Clinton's Israel stance expected to rule DNC despite energized left

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9. J Street lauds Democrats for putting Palestinian rights in platform

Source: Times of Israel

Despite rejection of language calling for ‘end to occupation and settlements,’ new stance still marks step forward, head of dovish lobby says

Dovish Israel lobby J Street offered full-throated approval for the Democratic Party’s new platform late Saturday, saying the draft document’s recognition of Palestinian rights marked “an important step forward.”

Drafting of the document lasted into the early hours of Saturday, with the committee eventually voting down an amendment led by James Zogby that would have called for providing Palestinians with “an end to occupation and illegal settlements” and urged an international effort to rebuild Gaza.”

Instead, the draft dropped that language and advocated working toward a “two-state solution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict” that guarantees Israel’s security with recognized borders “and provides the Palestinians with independence, sovereignty, and dignity.”

J Street head Jeremy Ben-Ami said in a statement that the language nonetheless represented a “more balanced approach” from previous Democratic party platforms.

Read more: http://www.timesofisrael.com/j-street-lauds-democrats-for-putting-palestinian-rights-in-platform/