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<\/a><\/p>\nThen-Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg speaks to voters in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Jan. 15, 2020. (Spencer Platt\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The dramatic shift for the 43-year-old former transportation secretary, who is seen as a possible contender for president in 2028, marks the latest evidence of how past norms on Israel are evaporating within the Democratic Party.<\/p>\n
The backlash followed Buttigieg\u2019s conversation earlier this week with Jon Favreau, the host of the popular liberal \u201cPod Save America\u201d podcast. There, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, echoed his stance from his 2019 presidential bid: He sees Israel as a \u201cfriend\u201d in need of support during a difficult time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that we, as Israel\u2019s strongest ally and friend, you put your arm around your friend when there\u2019s something like this going on, and talk about what we\u2019re prepared to do together,\u201d Buttigieg told Favreau when asked how the next administration should handle its relationship with Israel.<\/p>\n
Buttigieg also shied from giving Favreau a definitive answer on the future of U.S. recognition of Palestinian statehood, telling the host that it was a \u201cprofound question.\u201d<\/p>\n
The answers appeared to be poorly calibrated for a potential party leader in the current moment. In recent weeks, Israel\u2019s ongoing and widening offensive in Gaza has transformed into a political litmus test for Democrats, with approval from within the party for Israel\u2019s actions in Gaza at just 8% according to a recent Gallup poll and record numbers of Democratic senators supporting resolutions to block U.S. military sales to Israel.<\/p>\n
In the wake of the podcast appearance, Buttigieg drew backlash from several top Democrats, including California Rep. Ro Khanna, who wrote, \u201cWe need moral clarity, not status quo,\u201d in a post on X.<\/p>\n
\u201cPete is a smart guy and I admire a lot of what he\u2019s done, but I have absolutely no idea what he thinks based on these answers,\u201d wrote Ben Rhodes, the former deputy national security advisor during the Obama administration, in a post on X. \u201cJust tell us what you believe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buttigieg revised his comments in a subsequent interview with Politico, telling the outlet that he understood the criticism he had faced.<\/p>\n
\u201cI get it,\u201d Buttigieg said of the negative reactions to that interview. \u201cIt\u2019s important to be clear about something this enormous and this painful. It\u2019s just that it\u2019s so enormous and it\u2019s so painful that sometimes words can fail.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a sharp reversal of his previous comments, Buttigieg told Politico he would have signed on to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders\u2019 proposed arms embargo against Israel, which received record support from Democrats.<\/p>\n
Buttigieg also said he would recognize a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution, and thought that the United States should not necessarily negotiate another 10-year memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Israel on weapons sales.<\/p>\n
\u201cDemocrats \u2014 like all Americans, but certainly Democrats \u2014 are sickened by what\u2019s happening and trying to hold several things in mind at the same time, all of which can be true: that what has to happen next is the killing has to end,\u201d Buttigieg told Playbook. \u201cThe hostages have to come home. And the people of Gaza need aid unimpeded, and all of that should be happening immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n