Democratic Party platform criticizes possible Israeli annexation of West Bank, Saudi role in Yemen
Parts of the platform approved at the Democratic National Convention this week have been both praised and criticized by Israel- and Iran-focused groups in Washington.
The Democratic Party's new platform approved at the Democratic National Convention this week shows the party’s evolution on Syria and the US-Saudi relationship, but may disappoint some progressives on Israeli-Palestinian issues.
The party approved the new platform Tuesday. The convention wraps up tonight with a speech from presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden.
The new platform differs from the 2016 one on a few issues involving the Middle East. At the 2016 convention, the Democrats explicitly called for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to be removed from power, endorsing a “negotiated political transition that ends Assad’s rule.” This year, the Democrats do not mention Assad, and simply call for a “political resolution for this horrific war.”
Four years ago, Syrian rebel forces still controlled parts of the largest city, Aleppo, and other areas of the country. The tide has turned in favor of Assad since the Russian intervention in 2015, however, and he now controls most of Syria. Rebels are now relegated to the northwestern province of Idlib and areas along the Turkish border that are de facto run by Turkey.
