Palestinians...and the issues absent from the "Democrats'" agenda

Democrats approach their convention with a clear awareness of the many fundamental issues at stake in this election. There is deep concern about what a second Trump administration would mean for women’s rights, civil rights, environmental protections, immigration policy, civil discourse, and the very foundation of our democracy. These issues, and others, are discussed at length in this year’s Democratic platform and will be addressed by convention speakers.

What will not be discussed are the Gaza war, the continuing erosion of Palestinian rights in the occupied territories, and the role the United States plays in supporting Israel’s violations of international law and U.S. human rights legislation. Because these issues should be discussed, but will not be, the Arab American Institute, in collaboration with an organization led by the Rev. Jesse Jackson and other prominent progressive organizations, will host three days of programming before the official conference begins. Topics to be covered during these events, organized by the Arab American Institute, include:

“The Role of Dark Money in Politics”: We will discuss how pro-Israel organizations spent over $35 million this year to smear and defeat two progressive black members of Congress who advocate for Palestinian rights. Dark money has been a growing concern over the past three election cycles. We have twice tried, in the Democratic Party meetings, to pass resolutions banning its use in primaries, but party leaders have refused to even discuss the issue. If left unchecked, the dark money problem will only grow and grow, and it will not be long before not only pro-Israel organizations, but also other special interest groups (such as Big Pharma, banks, health insurance companies, etc.) will try to exploit the loophole that allows them to flood our elections with unlimited amounts of money.

“Congress’s Role in Sponsoring Legislation to Silence Free Speech”: As the American political debate over Israel/Palestine heats up, pro-Israel organizations, along with some members of Congress and lawmakers in the United States, are working to silence voices and punish actions critical of Israel. By expanding the definition of anti-Semitism to include most criticism of Israel, and denying Americans the right to boycott or call for sanctions against any country for any reason, free speech is being curtailed or completely denied. More than 30 states have passed such laws, and Congress is currently debating legislation that would conflate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism, and would require universities and other institutions that receive federal funds to establish enforcement mechanisms.

“Palestinian Voices That Must Be Heard”: With 40,000 Palestinians dead, much of Gaza destroyed, and famine looming, Democrats need to hear the Palestinians and listen to them. If the conference doesn’t invite them, they will be at the Arab American Institute event to tell their story.

“Examining What’s Not in the Democratic Party Platform.” Arab Americans and those concerned with justice in the Middle East are fighting to shape political parties’ positions on Israel/Palestine. At the Arab American Institute, we’ll take a look at what has changed and what hasn’t over the past four decades. For example, 40 years ago, we couldn’t put the word “Palestinians” in a party platform. Today, it’s in the Democratic platform, but neither party’s platform includes the word occupation or any criticism of Israeli policies. That needs to change.

“The Role of the War on Gaza in Changing Public Opinion and Its Impact on the Future of the Democratic Party”: Israel’s war on Gaza has become central to the agenda of progressives in the Democratic Party. Polls show that a majority of Democrats oppose Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza, want a ceasefire, restrict U.S. aid to Israel, and support justice and rights for Palestinians. These numbers are driven primarily by young voters, progressive Jewish organizations, and black, Latino, Asian, and Arab Americans, all of whom are critical to Democratic victories.

In addition to the three-day institute event, other organizations seeking to pressure the establishment to change direction on a variety of important issues will host other events. But the institute event is the only one that will challenge the party to confront the “obvious problem”: our unwavering support for Israel in its relentless war of genocide against the Palestinians. It’s an issue that most Democrats in the party want to discuss, and a policy they want the administration to change.

Israel's war on Gaza has become a central issue on the agenda of progressives in the Democratic Party. Polls show that a majority of Democrats oppose the way Israel is waging the war in Gaza and want a ceasefire.