Elizabeth Warren blew up any hopes from the anti-Israel left that she might voice stronger criticism of Israel's Gaza campaign than more mainstream Democratic lawmakers. Warren had managed to effectively dodge questions on Israel for weeks, but in a town hall filled with far left supporters last week, Warren found herself defending her vote to send $225 million to Israel, and in the process finally explained her position on its Gaza campaign.
Responding to one supporter who criticized her vote—comparing Israel’s use of weapons in Gaza to police officers’ use of weapons against “innocents” in Ferguson—Warren said she stood by her decision. Warren explained that America has a “very special relationship with Israel” and it is one of the only liberal democracies in that “very dangerous part of the world” and thus a much needed ally. Warren then went a step further and condemned Hamas for its use of human shields.
The Cape Code Times reports:
"I think the vote was right, and I'll tell you why I think the vote was right," she said. "America has a very special relationship with Israel. Israel lives in a very dangerous part of the world, and a part of the world where there aren't many liberal democracies and democracies that are controlled by the rule of law. And we very much need an ally in that part of the world."
Warren said Hamas has attacked Israel "indiscriminately," but with the Iron Dome defense system, the missiles have "not had the terrorist effect Hamas hoped for." When pressed by another member of the crowd about civilian casualties from Israel's attacks, Warren said she believes those casualties are the "last thing Israel wants."
"But when Hamas puts its rocket launchers next to hospitals, next to schools, they're using their civilian population to protect their military assets. And I believe Israel has a right, at that point, to defend itself," Warren said, drawing applause.
As Allahpundit argues, though Warren is frustrating the anti-Israel left here, she’s making a smart move electorally, especially if she’s planning to make a presidential run any time soon:
Support for Israel is the smart, safe play for Democrats, even liberal Democrats, with national ambitions. The anti-Israel left is used to being frustrated by its national leaders on this issue; they’ve learned to tolerate it, partly because they know most Americans are pro-Israel and partly because, as that Michelle Nunn campaign memo put it, they need Jewish donors. If Warren primaried Hillary and hit her from the left domestically while lining up with her on foreign policy, they’d give her a pass. They gave Obama a pass in lining up with McCain on gay marriage, didn’t they? They’re willing to bend on certain issues in the interest of electability, especially if they suspect the candidate would be more liberal in office than he or she seems on the trail. All Warren is doing here is conserving a little electability — which is not to suggest that she’s running. She isn’t. Probably.
