Kamala Harris on Foreign Policy : Oct 23, 2024
Bring the hostages home; bring relief to the Palestinians

Kamala Harris on Principles & Values : Oct 6, 2024
Endorsed by group of 25 Muslim imams

The 25 Islamic religious leaders who signed the letter, which comes a year after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack that sparked the war, argue that Muslim voters have a duty to think logically about their voting decisions and that backing Harris "far outweighs the harms of the other options."

"She is a committed ceasefire candidate too and is the best option for ending the bloodshed in Gaza and now Lebanon," they wrote.

The imams argued that former President Trump is a threat to their community. "Given [Trump's] well-documented history of harming our communities and country," the letter argues that the leaders have "a responsibility, an Amana, not to place our community in harm's way."

Donald Trump on Foreign Policy : Sep 10, 2024
Hamas attacked Israel when Iran got rich; I kept Iran broke

DONALD TRUMP: She hates Israel. She wouldn't even meet with Netanyahu when he went to Congress to make a very important speech. She hates Israel. At the same time in her own way she hates the Arab population because the whole place is going to get blown up, Arabs, Jewish people, Israel. Israel will be gone. It would have never happened--Iran was broke under Donald Trump. Now Iran has $300 billion because they took off all the sanctions that I had. Iran had no money for Hamas or Hezbollah or any of the 28 different spheres of terror. They had no money for terror. They were broke. Now they're a rich nation, spreading that money around, with the Houthis and Yemen.

Kamala Harris on Foreign Policy : Sep 10, 2024
Two-state solution: security for both Israel & Palestinians

HARRIS: Let's understand how we got here. On Oct. 7, Hamas, a terrorist organization, slaughtered 1,200 Israelis. And so absolutely, I said then, I say now, Israel has a right to defend itself. We would. And how it does so matters. Because it is also true far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. What we know is that this war must end. And the way it will end is we need a cease-fire deal and we need the hostages out. We must chart a course for a two-state solution. And in that solution, there must be security for the Israeli people and Israel and in equal measure for the Palestinians. I will always give Israel the ability to defend itself, in particular as it relates to Iran and any threat that Iran and its proxies pose to Israel. But we must have a two-state solution where we can rebuild Gaza, where the Palestinians have security, self-determination and the dignity they so rightly deserve.

Kamala Harris on Foreign Policy : Sep 9, 2024
Will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself

Tim Walz on War & Peace : Aug 6, 2024
Acknowledge "uncommitted" ballots as pro-Palestine protest

After tens of thousands of Democrats cast "uncommitted" ballots in Minnesota's presidential primary-- Walz took a sympathetic view, even praising those voters for being "civically engaged."

"This issue is a humanitarian crisis, they have every right to be heard," Walz said. "These folks are asking for a change in course, they're asking for more pressure to be put on." Broadly, Walz has sought to strike a balance in his rhetoric on the war. "You can hold competing things: That Israel has the right to defend itself, and the atrocities of October 7 are unacceptable, but Palestinian civilians being caught in this," Walz told Minnesota Public Radio in March.

Walz has said at the time that he supported a "working cease-fire" in Gaza, signaling support for the Biden administration's efforts to secure peace.

Tim Walz on War & Peace : Aug 6, 2024
Condemned Hamas attack on Israel, but discuss ceasefire

After the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, Walz ordered state flags to be flown at half-mast and criticized those who did not condemn the attack: "If you did not find moral clarity [after the attack], you need to reevaluate where you're at," Walz said at a [pro-Israel] vigil.

In March, Walz endorsed calls for a permanent "working" ceasefire, after Harris drew praise from the progressive base by calling for an "immediate" six-week ceasefire.

Joe Biden on War & Peace : Jun 27, 2024
3-stage plan for Gaza; only Hamas opposes it

BIDEN: "Number one, everyone from the United Nations Security Council straight through to the G7 to the Israelis & Netanyahu himself have endorsed the plan I put forward, which has three stages to it. The first stage is to treat the hostages for a ceasefire. Second phase is a ceasefire with additional conditions. The third phase is know the end of the war. The only one who wants the war to continue is Hamas, number one. They're the only ones standing down [on accepting the Biden plan]. We're still pushing hard to get them to accept." [See FactCheck confirming United Nations acceptance].

Joe Biden on War & Peace : Jun 27, 2024
FactCheck: Yes, UN accepted Gaza peace plan

The United Nations Security Council has endorsed President Biden's step-by-step plan  to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. After a 14 to 0 vote, with Russia abstaining, the U.S. Ambassador said the council is sending a clear message to the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The Biden administration says Israel already accepted the deal. Hamas called off negotiations after Israel rescued four hostages held in Gaza in an operation [in early June 2024] that also killed more than 270 Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not [accepted the deal] outright.

