Staff Reports
Almost two months have passed since an abhorrent attack against Israel was carried out by Hamas, resulting in the loss of life among 1,200 Israelis. Innocent men, women, and children were the targets of this abhorrent deed, which also included defenseless infants and Holocaust survivors. Hamas, to compound the situation, was involved in reprehensible activities including torture, abduction, and rape. A portion of the detainees were only recently liberated during a brief cessation of hostilities. Despite the fact that supporting our Middle Eastern ally ought to be a bipartisan issue, Democrats are increasingly displaying signs of disarray.
Democrats Are in Disarray Over Israel
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Consistently, opinion polls indicate that Democrats, especially young people, are losing their tolerance for Israel. Recently, this spreading disarray among Democrats became even more apparent. A remarkable 105 House Democrats abstained from supporting a resolution introduced by two Jewish Republicans, Representatives David Kustoff of Tennessee and Max Miller of Ohio, that condemned antisemitism. Thirteen Democrats opposed "present," with ninety-two voting in favor. Fortunately, the resolution managed to secure the required two-thirds of the vote.
It is noteworthy that a considerable number of Jewish Democrats opted not to endorse the resolution. They alleged that the Republicans were strategically sowing discord among the Democrats for political advantage by exploiting the Hamas attack and the subsequent surge in anti-Jewish hate crimes. These Jewish Democrats, as opposed to opposing antisemitism, advocated unity in neutrality. They implored their peers to cast "present" ballots, irrespective of their personal stances regarding the resolution.
Democrats have engaged in strategic maneuvering in their endorsement of Israel. As they had done previously, each and every Democratic Senator blocked aid to Israel last month. Senate Democrats, led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, were angered and taken aback by this action. A standalone aid measure had been previously passed by the House with bipartisan support. At present, a contentious issue on Capitol Hill pertains to the securing of the southern border and the need to link aid to Ukraine and Israel. Even the possibility that aid should be conditional is under consideration.
The majority of the infamous "Squad" not only opposed aid but also voted against the resolution denouncing antisemitism. Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, during a recent CNN appearance, even downplayed the assaults committed by Hamas. Jayapal implied, rather than categorically denouncing the sexual atrocities, that Israel's actions were impeding the country's ability to forge alliances and sustain public support. She made an effort to divert attention away from the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas by evoking the plight of Palestinians.
The disconcerting reactions exhibited by Jayapal and other Democrats have not escaped notice. Greg Gutfeld, a presenter on Fox News, vehemently denounced Jayapal's attempt to minimize the sexual atrocities. He emphasized the necessity of designating the incident as a "sexual atrocity" in order to confront these apologists. It is abhorrent that Democrats are covering up for Hamas instead of standing firmly opposed to such heinous offenses.
Furthermore, Texas Democrats demanded a cessation of hostilities and the release of prisoners at the state level. The ceasefire declaration is advantageous to Hamas, the group responsible for instigating the conflict and maintaining control over more than two hundred captives. The Democrats' endorsement of a resolution that associates them with a terrorist organization is baffling. A Texas Democrat named Colin Allred has endorsed Israel but has maintained dubious affiliations with pro-Hamas organizations and individuals. This makes one question his genuine position on the matter.
The deliberation within the Democratic Party regarding the matter of Israel may potentially impact the reelection campaign of President Joe Biden. The affiliation of Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, both of whom are of Jewish descent, with an administration that is criticized for its perceived lack of impartiality in handling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is an ironic circumstance. Muslim-American voters and organizations have spearheaded an uprising against Biden, urging that both factions receive equal consideration. This discontent may present a formidable obstacle for Biden in pivotal swing states such as Michigan, where past electoral victories were secured by a razor-thin margin.
The Democratic Party's disarray regarding its support for Israel is extremely worrisome. Their reluctance to censure antisemitism in its entirety and their efforts to minimize the sexual atrocities carried out by Hamas are beyond reproach. Regardless of political party affiliation, it is critical that elected officials unite in opposition to terrorism and provide support to our ally in the Middle East. Voters will not ignore the Democrats' unclear moral stance on this matter, as it threatens to define their future relationship with Israel.
