The United States Democratic Party Platform Committee rejected a motion to revise its standing-policy vis-à-vis support for Israel.
Despite reported efforts by Senator Bernie Sanders (D, Vermont) to condition military aid and separately condemn Jerusalem for the so-called ‘occupation of Palestinian territories,’ the party’s presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden managed to secure overwhelming support for the safeguarding of all policy pertaining to the special alliance between the U.S. and Israel.
Sen. Sanders proposed amendments to the party platform were rejected by a vote of 117 members against with just 34 in favor. Text of the adopted platform that was approved by the committee, nevertheless remains critical of Israel’s civilian presence in internationally-disputed territories on the West Bank of the Jordan River and also the pledge to renew U.S. aid to Palestinian civilians.