The Democratic Party came out strong against US President Donald Trump's dramatic policy shift regarding Israeli settlements.
A spokesman for Joe Biden's campaign told the Jewish Insider on Monday night that "this decision harms the cause of diplomacy, takes us further away from the hope of a two-state solution, and will only further inflame tensions in the region. It's not about peace or security. It is not about being pro-Israel. It is about undercutting Israel's future in service of Trump's personal politics."
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His spokesman also echoed a chorus often heard within US President Obama's administration: settlement expansion is an obstacle to peace.
Other candidates took to Twitter last night to express their chagrin.
Elizabeth Warren slammed the move saying it was, "another blatantly ideological attempt by the Trump administration to distract from its failures in the region. Not only do these settlements violate international law—they make peace harder to achieve."
She also vowed to swiftly reverse the decision should she unseat President Trump.
Another blatantly ideological attempt by the Trump administration to distract from its failures in the region. Not only do these settlements violate international law—they make peace harder to achieve. As president, I will reverse this policy and pursue a two state solution. https://t.co/AgkpYDY8PU
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) November 18, 2019
Unsurprisingly, Bernie Sanders lamented the move as well, calling the settlements in "occupied" territory "illegal."
"This is clear from international law and multiple United Nations resolutions. Once again, Mr. Trump is isolating the United States and undermining diplomacy by pandering to his extremist base," he said.
Israeli settlements in occupied territory are illegal. This is clear from international law and multiple United Nations resolutions. Once again, Mr. Trump is isolating the United States and undermining diplomacy by pandering to his extremist base. https://t.co/Vz5NNpKIVB
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) November 18, 2019
His most popular surrogates, Freshman Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, too, blasted the announcement.
Omar called on "all who believe in the possibility of peace must speak up in this moment," while Tlaib maintain trained that settlements are "illegal" "no matter what this corrupt and immoral Trump regime (yeah he is a lawless king-like dictator) say."
Meanwhile, Pete Buttigieg said the move was a "step back" fostering peace and is just the latest in a "pattern of destructive decisions that harm our national interests."
The Trump administration's statement on West Bank settlements is not only a significant step backward in our efforts to achieve a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is the latest in a pattern of destructive decisions that harm our national interests. https://t.co/1RFBv7O1bZ
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) November 18, 2019
Similarly, Amy Klobuchar accused Trump of playing politics and taking Israel further from achieving a two-state solution.
The Trump administration's announcement on Israeli settlements goes against long-standing U.S. policy. Once again Donald Trump is playing politics and taking us further away from a path to a two-state solution.
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) November 19, 2019
Should the Democrats emerge triumphant in 2020, it remains to be seen which Israel-related initiatives led by Trump will dismantle.
While it's unlikely they will move the embassy back to Tel Aviv or rescind recognition of the Golan Heights, former US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro explained on Twitter that this move is "seen as a green light to encourage settlement expansion or annexation" and continues Trump's efforts to bury the two-state solution. That's a posture that a Dem administration, come January 2021, will reverse."
