While criticizing BDS, NYC Mayor says he looks forward to see Netanyahu is no longer PM

In an interview with Bloomberg, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has called ‘Israel’ “a fundamentally progressive concept”, saying he looks forward to the day when Netanyahu is no longer prime minister while criticizing the BDS movement.

De Blasio was asked if he was concerned about a rise in support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement “on the left.” He said the vast majority of liberal Democrats oppose the movement.

Speaking of the BDS supporters, he said, “I respect their First Amendment rights, but that doesn’t stop me from profoundly disagreeing with what they’re doing.”

“Israel is a fundamentally progressive concept. It is about having a homeland for a people who’ve been oppressed for millennia and who still have to wonder if they will have safety in the rest of the world. I don’t know what could be more progressive than a homeland for oppressed people,” he told Bloomberg.

“You can disagree with Benjamin Netanyahu, but still understand why Israel matters so much in the world. So I’m happy to take on the discussion anytime, anywhere. It is about our values as Democrats and progressives,” de Blasio said.

De Blasio also said he believes Democrats should stand by ‘Israel’ and that he supports the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“I consistently disagree with Netanyahu and I look forward to the day when he’s no longer prime minister,” he stated.

De Blasio, who will leave office next year following this fall’s mayoral election, has been a leading pro-Israel voice in the progressive movement during his tenure.

In 2015, in an interview with The Yeshiva World, de Blasio was asked if he was concerned or worried at all with all of the violence that is going in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, he answered, “No, I’m concerned for the people of Israel. Let me separate me from them. I’m concerned about what’s happening to the people. I’m obviously deeply troubled by the attacks on innocent Israelis and the atmosphere there.”

He added, “I believe that, you know, Israeli security forces obviously know what they’re doing and NYPD knows what it’s doing and I’m very comfortable with that.”

It seems that ‘Israel’ is a big part of the discussion in the race for the Democratic nomination to be the next NY’s mayor,as there are so many Jewish Democratic voters in New York.

So, we see the candidates shamelessly pandering on ‘Israel’, denouncing the BDS campaign, for boycotts, divestments and sanctions.

The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, as it defines itself, works to end international support for Israel’s oppression of Palestinians and pressure ‘Israel’ to comply with international law.