The Democratic National Committee is preparing to offer the Bernie Sanders campaign seats on several committees at the July national convention, though that might not be enough to quell the insurgent senator’s plans to enact platform changes.
The Vermont senator has campaigned against both a “rigged” economy and a rigged party. His supporters showed their displeasure with the Democratic establishment this past weekend by booing California Sen. [crscore]Barbara Boxer[/crscore], a Clinton backer, at the Nevada state convention.
The DNC hopes to ease these tensions by putting Sanders allies on the platform, rules, and credentials committees, The Washington Post reports. Sanders is planning to push platform changes with regards to the minimum wage and the U.S. relationship with Israel, according to the Post.
Clinton supporters are worried about Sanders’ desire to change the Democratic Party’s stance with Israel.
The Vermont senator will push for a more “even-handed” position with regards to Israeli and Palestinian land disputes.
“They are both pro-Israel, they are both pro-peace,” one longtime Clinton backer told the Post. “But in the context of the campaign terms like ‘even-handed’ can come to mean that the United States is signaling a shift.”
The 2012 Democratic platform states: “it is precisely because of this commitment that President Obama and the Democratic Party seek peace between Israelis and Palestinians. A just and lasting Israeli-Palestinian accord, producing two states for two peoples, would contribute to regional stability and help sustain Israel’s identity as a Jewish and democratic state. At the same time, the President has made clear that there will be no lasting peace unless Israel’s security concerns are met.”
Sanders, who is Jewish, has said he is “100 percent pro-Israel,” but at a debate he said, “we cannot continue to be one-sided. There are two sides to the issue.” He has called the 2014 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip “disproportionate,” and said, “we are going to have to treat the Palestinian people with respect and dignity.”