Democratic presidential candidate Dean Phillips discussed his complex relationship with House colleague Rashida Tlaib, highlighting their differing views on Israel and Palestine.
Phillips, a supporter of Israel, emphasized the importance of maintaining ties despite their disagreements.
He expressed concern over Tlaib’s stance on Israel’s right to exist, acknowledging the unresolved nature of their discussions. (Trending: Trump Defies Court And Delivers Closing Argument At Civil Fraud Trial)
Phillips stressed the need for dialogue and understanding, especially in the context of a peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine.
“I am deeply horrified by some of the things she says, by some of her perspectives. But I also have invested time to get to know her and she me, and I’m sure she would say the same thing, that she’s probably appalled by my feelings and affection for Israel,” Phillips said.
“But I believe that friendship of ours is a very important one because if we cannot reconcile, if we cannot see in each other’s heart that we are actually very similar trying to ultimately protect human beings, then how in the heck can Israel and Palestine ultimately become peaceful neighbors?”
“How can the rest of the world if we don’t ultimately find space and place to get to know each other and at least understand each other? When I talk about my friendship with her, it’s complicated, and hers with me, very complicated.”
“Do you think it’s possible to be friends with an antisemite as a Jew?” Phillips was asked.
“Ultimately, no,” he said.
“And this is maybe the fundamental question. Am I, as a defender of Israel, but also a believer in self-determination for Palestinians–if I love Israel, does that mean I am an Islamophobe? No. If someone doesn’t like Israel and somehow favors Palestinians, does that make them an antisemite? I know that’s part of the discussion right now. I think, sometimes yes.”
“Do you think that if someone believes that Israel is the only state that doesn’t have a right to exist that that is an antisemitic position?” he was asked.
“Therein lies my biggest challenge with Rashida,” Phillips said.
“I don’t want to get into some private moments, but we had a very difficult episode on that very specific question. And it was not resolved. It continues to be unresolved, and it’s very difficult for me, that subject, you can imagine why. But I am not the type of leader or representative that runs from the fire because the only way to put out a fire is to be next to it and extinguish it. And that only can be done by human beings if we do so together. And I do not want to eliminate that possibility with her, with anybody.”
“In fact, I’ve reached out to a number of Palestinian leaders in the country, some of whom have responded, many of whom have not, but in the absence of responding, in the absence of at least engaging, we’re doing everybody a disservice.”
“This is probably the most complicated moment of my entire life as it relates to who I am as a human being, my obligations as an American representative, and my aspiration to become the President of the United States as a Jewish man who wishes to ultimately create a Palestinian state that lives side by side with Israel, because I think that’s the only way to keep Israel safe in the long term.”
“And Rashida Tlaib and others, I do believe I need to maintain relations with, because if I don’t, I do not think it is even possible for us to conceive a safe Israel and a secure future for our kids here in America. And, certainly, in the Middle East,” he added.
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