Where Democratic presidential hopefuls stand on Jewish issues

Here are links to a series of articles on what eight of the Democratic presidential hopefuls have said or done regarding Israel and other Jewish concerns: Amy Klobuchar, Andrew Yang, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden, Mike Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg. These articles were assembled by the staff of the JTA before the latest debate and edited by The Jewish Star for space and style.

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In debate, some Dems voice caution over Israel

In last week’s Democratic presidential debate, some of the 10 candidates participating touched — briefly — on issues involving Israel.

“It is no longer good enough for us to be pro-Israel, I am pro-Israel, but we must treat the Palestinians with the dignity they deserve,” said Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

“Israel has the right not only to exist, but to exist in peace and security,” Sanders said. “But what U.S. foreign policy must be about is not just being pro-Israel. We must be pro-Palestinian as well.”

He called for “a level playing field” in Gaza.

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg accused President Trump of “making U.S. foreign-policy choices in order to effectively interfere in Israeli domestic politics — acting as though that somehow makes him pro-Israel and pro-Jewish, while welcoming white nationalists in the White House.”

Former Vice President Joe Biden said Trump is “no longer being an honest broker in Israel.”

“It’s not possible to have a Jewish state in the Middle East without there being a two-state solution,” Biden continued, adding, however, he said he wouldn’t condition U.S. aid on the Jewish state’s actions.

“What we have to do is put pressure constantly on the Israelis to move to a two-state solution,” he said. “Not withdraw physical aid from them in terms of their security.”