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2016 Postmortem
Showing Original Post only (View all)Critics Aghast at 'DISGUSTING SPEECH' Hillary Clinton Just Gave to AIPAC [View all]
Democratic presidential candidate speech praises "everything that is bad about Israeli policy and U.S. imperialism" In a statement to Common Dreams, Rebecca Vilkomerson, executive director of Jewish Voice for Peace, said that the speech "is a reminder of the current limits of the mainstream discourse on Israel, which rely on racist and Islamophobic tropes to justify unquestioning support for Israel."
"From Democrats to Republicans, the message is the same," Vilkomerson continued. "More arms for Israel, a stronger relationship between Israel and the U.S., no mention of Palestinian rights, and no recognition of the impossible contradiction of being both democratic and Jewish when the state is predicated on maintaining systems of unequal rights and rule by military occupation."
"From Democrats to Republicans, the message is the same," Vilkomerson continued. "More arms for Israel, a stronger relationship between Israel and the U.S., no mention of Palestinian rights, and no recognition of the impossible contradiction of being both democratic and Jewish when the state is predicated on maintaining systems of unequal rights and rule by military occupation."
Hillary Clinton told the powerful AIPAC lobby on Monday that if elected president one of her first actions would be to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House. (Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty) Palestinian and human rights advocates were aghast over remarks made by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) convention on Monday, saying the her speech represented "everything that is wrong" with U.S. imperialism and policy in the Middle East. During the address, Clinton vowed to take the U.S.-Israel relationship to "the next level"a level which seemingly includes more war and imperialism, few, if any, rights for Palestinians, and definitely no economic boycotts of Israel. Striking a hawkish tone, Clinton warned the powerful lobby group against rival candidates who want to "outsource Middle East security to dictators" and "cede the mantle of leadership for global peace and security," and instead vowed even more "security and intelligence cooperation."
"As president, I will make a firm commitment to ensure Israel maintains its qualitative military edge," she said. "The United States should provide Israel with the most sophisticated defense technology so it can deter and stop any threats. That includes bolstering Israeli missile defenses with new systems like the Arrow Three and Davids Sling. And we should work together to develop better tunnel detection, technology to prevent armed smuggling, kidnapping and terrorist attacks."
~snip~
Touting her "deep, personal commitment" to the "Jewish state," Clinton then said that "one of the first things Ill do in office is invite Israeli Prime Minister [Benjamin Netanyahu] to visit the White House." The speech proved that, on matters of Israel, Clinton is "running to the right" of GOP front-runner Donald Trump, as noted by Mondoweiss' Philip Weiss, who wrote that the remarks were "filled with red meat for Israel supporters" and "contained scant reference to the peace process." Later, Clinton doubled down on her previous pledge to dismantle the growing international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, linking the campaign against Palestinian apartheid to anti-Semitism, saying "we must repudiate all efforts to malign, isolate and undermine Israel and the Jewish people."
"Ive been sounding the alarm for a while now," Clinton continued. "As I wrote last year in a letter to the heads of major American Jewish organizations, we have to be united in fighting back against BDS."
Clinton then specifically called on young people "on the front lines" to resist efforts to boycott Israel, saying: "I hope you stay strong. Keep speaking out. Dont let anyone silence you, bully you or try to shut down debate" to which Naomi Dann, media correspondent for Jewish Voice for Peace, responded:
Naomi Dann @naomi_dann
.@HillaryClinton please STOP enlisting young people as soldiers on the 'frontlines' to silence the mvmt for Palestinian rights
#AIPAC2016
.@HillaryClinton please STOP enlisting young people as soldiers on the 'frontlines' to silence the mvmt for Palestinian rights
#AIPAC2016
Though unsurprised by the candidate's vigorous support for the policies and tactics of the Israeli state, observers pointed to the remarks as a frightening indicator of what a Clinton presidency could mean for the Middle East.
