The Council on Foreign Relations sent out a questionnaire to the 2020 Democrats with questions about foreign policy. As expected, their answers are about the same, rejoining the Iran Deal, imposing sanctions on Russia, and praising the wise leadership of Obama.

When you eliminate the candidates who have no shot, e.g. Marianne Williamson, Tim Ryan, Kirsten Gillibrand,  Joe Sestak, Seth Moulton, John Delaney, it turns out fairly few candidates actually responded. There are responses from Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg however. And the responses on Israel have a common theme.

Most 2020 Dems blame Trump for alienating the PLO by pressuring it. Most call for restoring aid to the terrorists. A number promise to pressure Israel. 

Joe Biden falsely claimed that, “neither the Israeli nor Palestinian leadership seems willing to take the political risks necessary to make progress through direct negotiations.”

He urges restoring aid to the terrorists.

Cory Booker offers a bland, short non-answer.

Pete Buttigieg blasts, what he calls, Israel’s “short-sighted focus on military responses” to Islamic terrorism. He tries to frame his promise to pressure Israel as a cutesy, “The United States needs to put its arm around the shoulder of its ally, Israel, and help it to develop policies.”

Kirsten Gillibrand, who represents the most Jewish state in the country, promises more “balance” (code for being less pro-Israel) and a restoration of aid to the terrorists.

Bernie Sanders, a longtime opponent of Israel, promised harsher measures. “My administration would also be willing to bring real pressure to bear on both sides, including conditioning military aid, to create consequences for moves that undermine the chances for peace.”

Sanders says both sides, but he’s called for pulling military aid from Israel as far back as the Yom Kippur War in the 70s. And talk of military aid means he means to pressure Israel. As does the language about moves that undermine peace. 

Marianne Williamson delivers a confused rant in which she declares that Jews living in the parts of Israel conquered by Islamic terrorists is illegal, comes out against blockading Hamas and vows “to exert pressure on Israel to restart talks on a two-state solution.