The Democratic National Committee (DNC) rejected resolutions calling for a Gaza ceasefire and conditioning US aid to Israel, despite overwhelming support for these positions among Democratic voters, highlighting a deep disconnect between party leadership and its base on Middle East policy.
At its recent meeting in New Orleans, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) refused to adopt resolutions critical of Israel and supportive of a ceasefire in Gaza, despite recent polls showing 77% of Democrats believe Israel is committing genocide and 67% are more sympathetic to Palestinians than Israelis. The DNC's resolutions committee quickly discarded two resolutions: one urging an immediate and permanent ceasefire and conditioning US weapons transfers, and another opposing military actions endangering civilians in Iran. These resolutions were shunted to a largely inactive Middle East working group, which critics suggest serves as a stalling mechanism. Figures like Halie Soifer of the Jewish Democratic Council of America praised the DNC's rejection, stating the resolutions were 'out of step with the policies of the Democratic party' – a statement the author agrees accurately reflects the leadership's stance, not the party's base. The article argues that DNC leaders are 'stuck in an anachronistic time warp,' out of touch with or contemptuous of their voters' views on Israel, citing examples like Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's unsubstantiated claim that 'nine out of 10 Democrats are pro-Israel.' This disconnect is labeled 'political malpractice,' alienating the base and potentially harming future electoral prospects. The author, referencing Ben Rhodes, describes a 'fatal blind spot within American liberalism' and a 'devaluation of human life itself' at the top of the Democratic party, exemplified by DNC Chair Ken Martin's alleged efforts to prevent any resolution critical of the Israeli government. The DNC's actions are presented as a symptom of a broader issue within the party leadership, prioritizing the US-Israel alliance over moral concerns and the expressed will of its constituents.
