Where does liberal icon Warren stand on Israel?

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has become a rising star in the Democratic Party through her focus on such economic and social issues as income inequality and taking on Wall Street banks, triggering a groundswell of liberal support and calls for her to run for president. Less is known about her views on foreign policy and, by extension, Israel.

Two recent moves by Warren may shed light on her outlook on issues impacting the Jewish state. She was one of four Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee to vote against the bi-partisan Iran sanctions bill co-sponsored by Sens. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ), legislation that is strongly supported by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The bill—which would impose sanctions on Iran if it fails to reach an agreement with world powers by the June 30 deadline—passed the committee 18-4, with six Democrats supporting it.

Warren was also not among the 75 senators to sign a Jan. 29 bipartisan letter to Secretary of State John Kerry stating that the senators would not support foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) until the Obama administration completes a review of the Palestinians’ decision to unilaterally join the International Criminal Court.

“Both of these actions are worrisome signs,” Tevi Troy, who served as White House liaison to the Jewish community under President George W. Bush, told JNS.org regarding Warren’s recent decisions on Iran sanctions and PA funding. “The best place for the pro-Israel community to be is in a place where they have bipartisan support. … I would hope that Senator Warren would return to the bipartisan consensus position in the future.”

Additionally, last September, Warren was not one of the 88 senators to sign a letter calling for the prevention of both the rearming of Hamas following the Gaza war and unilateral PA actions at the United Nations. By comparison, the other Democratic U.S. senator from Massachusetts, Ed Markey, signed both that letter and the January letter to Kerry on PA funding. (Markey is not on the Senate Banking Committee and as such, could not vote on the Iran sanctions.)