Category: Progressive Except Palestine

Election of 3 Israel critics to Congress is historic, but many new Dems are committed to Israel

The good news: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib are Israel-criticizing congressional newcomers. The bad news: other Dem midterm winners join the army of Israel supporters – having vowed to keep America’s commitment to Israel “as fixed and as permanent as the sky” and “make sure that we are supporting Israel into the next generation.” In addition, some key leadership positions will be filled by pro-Israel Jews. Norman Finkelstein sees this as a sign of “a growing divide between US Jews and Israeli Jews.”

NY State Senator Jeff Klein, you have some ‘splaining to do

NY State Senator Jeff Klein seems torn between two viewpoints: one says “all people are created equal, with certain unalienable rights – life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” The other, incompatible with the first:  “Israel, right or wrong.” 

While teachers care about schools & salaries, teachers union head Randi Weingarten positions the union to support Israel

While most teachers are concerned with issues like raising teachers’ pay and strengthening public schools, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten positions the union to support Israel, following a history of such union presidents… Under Weingarten AFT opposes BDS and supports liberal Zionists…