JD Vance on Foreign Policy : May 12, 2024
Let Israel prosecute this war the way they see fit

A: there are two big problems with what the Biden administration is doing. First of all, it's a fundamentally incoherent policy. On the one hand, they're saying too many Palestinian civilians have been killed. With the other hand, they're depriving the Israelis of the precision-guided weapons that actually cut down on civilian casualties. So, if you're worried about Palestinian casualties, the stated policy here actually doesn't make a ton of sense. And I think the bigger problem here if we zoom out is, look, and I hate to say this, but America is not good at micromanaging wars in the Middle East. The Israelis are our allies. Let them prosecute this war the way they see fit.

Kamala Harris on Foreign Policy : Mar 24, 2024
Israelis & Palestinians both entitled to security & dignity

Joe Biden on Foreign Policy : Mar 7, 2024
Israel has a right to go after Hamas hiding among civilians

Joe Biden on War & Peace : Mar 7, 2024
Build a pier off Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid

To the leadership of Israel, I say this, humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. As we look to the future, the only real solution to the situation is a two-state solution over time.

Joe Biden on War & Peace : Mar 7, 2024
Contain Iran; degrade the Houthis; include Saudi Arabia

Creating stability in the Middle East also means containing the threat posed by Iran. That's why I build a coalition of more than a dozen countries to defend international shipping and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. I've ordered strikes to degrade the Houthis capability and defend US forces in the region. As commander in chief, I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and our military personnel.

Nikki Haley on War & Peace : Jan 18, 2024
Palestinians don't want a 2-state solution; but "maybe"

HALEY: When I was at the U.N., the two-state solution came up over and over again. And Israel always showed up at the table. The Palestinians always rejected the two-state solution, because they want a one-state solution. The Palestinians don't want Israel to exist. We saw that over and over again. Any discussions we had with them, the Palestinian Authority doesn't want to negotiate with Israel. So all the heat always goes to Israel and people always forget the fact that the Palestinians are saying "no" at every breath. When the Palestinians demand anything, Israel has every right to demand security. Israel has every right to say we don't want terrorists on our border. And so will there ever be a two-state solution? Maybe. But Israel has to defend themselves first.

Tim Walz on Foreign Policy : Jan 14, 2024
Gaza is horrific situation and Hamas is not a good actor

Nikki Haley on War & Peace : Jan 10, 2024
Support Israel to eliminate Hamas once and for all

DESANTIS: When Gov. Haley was at the U.N., she supported the idea of a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs. The problem with that is the Palestinian Arabs don't recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. Under no circumstances as president am I going to pressure Israel to risk their security to do a so called two-state solution. She was wrong when she embraced that.

HALEY: When I was at the United Nations, I fought every day for Israel. I said a two-state solution wasn't something that was possible because Israel would always come to the table and the Palestinians wouldn't. But right now, we have to make sure that Israel has the support that it needs. There should be three things. Give Israel whatever it wants to get the job done. Two, eliminate Hamas once and for all. And three, do whatever it takes to bring the hostages home.

Ron DeSantis on War & Peace : Jan 10, 2024
Don't force two-state solution; Palestinians don't accept it

DESANTIS: We've got to support Israel in word and in deed. And they need to be able to finish the job. This is a time to recognize that they've suffered the most murder of Jews since the Holocaust. Hamas wants a second Holocaust. They want to annihilate the state of Israel. We also have a disagreement. When Gov. Haley was at the U.N., she supported the idea of a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs. The problem with that is the Palestinian Arabs don't recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. So doing a two-state solution doesn't create something that's going to lead to a lasting peace. It creates a stepping stone for Israel's destruction. So under no circumstances as president am I going to pressure Israel to risk their security to do a so called two-state solution. She was wrong when she embraced that.

Mike Pence on Foreign Policy : Jan 7, 2024
We will stand with Israel today and tomorrow and every day

Jill Stein on Principles & Values : Dec 17, 2023
Born into Jewish family, stresses she's no longer practicing

Ron DeSantis on War & Peace : Dec 6, 2023
Iran is attacking U.S. as part of Israel-Hamas war

DeSantis: This administration is trying to hobble Israel from being able to defend itself. They have a right to eliminate Hamas and win a total and complete victory so that they never have to deal with this again. Hamas wants nothing less than a second Holocaust, they would wipe off every single Jew off the map. They would destroy the state of Israel if we could. Look, I served in Iraq back in the day. I'm the only one running for president that served in the military, I understand that part of the world. It's not the best part of the world. We do have troops there that Biden is leaving basically as sitting ducks and you have the Iranians that are attacking these troops and he's responding with basically pinpricks. If you harm an American service member, you're going to have hell to pay when I'm president.

