We followed Netanyahu blindly, admits Obama aide in scathing Tel Aviv speech

Rahm Emanuel, former chief of staff to Barack Obama and a potential Democratic presidential candidate, delivered a sharp critique of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a speech at Tel Aviv University. Emanuel accused Netanyahu of leading the country toward a “dead end” and called for sanctions against Israeli settlements, marking a significant rebuke from a prominent American Democratic figure.In his address, Emanuel appeared to acknowledge past American support for Israeli government policies, saying: “Our mistake – we followed your government blindly.” The comments suggest a shift in sentiment among some senior Democratic figures regarding US-Israel relations and settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.Emanuel’s call for sanctions against settlements represents a hardening of the Democratic Party’s official position on Israeli settlements, which Washington has long considered obstacles to peace negotiations. His remarks come amid ongoing tensions over Israeli construction in occupied Palestinian territories and broader concerns about the viability of a two-state solution.The speech underscores deepening divisions within the American political establishment over how to approach the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Emanuel positioning himself as critical of unconditional support for Netanyahu’s government policies. His potential presidential ambitions mean the speech may signal where Democratic candidates could be positioned on Middle East policy in future US elections.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.