DNC to Debate Israel Resolutions at Spring Meeting
Key Takeaways
- The Democratic National Committee is set to debate resolutions on Israel at its spring meeting
- The measures include recognizing a Palestinian state and conditioning military aid to Israel
- The issue of Israel has long been a contentious one within the Democratic Party
- A recent Pew Research survey found that 80% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents hold unfavorable views of Israel
- The Middle East Working Group is set to meet for the fourth time this week in New Orleans
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is set to convene in New Orleans on Thursday, with the issue of Israel taking center stage once again.
Critics of Israel's military actions and the pro-Israel lobby's influence in recent Democratic primaries are poised to introduce several resolutions at the meeting, including one recognizing a Palestinian state and another conditioning military aid to Israel.
Resolutions and Debate
While the measures are unlikely to pass and are nonbinding even if they do, they represent the latest public clash between the party's brass and its progressive base, which has grown increasingly critical of Israel's actions.
One DNC member, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that they had received direct calls from two presidential hopefuls regarding the resolutions, highlighting the sensitivity surrounding the issue.
The resolutions have also underscored the sharp divisions within the DNC's Middle East Working Group, established by Chair Ken Martin last year to set the party's strategy on the region.
Public opinion has shifted. Democrats have clearly shifted. Candidates have shifted. And we're not where we were five years ago even,
said James Zogby, a longtime DNC member and critic of Israel.
A recent Pew Research survey found that 80% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents hold unfavorable views of Israel, up from 69% last year and 53% in 2022.
Implications and Reactions
The increasing critiques of the Israeli government by prominent elected officials have been met with resistance from groups such as the Jewish Democratic Council of America, which opposes the current measures.
Halie Soifer, the group's CEO, argued that the shift in opinion does not necessarily mean a wholesale shift in support for Israel's security or its right to exist as a Jewish state.
The DNC and AIPAC declined to comment on the matter.
The issue of Israel has long been a contentious one within the Democratic Party, with some arguing that it has hurt the party's chances in past elections.
The Middle East Working Group is set to meet for the fourth time this week in New Orleans, with members disagreeing on how to approach their mission and some lamenting the group's lack of structure and institutional power.