to exist and describe Israel’s founding as “a catastrophe that is unprecedented in history.” Hillary has led the charge against this propaganda which she says indoctrinates instead of educates Palestinian children and actively prevents these young people from seeing Israel as a potential neighbor. As a Senator, Hillary continued to emphasize this issue, most recently joining with Palestinian Media Watch in February 2007 to release a new report that exposed the continuing anti-Israel and anti-Semitic biases in Palestinian schoolbooks.
Rejecting Hamas:
The Hamas terror campaign has claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians in Israel and as a co-sponsor of the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act in 2006, Hillary voted to prevent any U.S. foreign assistance to flow to a Palestinian government in which Hamas was a participant. Hillary believes that Hamas and indeed all Palestinian groups need to demonstrate clearly and unequivocally their commitment to peace by renouncing violence and terror, recognizing Israel’s right to exist, and complying with previously signed agreements.
Foreign aid to Israel:
Hillary Clinton has consistently supported the annual foreign aid bill which in 2007 for Israel contained $2.34 billion in military aid, $120 million for economic assistance, and $40 million for refugee absorption. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Hillary also advocates for US-Israel defense and security cooperation and has met with Israeli leaders to discuss shared challenges and common interests.
That Hillary co-sponsored the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act in the Senate already suggested that she is perfectly willing to repeat Israeli propaganda casting the Palestinians as terrorists rather than a people seeking freedom from military occupation and self-determination in their own state or nation. Extending this effort, she is seen above repeating other propaganda memes, such as the “right to exist (as a Jewish state)” and “secure from violence and terrorism” and other themes used to cover Israel’s continuing colonization of the West Bank, and denying history such as the ethnic cleansing of 800,000 Palestinians in 1948 (the Nakba or catastrophe), which created the Palestinian refugee problem that exists today. Her only reference to Palestinians at all relates to children’s textbooks, which seems to be just another reference to the notion that Palestinians are terrorists rather than a people fighting military occupation. There is no mention of the hundreds of innocent Palestinians, who die every year at the hands of the Israeli Defense Forces.
There is no mention of the military occupation per se; there is no mention of Israel’s colonial activity, which continues today, in spite of Road Map agreements that Israel would stop settlement activity in the West Bank; there is no mention of peace or a peaceful settlement.
There is no Hillary Road Map, indeed, no mention at all of the commonly held belief that only a two state solution will resolve this conflict. There is no mention of the conflict at all. Rather, what we see from Hillary is advocacy of the most right wing Zionist (Likud) “no state” position, one fully supported by AIPAC and other right wing American Jewish organizations like ZOA and the AJC.
There is little question that a Hillary presidency will guarantee another four years, perhaps eight, of continuing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
UPDATE: Hillary Clinton, as everyone is aware, is part of the Democratic Leadership Council, the centrist Democratic party org that formed on the premise that during the Reagan/Bush I era, America had moved right. For its positions, it is sometimes referred to as Republican Lite, i.e., right of center.
Harold Ford, Jr. is the present chairman of the DLC. U.S. Sen. Tom Carper is vice chair of the DLC; U.S. Hillary Clinton is chair of the DLC’s American Dream Initiative; and Al From is founder and CEO of the DLC.
This section of the DLC agenda provides a view of the DLC take on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is easy to appreciate the proIsrael blinders that prevent any discussion of Israel’s 40 year military occupation and the colonization of the West Bank during that time period (and in Gaza earlier). In fact, it would appear that the Palestinians, an occupied people, are characterized as the villains and troublemakers, and the cause of lack of peace.
DLC | Blueprint Magazine | July 22, 2006
Why America should promote a new liberal order in the Middle East
By Kenneth M. PollackThe Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Keeping the Arab-Israeli peace process moving forward is central to the grand strategy for transforming the Middle East. That will be doubly difficult with Hamas in power. The United States must now exert itself to curb Hamas’ violence and undercut its appeal to the Palestinian people. Above all, policymakers must hold the new Palestinian government accountable for its behavior. The Palestinian Authority signed a series of important agreements with Israel that created the foundation for eventual statehood and immediate benefits in the form of trade, aid, and political engagement. Washington must make crystal clear to the Palestinians that the continuation of those benefits is contingent upon the new government’s continued adherence to all of the terms of those agreements (including those requiring the disarming of militias). The onus must be on the Hamas government and its supporters: Either they give up their terrorist war against Israel, or the international community will give up on their new government.
At the same time, the United States should lead an international effort to increase all forms of assistance to nongovernmental organizations and civil society groups within Palestinian society to provide the Palestinian people with basic services and necessities, coupled with micro-enterprise loans and infrastructure development. The goal should be to jumpstart the Palestinian economy, and so weaken Hamas’ hold on average Palestinian families for whom it provides jobs, money, food, and medical care.