I noted the other day that the Republican attacks on Democratic platform changes were not confined to recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Another change the Republican Jewish Coaliton and others have noted is the removal of language calling for the return of refugees to a Palestinian state and not to Israel.
I’ve not heard that the pro-Israel community is so exercised about this one (the big issue was Jerusalem, which the Democrats reinstated) — and I noted that it does not appear in the GOP platform either.
I also linked to the entire platforms for readers to contrast and compare.
Turns out I shoulda been doing a little more contrasting and comparing myself.
The Republicans also removed refugee language from their 2012 platform that appeared in their 2008 platform.
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The U.S. seeks a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East, negotiated between the parties themselves, without the imposition of an artificial timetable, and without the demand that Israel deal with entities which continue to pledge her destruction. At the heart of any peace process must be a mutual commitment to resolve all issues through negotiation. Part of that process must be a just, fair, and realistic framework for dealing with the Palestinian refugee issue. Like all other elements in a meaningful agreement, this matter can be settled only on the basis of mutually agreed changes that reflect today’s realities as well as tomorrow’s hopes.
The U.S. seeks a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East, negotiated between the parties themselves with the assistance of the U.S., without the imposition of an artificial timetable. Essential to that process will be a just, fair, and realistic framework for dealing with the issues that can be settled on the basis of mutually agreed changes reflecting today’s realities as well as tomorrow’s hopes.
For what its worth, the 2008 Democratic Party platform language is also stronger than what the Republicans had in their platforms from either year. It calls for a clear resettlement plan in Palestine; the Republicans leave that open in both cases.
The creation of a Palestinian state through final status negotiations, together with an international compensation mechanism, should resolve the issue of Palestinian refugees by allowing them to settle there, rather than in Israel.
As I’ve noted, the Republicans also softened their language on recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, removing the word "undivided," and as well as a call to move the embassy to Jerusalem. I have yet to hear from the RNC about these removals.
