Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) indicated over the weekend that she was open to making aid to Israel conditional if Jerusalem continues to advance its settlement plans in the West Bank.
In her comments for The Hill published on Oct. 20, the Democratic presidential candidate answered a question about her stance on American aid and Israel’s West Bank settlements, hinting at two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“Right now, Netanyahu says he is going to take Israel in a direction of increasing settlements, [but] that does not move us in the direction of a two-state solution,” Warren said. “It is the official policy of the United States of America to support a two-state solution, and if Israel is moving in the opposite direction, then everything is on the table.”
When asked for further clarification, Warren cut the reporter off, restating that “everything is on the table.”
Warren’s response came after two Democratic presidential contenders, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), openly proposed withholding American dollars in aid to Israel until the country is willing to change some of its policies. Buttigieg promised in June that if he was elected president, he would make sure no taxpayers’ money would be used by Netanyahu in annexing the West Bank.
Sanders said in New Hampshire this August that the U.S. government could leverage “a whole lot of money to Israel” to “end some of the racism” that has recently taken place in the country. He did not clarify how much money he expected to leverage and what specific policies he wanted to change.
Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign assistance since World War II, according to a Congressional Research Service report (pdf). To date the United States has provided Israel $142.3 billion in bilateral assistance and missile defense funding.
For the financial year 2018, Israel received $3.1 billion via the Foreign Military Financing program, which distributes funds to U.S. allies for American military equipment and services.
After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel’s Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 21, 2019
Earlier this year, the Trump administration formally recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is disputed with Syria, making the United States the first country to do so.
The Trump administration also withdrew the United States from UNESCO, citing the U.N. agency’s “anti-Israel bias.” Following the decision, Israel also announced it would withdraw from the organization.