Chris Christie on War & Peace : Dec 6, 2023
Damn right I'd send US troops to Gaza

Chris Christie: I would, absolutely. Absolutely. If they had a plan which showed me that we could get them out safely, you're damn right I'd send the American Army in there to get our people home and get them home now, and I'll answer that question directly.

Vivek Ramaswamy on War & Peace : Dec 6, 2023
Hamas attack was dead wrong, but not an attack on America

Gov. Chris Christie: I would, absolutely; you're damn right I'd send the American Army in there to get our people home.

Q: The Hamas terror attack left dozens of Americans dead. You criticized Nikki Haley for saying "Finish them"?

Vivek Ramaswamy: "Finish them" was purposefully vague in a discussion that included Iran, which is what I objected to. And I think it's as US president, you have to be responsible. What happened to Israel was dead wrong, what Hamas did was medieval. It was subhuman, it was immoral. And we have to call that out for what it is on October 7th. But to say that that was an attack on America fails a basic test. That is irresponsible because it has major consequences because that doesn't leave room for what actually is an attack on America.

Jill Stein on War & Peace : Nov 15, 2023
Charges Israel, US leaders with war crimes

"We call for an investigation of the [Israeli Prime Minister] Netanyahu regime's war crimes, as well as the role of Biden and US leaders in aiding and abetting them," said Dr. Stein. "And above all, these crimes must stop now." Dr. Stein blasted Democratic and Republican party leaders including Mike Johnson, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries for standing together at a rally where speakers including Johnson denounced calls for a ceasefire while the crowd approvingly chanted "no ceasefire."

“‘No ceasefire’ is a call for ‘More dead children’,” said Dr. Stein “I stand against the Democratic and Republican allies of war profiteers and AIPAC, demanding #CeasefireInGazaNOW.”

Ron DeSantis on War & Peace : Nov 8, 2023
We will stand with Israel in word and in deed

Gov. Ron DeSantis: I would be telling Bibi, "Finish the job once and for all with these butchers, Hamas, their terrorists, their massacring innocent people." They would wipe every Jew off the globe if they could. He cannot live with that threat right by his country. That Hamas should release every hostage and they should unconditionally surrender. We will stand with Israel in word and in deed in public and in private. As governor, I actually did something about it. Biden's neglect has been atrocious. We had Floridians that were over there after the attack. He left them stranded. They couldn't get flights out. So I sent planes over to Israel and I brought back over 700 people to safety. So there’s a difference between words and deeds; we acted and we save lives.

Dean Phillips on War & Peace : Oct 11, 2023
Condemn the depravity of Hamas, and Iran if they're involved

Phillips wrote on Twitter/X: "If Iran helped plan, support, and initiate the attack on Israel, principled nations of the world must unite and neutralize the most repugnant, repressive, destabilizing regime in the world. Evil cannot be appeased any longer."

In another post, Philips said "As Ranking Member of the House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group, I joined with Chair @RepDavidKustoff and our entire, bipartisan membership to condemn the depravity of Hamas and extend our unwavering support for our friends in the Knesset and the people of Israel."

Corey Stapleton on Foreign Policy : Jan 2, 2020
Two-state solution for Israel like Montana & reservations

Joe Biden on Foreign Policy : Dec 19, 2019
Israel must embrace two-state solution

Bernie Sanders on Foreign Policy : Apr 1, 2018
Gaza is humanitarian disaster; Israelis shouldn't over-react

SANDERS: Yes, they should. Look, Gaza, as I think everybody knows, is a humanitarian disaster. The unemployment rate there is beyond comprehension. And there is just enormous unrest. What the function of the United States government should be right now is to sit down with the Israelis, sit down with the Palestinians and figure out how we can rebuild Gaza.

Q: We should note, the Palestinian Authority did boycott a meeting at the White House recently to talk about rebuilding Gaza.

SANDERS: We should also to tell the Israelis that when you've got tens and tens of thousands of people protesting, they cannot overreact. And the idea of 15 or so people being killed and hundreds being wounded is, to me, unacceptable.

Bernie Sanders on Foreign Policy : Sep 5, 2015
Two-state solution for Israel & Palestine

• Jewish Heritage: Bernie is Jewish, but he does not favor Israel over the Palestinians, nor does he otherwise let his religion influence his positions regarding the conflict.
• Two-State Solution: Bernie believes that Israel and the Palestinians can, and should, peacefully co-exist: "Israel has a right to exist in security, and at the same time the Palestinians have a state of their own.
• On Netanyahu & Iran: Bernie is not a big supporter of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and believes that diplomacy, not military action or economic sanctions, can keep Israel safe from Iran.