Portrait of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Politician · country
Wikipedia (opens in new tab)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Palestine

Pro-Israel champion (strong)

TL;DR

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. strongly affirms his family's legacy as a staunch champion for Israel and critiques the current Democratic Party's stance.

Key Points

  • He stated that Israel has no choice but to eradicate Hamas to achieve peace and protect its civilians from aggression.

  • He believes that criticizing Israel is not inherently antisemitic unless it applies a double standard not held to other nations.

  • He cited his family's history, including his uncle Edward Kennedy being the architect of the exodus of oppressed Soviet Jewry in the 1980s and 1990s.

Summary

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. explicitly presents himself as a stronger supporter of Israel than any other current presidential candidate, framing this as a core part of his family's political DNA. He champions the historical and moral argument for the Jewish state, stressing its status as the Middle East's only democracy and noting its military discipline in warfare. He views the widespread condemnation of Israel as being based on a distorted understanding of the region's history and asserts that Israel attempts to treat Palestinians morally, even when facing a Palestinian leadership whose charter calls for genocide. He also expressed regret over past comments concerning a COVID-19 study, stating he must be more careful with his words due to their potential for misuse.

He expressed concern that the Democratic Party has drifted from its historical support for Israel, observing a generational lack of understanding regarding the Jewish state's importance. The candidate detailed a personal history interwoven with Israeli events, such as remembering the start of the Six-Day War with his father. While emphasizing Israel's right to defend itself against aggression like Hamas's rocket attacks, he also condemned the criminal behavior of some Israeli settlers toward Palestinians. Furthermore, he stated that a ceasefire would not end the conflict as long as Hamas remained in power, stating the need to eradicate the group.

Key Quotes

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently called Palestinians “the most pampered people by international aid organizations in the history of the world.”

he said that he will always stand with the nation of Israel.

“I don't think that anybody should be called antisemitic because they criticize Israel. That's not antisemitic,”

Frequently Asked Questions

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. maintains a strongly pro-Israel position, emphasizing the Jewish state's security needs and historical context in the conflict. He has stated that Israel is doing what it can to save lives while fighting Hamas. He believes a ceasefire is ineffective while Hamas remains in power.

Yes, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has described Palestinians as being the most pampered people by international aid organizations in the history of the world. This comment was made in December 2023, when he also expressed concern over aid being diverted to fund violence against Israel.

The candidate declared that a ceasefire would not end the war in Gaza because Hamas would use that time to continue taking hostages. He supports Israel's right to defend itself against groups like Hamas, which he notes has a charter calling for the genocide of Jews.