Haaretz : Biden vuole "resettare radicalmente" le relazioni USA-Israele sui diritti dei palestinesi, afferma il legislatore democratico
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WASHINGTON - Rep. Ro Khanna said Friday that the Biden administration will "radically reset" U.S. relations with Israel over matters pertaining to Palestinian rights.
The Democratic congressman from California told MSNBC's Mehdi Hasan that Biden is "going to make clear that Israel is an ally and always has been ally, but they have to recognize Palestinian statehood, they can't be having new settlements, they can't be burning down Palestinian villages. Human rights are going to matter - we're going to have a human rights-focused foreign policy."
Khanna's comments come amid growing concerns in Israel over Biden's lack of contact with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu two-and-a-half weeks into his presidency. Biden also did not mention Israel during his first major foreign policy speech on Thursday, as senior officials in his administration have stressed the urgent need to reengage in global efforts to curb Iran's nuclear program despite Israeli opposition.
Khanna, who is currently in his third term and sits on the House Armed Services Committee, has said that he does not believe BDS is practical nor would it lead to peace. However, he has been an outspoken critic of the Israeli government since taking office. This past summer, Khanna said the president should condition aid to Israel if it contradicts U.S. policy interests or human rights.
"Reagan did this when Israel bombed Iraq. There was a restriction on aid. Other presidents have done it. George Bush Sr. did it on loan guarantees. So, this is not something far out from our party’s tradition. And I do think there needs to be a clear statement on Palestinian rights. I think we need to speak out more clearly with the UAE-Israel agreement."
"I mean, it’s a good thing anytime countries are at peace, but that cannot be at the expense of Palestinian rights," Khanna told Democracy Now. "Palestinians can’t be the collateral damage of great power politics in the Middle East."
Khanna also harshly criticized Israel for banning Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from visiting in August 2019, calling the move "an insult to the American people."
"Why would any country make a decision to deny a United States congressman access to their country? Do they not believe the United States has done a tremendous amount for Israel? Do they not recognize that we are the most powerful nation in the world? Do they not believe that we have made the world safer and stronger? It's not about Rep. Tlaib, it's not about representative Omar, it's about respecting the American people," Khanna said.
Khanna, who criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, was also among the most critical lawmakers of Netanyahu following the deadly Gaza border clashes on the day of the U.S. Embassy dedication in Jerusalem.
"52 Palestinians killed, and Netanyahu describes it as a “glorious day.” Even the staunchest supporters of Israel would be appalled by the moral obtuseness of that statement. He has hurt Israel’s case with American progressives more than any other Israeli leader in history," he tweeted.
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