As the new Congress convenes in Washington, Democrats who support Israel must face the fact that their party elected a number of hateful Israel-bashers. If the Democratic Party is to remain pro-Israel, they must educate their colleagues on the history and importance of bipartisan support for the American-Israel alliance.
The Democratic Party’s abandonment of Israel began with President Obama, whose stated policy was to create “daylight”—distance—between America and Israel. He also strongly promoted Islam, which allowed Students for Justice in Palestine and similar groups to turn colleges into centers of anti-Israel propaganda and hate. The Israel-bashing “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement,” started by a Palestinian terrorist, first took root among students, and then progressive Democrats introduced “intersectionalism,” which demanded sympathy for Palestinians and contempt for Israel from every “victimized” group on campus. In this way, radical Muslims have brainwashed nearly a whole new generation of Democrats into hating Israel.
It’s probably true that some of President Trump’s positions, perhaps misinterpreted, have incited anti-Semites, but it’s also true that Obama’s disparagement of Christians and police, and his rejection of American exceptionalism, also unintentionally provoked bigots. And tragically, campus Muslim groups made Jew-hatred publicly acceptable again long before Trump was even nominated.
No one wants peace more than Israelis, nearly all of whom, women and men, must serve in the army right out of high school. But Israel is still surrounded by hundreds of millions of enemies, taught from childhood to hate Jews and seek Israel’s destruction. The terrorist regime in Iran, flush with tens of billions of dollars from Obama’s deal, are using Hamas and Hezbollah as proxies to surround Israel, determined to wipe the one Jewish state off the map. And Russia has now denied Israel access to destroy Iranian missile factories in Syria. Though Israelis present a tough image, the entire country is under lethal threat, and violent Hamas demonstrations, arson, and firebombing are making southern Israel unlivable. Thankfully, President Trump strongly supports Israel at this dangerous time; hopefully, Democrats will, too.
Rueben Gordon