Where Is The New Anti-Semitism In The Democratic Party Coming From?

Where Is The New Anti-Semitism In The Democratic Party Coming From?

By

Leonard Zwelling

My parents were life-long Democrats. Most of their friends were life-long Democrats. I can still remember the celebration at car pool pick-up the morning after Kennedy beat Nixon in 1960. These middle-class Jews had all been born in the first part of the 20^th century (before 1930) and had lived through the Great Depression. Many had served in the military during World War II.

They saw Franklin Roosevelt as their hero. He had conquered the Depression and won WWII. So many of the men of my father’s age had benefitted from the GI Bill in finding success in the job market, in going back to school, in buying their first homes, that it was a characteristic of a whole generation in the 1950s. The post-war, middle-class Jews of America were Democrats for they saw in the Democratic Party the belief in themselves, in the common man, even the common Jewish man.

As a reader has pointed out to me recently, this has changed.

The older Democrats of today (Biden, Pelosi) are still disciples of Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson. They believe in an activist government created to some extent through taxation and investment in federal programs to help those who are not making millions of dollars. The classic internationalist Democrats also want a strong military as well as federal programs for the needy.

These same Democrats were there at the outset when the state of Israel was created by the United Nations in 1947 and independence was declared in May of 1948. The United States recognized the fledgling nation and has been its chief supportive ally for 76 years.

But now, in 2024, there are new Democrats, mostly young and extremely left wing, who believe that Israel is an apartheid state and that there ought to be a free Palestine “from the river (Jordan) to the sea (Mediterranean)”. They put on meager demonstrations in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention, but much more disruptive ones on college campuses throughout the spring. Along with the pro-Palestinian, pro-Hamas marches and encampments came many incidents of anti-Semitism and blocking the access of Jewish students to campus facilities. Fortunately, the courts and the universities (see article) are starting to deal with those whose anti-Semitic sentiments denied rights to Jewish students.

If people are starting to equate the Democratic Party with anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism despite their nominee for President being married to a Jew, there is obviously a communication issue for the Democrats to overcome. How can they do that?

First, there must be a clear policy of zero tolerance for any anti-Semitism or anti-Zionism in the Democratic Party. If that means that the young lefties have no one to vote for, tough!

Second, the defense of Israel cannot lag despite some poor choices by the current Israeli government. Whatever arms the Israelis need to obliterate Hamas or at least degrade the terrorists as a threat to Israelis, must be delivered by the US.

Third, the US must remain a full partner in trying to solve the problem that began on October 7, but really is 76 years old. The land between the river and the sea has been inhabited by Jews and Arabs for a long time, but the fact remains that in the wars of 1948 and 1967, Israel won. Winning wars is how countries are born and their territorial integrity maintained. If the Arabs want to negotiate for their own country fine, but using terrorism as a tool of nation building cannot be rewarded even as the argument can be made that the Jews in pre-Israel Palestine did exactly that to the British.

Rewarding Hamas is what Israelis fear will arise from any deal to end the current crisis in Gaza. Hamas will benefit from their brutal attack. Israel cannot allow that to occur.

If the Democratic Party does not want to be labeled as the anti-Semitic Party, it must actively pursue peace in the region the outcome of which cannot be a win for Hamas.

Yes, it is Benjamin Netanyahu’s political predicament of having to appease the right-wing in his coalition government to stay in power, but that will not be forever. For now, the Democrats have got to make a strong pro-Israel statement and invite the anti-Semites in their midst to leave.

There is no room for hate in either political party and both need to clean up their act. But for the Democrats, the loss of the votes of the Jewish establishment could be the difference in states like Pennsylvania and Georgia.

Some very wealthy Jews are backing Donald Trump and Mr. Trump has been a good friend to Israel and a buddy of Mr. Netanyahu. The Republicans will gladly create a home for Jewish voters. The Democrats can no longer assume they have the majority of Jewish voters on their side. All votes must be earned, including those of the next generation of Jewish leaders. The Republicans have got the message. Have the Democrats?