The Dam Has Broken. For Mainstream Democrats, Israel Is Now a Pariah
In the year since the last DNC meeting, Democrats faced a reality in which Trump and the Republican-led Congress gave Netanyahu and Israel's far-right a blank check. The war grinds on, and Democratic discontent with Israel has reached unprecedented levels
WASHINGTON – There was great hope among some Americans disillusioned with Israel that this week's Democratic National Committee's summer meeting in Minnesota would mark the party's next major steps in crafting both a plan for combating the Trump administration and articulating its own vision of leadership.
What was hailed as the party's first chance to formally challenge the U.S.-Israel status quo was, in reality, as futile as trying to hold back a tidal wave with a sandcastle.
A Tuesday panel discussed two resolutions that reflect the party's generational and ideological divide – one that has often been overstated in years past but is quickly coming to a head.
A resolution, introduced by a 26-year-old party member and endorsed by the College Democrats of America, called for an arms embargo and suspended military aid to Israel.
Despite efforts to amend the resolution to focus on offensive weaponry and include language concerning Israeli hostages, the resolution and proposed amendments failed to advance. This was despite recent polls suggesting an increase in discontent among Democrats over America's current relationship with Israel.
The committee did advance DNC chair Ken Martin's resolution calling for a two-state solution, which aligns with longstanding Democratic policy but has become increasingly disconnected with facts on the ground amid Israel's settlement expansion and rightward shift.
DNC Chairman Ken Martin speaks during a news conference earlier this month.Credit: Erin Hooley,AP
Martin would eventually withdraw his resolution in favor of establishing a task force instead, to allow for "shared dialogue" on the matter moving forward.
The resolutions come just one year after the DNC platform acknowledged Gaza's "extreme suffering," only to qualify it with the usual caveats of ironclad commitments to Israeli security and the longstanding bilateral relationship.
In the 12 months since, Democrats have been forced to face a reality in which U.S. President Donald Trump and the Republican-held Congress have effectively provided Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel's far-right government with a blank check.
Even still, Israel is no closer to achieving its supposed war aims in Gaza, the humanitarian crisis has credibly passed the threshold of famine, and the mass displacement of Palestinian civilians looms large as Israel is set to advance its occupation of Gaza City.
Democrats, accordingly, have grown discontented with Israel. An unprecedented 38 House Democrats are now formally backing efforts to halt U.S. military assistance, with 11 Democrats joining in the last month alone.
The shift is also reflected in Zohran Mamdani's surprising New York mayoral primary victory last month, the North Carolina state party's vote condemning Israel's "apartheid rule," and ongoing disruptions at lawmakers' town halls nationwide over their participation in congressional delegations to Israel organized by AIPAC-affiliated groups.
New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks at a rally in New York, last week.Credit: Richard Drew,AP
Beyond this, potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates have already been forced to explain their own individual efforts at failing to hold Israel accountable and putting their own names on symbolic yet public efforts to shift the status quo.
The shifting conversation is not limited to symbolic legislation and votes, however. Support for the status quo has become associated with pro-Israel groups like AIPAC, now entering its third election cycle of endorsing and fundraising for candidates after decades of limiting itself to lobbying efforts.
Democratic Party activists and potential candidates have grown more vocal against Israeli policies and AIPAC's efforts to allegedly strongarm politicians from both parties into unconditional support for Israel. Rather than challenge the U.S.-Israel relationship, many see AIPAC and its United Democracy Project Super PAC as part of other big-money efforts that have fundamentally altered electoral politics in America.
AIPAC lauds its Super PAC's strength when beneficial, but downplays it whenever allegations of "buying elections" emerge as criticism. The Democratic Party, however, is clearly becoming more at odds with megadonors about Super PAC's involvement in party primaries.
No matter what happens at the DNC this week, the dam has already broken. Israel is now on the outside of the Democratic Party's mainstream, and only stands to find itself as more of a pariah as it continues down its current path.