Sanders picks James Zogby for DNC platform committee

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has picked an influential pro-Palestinian activist as a member on one of the five slots he was given to the 15-member DNC platform committee, The Washington Post “>reported on Friday that Sanders intends to push for revisions in the party’s position about relations with Israel, with a focus on elevating Palestinian rights as a U.S. priority and push for a more even-handed approach to the Israeli-Palestinians conflict.

On Saturday, Zogby called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s behavior in seeking to expand his coalition government  as “shameful.” But he also criticized the administration and Americans for continuing “to enable his malevolent rule.” The Obama administration has “repeatedly expressed displeasure over Netanyahu’s settlement policies and his blatant interference in US internal politics.

The Obama administration has “repeatedly expressed displeasure over Netanyahu’s settlement policies and his blatant interference in US internal politics,” Zogby wrote, as noted by The Washington Post. “Nevertheless, the administration is now debating whether to reward his government with a 10-year aid package valued at $35 billion—while Netanyahu, supported by allies in Congress, is brazenly holding out for $45 to $50 billion. And so, operating with virtually no restraints, Netanyahu continues to maneuver and to aggressively advance his hard-line agenda. He maintains his grip on power. Israeli society continues to become more extreme and intolerant. Palestinians are more despairing and desperate. And peace more remote.”

The deal between the campaigns and the DNC – which gives the Clinton campaign six members and the Sanders campaign five members – gives Sanders an unusual say over the platform, no matter what the outcome will be in the remaining presidential primaries.

The National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) said in a statement to Jewish Insider