The split in the Democratic Party because of Israel

Once upon a time, the Democratic Party was home to most American Jews, who leaned towards liberalism. Believing that tolerance and equal rights for everyone was the best policy, Jews felt assured that the same would be reciprocal for them. 

And so it was, since 1912, when American Jews, under the leadership of Woodrow Wilson, began joining the party, culminating in greater numbers, as they backed their hero Franklin D. Roosevelt, for whom they sat shiva when he died. 

By 2012, 72% of Jews identified themselves as Democrats, according to the Pew Research Center.

What began with a small exit by Jews, who began to feel that the party was becoming too progressive, catering more to the Woke, who embraced values they didn’t share, has now turned into a mass exodus by Jews who no longer feel welcome in a party “whose big tent” includes those who despise Israel and believe that the Jewish homeland must come to an end.

As the red carpet is being rolled out for Democratic Socialists, who share the same anti-Israel opinions, more and more long-time leaders of the Democratic Party are being put to the test as to where they stand on the question of the Jewish State.

If they express support, they run the risk of potentially being on the chopping block, because the DSA, which aspires to take the reins of power from traditional Democrats, will not agree to share the stage with anyone who doesn’t view Israel as the oppressor and an occupying force.

That doesn’t leave much room for the 38 Jewish members of Congress or the 9 Jewish Senators, all of whom are Democrats. Already feeling the winds of change, they’re finding out that being Jewish, these days, is a liability in a fast-evolving party that no longer embraces Israel’s right to exist.

This is what is responsible for a split in the party. With many of them opposed to any U.S. military aid, as a result of being susceptible to the libelous accusations of genocide in Gaza, a major shift has taken place, and those who refuse to move in that direction will surely pay a price.

In fact, it was just this past Thursday that 33 Democrats voted against a measure to strip colleges and universities of federal aid if they are engaged in so-called boycotts against Israel.

Michigan Social Democrat Senate candidate, Abdul El-Sayed wasted no time posting his harsh reaction on X, saying, “Congress had spent time on withholding college funding, rather than focusing on gas and grocery prices. Aside from being blatantly unconstitutional, it’s wild. Why is it wrong to want our taxpayer money spent here to provide for schools here instead of being sent somewhere else?"

Of course, El-Sayed, one of many Democratic Socialists who are not ashamed to admit their animus towards the Jewish state, failed to address the fact that the legislation is designed to combat the highly-charged political agenda of BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) which should not be promoted by learning institutions.

But it is these newly emerging socialist candidates, whose anti-Israel sentiments are a complete break with the Democratic Party that always supported Israel and viewed them as one of America’s greatest allies. Ironically, today’s “big tent” party apparently lacks adequate room to accommodate Jews.

As the Institute for National Studies put it, the individual position of where politicians stand on the subject of Israel has now become a sort of litmus test. “Progressive activists in the Democratic party have been challenging mainstream Democrats over their support for Israel for many years, and the issue has been a major dividing line in the party since the Biden administration came to Israel’s defense after the Hamas invasion of October 7, 2023. 

“During the 2024 presidential elections, progressive activists sought to make the Gaza war into a central issue...since then, progressive activists have gained strength within the party with their campaigning focusing, in large part on charging Israel with genocide and apartheid, pledging to support a ban on future weapons sales to Israel and describing AIPAC as a corrupting force in American politics.”

Traditional Democratic Party members, who refuse to go along with that viewpoint, are learning that there’s a serious price to pay by crossing the new thought leaders of the “big tent” party, especially when those who identify as socialists are getting all the wins. 

As we recently saw, though, it’s not enough to voice the claim that Israel is an occupier, who has engaged in genocide, because California State Senator Scott Weiner, who expressed those very sentiments, discovered that he had to go even further in his castigation. 

In order to gain full acceptance and approval by the Israel-bashing constituency, he had to repeat the “Free Palestine” mantra, essentially calling for the dismantling of the Jewish State.  

Without that verbal castration, he would remain on the outside, looking in – regardless of all the other extreme positions he already made on behalf of the more radical segment of the Democratic Party.

Now, the old guard of Democrats is in for a rude awakening as the major shakeup is taking place – officially taking their census of who will get on board with Socialist Democrats and who will not. 

Of course, if DSA candidates continue to win, how long will it take before they decide to cut ties with veteran Democrats who they now view as dead weight, unable to sway voters who are looking for something new? 

Let’s not forget that part of the appeal of the Democratic Socialists is that they have tapped into a dormant, but long-held prejudice and deep-seated hatred of the Jewish people – sentiments which, until recently, were best left unspoken and well-hidden.

All of that changed after October 7, when Israel’s retaliation of a barbaric massacre finally allowed all of the suppressed anti-Jewish feelings to emerge. Once they found a home, within the DSA, it wasn’t long before they took off, soaring to the top positions of the party, now freely espoused by all who are willing to trash Israel, either for the sake of winning or because they really harbor intense hatred for the 78-year-old country.

The Jewish nation is responsible for the latest fracture among Democrats, who, if they want to wear that label, will now be forced to identify as members of the anti-Israel party.