Naomi Dann @naomi_dann
everything that is bad about Israeli policy AND US imperialism is being praised by #HillaryClinton right now at #AIPAC2016
everything that is bad about Israeli policy AND US imperialism is being praised by #HillaryClinton right now at #AIPAC2016
Glenn Greenwald ✔?@ggreenwald
Can't say it enough: the ability/willingness of progressives to simply ignore all this is breathtaking
10:57 AM - 21 Mar 2016
Can't say it enough: the ability/willingness of progressives to simply ignore all this is breathtaking
10:57 AM - 21 Mar 2016
Rania Khalek @RaniaKhalek
Hillary Clinton at #AIPAC2016 pledged to "provide Israel w/ the most sophisticated defense technology so it can deter & stop any threats."
Hillary Clinton at #AIPAC2016 pledged to "provide Israel w/ the most sophisticated defense technology so it can deter & stop any threats."
Rania Khalek ?@RaniaKhalek
Expect many more hundreds of children to be massacred under a Hillary presidency.
12:04 PM - 21 Mar 2016
Expect many more hundreds of children to be massacred under a Hillary presidency.
12:04 PM - 21 Mar 2016
Glenn Greenwald ✔?@ggreenwald
Has even one single Clinton supporter denounced the disgusting speech she gave today?
1:08 PM - 21 Mar 2016
Has even one single Clinton supporter denounced the disgusting speech she gave today?
1:08 PM - 21 Mar 2016
cont'
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/03/21/critics-aghast-disgusting-speech-clinton-just-gave-aipac
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Critics Aghast at 'DISGUSTING SPEECH' Hillary Clinton Just Gave to AIPAC [View all]
Segami
Mar 2016
OP
But it is position that some Christians believe because 'Jews are the Chosen People'.
glinda
Mar 2016
#113
You want accuracy? LOL. Ok, Clinton is a neocon that reveles in American Exceptionalism.
rhett o rick
Mar 2016
#7
Who wouldn't agree with defensive weapons systems for Israel. I'll bet Sanders agrees with that.
Trust Buster
Mar 2016
#6
How about defensive weapons for Palistine? It's American Exceptionalism at it's worst.
rhett o rick
Mar 2016
#9
I tried to listen with an open mind, despite your condescending generalization
Armstead
Mar 2016
#38
Damned "extremists" also wanted to boycott South Africa because of Apartheid.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Mar 2016
#13
This is no surprise. Did she even attempt to give lip service to a two state solution?
EndElectoral
Mar 2016
#20
Yeah, just read the transcript and then Biden's damage control from the WH
EndElectoral
Mar 2016
#42
No wonder Bibi is just trying to run out the clock on the Obama administration.
geek tragedy
Mar 2016
#52
The only question for Clinton is what kind of bad she'll be on the Middle East.
geek tragedy
Mar 2016
#21
She probably just thought she was at another fund raiser . Tell them what they want to here.
bahrbearian
Mar 2016
#22
I can only take a certain level of disgust from her statements and actions every day.
pdsimdars
Mar 2016
#49
One thing she could do to help Israel, she could stop waging war on the nascent cannabis industry.
Warren DeMontague
Mar 2016
#57
It should all be legal. Recreational and medical. But the first step is to deschedule it federally.
Warren DeMontague
Mar 2016
#63
Wonderful speech! Very proud to see her take a stand against the hate of BDS!
tritsofme
Mar 2016
#51
I reject the moral equivalence. BDS is the modern incarnation of the anti-Jewish boycott movement.
tritsofme
Mar 2016
#58
I don't expect to convince you. I'll just say that I agree with the ADL and SWC
tritsofme
Mar 2016
#62
Corporation (LMT) -NYSE 221.26 Up 0.35(0.16%) 4:02PM EDT After Hours : 221.26 0.00 (0.00%) 4:05PM ED
Warren DeMontague
Mar 2016
#53
Didn't you just post this exact response with exactly the same pattern of emoticons somewhere else
sibelian
Mar 2016
#81
She told them what they wanted to hear, and now she'll "clarify" (walk back) parts for the base
whatchamacallit
Mar 2016
#71
And now that bernie's FP speech transcripts are out..the Outrage shifts
misterhighwasted
Mar 2016
#79
Both Clintons stepped in it with these speeches today. (MSM will spin it for them, though.)
RiverLover
Mar 2016
#89
Those (widely held to be illegal) settlements will continue to goad many to violence
Babel_17
Mar 2016
#108