President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embrace on the tarmac of Ben Gurion Airport, October 18, 2023. (Avi Ohayon, Israeli Government Press Office)
By Jacob Kornbluh
19 August 2024
The 2024 Democratic National Convention platform mentions Israel 29 times, highlighting the Biden-Harris administration’s response to the October 7 Hamas attack and reaffirming the party’s commitment to militarily supporting Israel. This comes amid widespread protests against the war in Gaza outside the DNC venue in Chicago, and as speakers on behalf of the pro-Palestinian “Uncommitted” movement expressed hope that Vice President Harris will push for a permanent ceasefire and arms embargo against Israel.
“President Biden and Vice President Harris have condemned the brutal attack on Israel” and “made it clear that the United States wants to see Hamas defeated,” the platform says. 92-page documentreleased on Monday also reaffirms Biden and Harris’ commitment to “Israel’s security, its qualitative military superiority, its right to self-defense, and the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding is watertight.”
Gaza is also mentioned 11 times and there are nine references to the Palestinians, with the program pointing to the Biden administration’s efforts to achieve a three-stage ceasefire with hostages that would end the war in Gaza, provide relief to the Palestinian population in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, allow Israelis to return to their homes in the south and north safe from terror threats, and pave the way for a “negotiated two-state solution” and regional peace.
The war between Israel and Hamas, which has lasted more than ten months remains a controversial issue This has divided the Democrats. The protest movement and some progressive Democrats are keeping up the pressure for the Democrats to adopt their stance. Pro-Palestinian activists are holding a panel on Palestinian rights on the first day of the convention.
Referring to the high number of Palestinian deaths from Israeli airstrikes and military operations in the Gaza Strip, the manifesto states: “President Biden has long believed that partners and allies should be able to deter conflict and defend themselves in ways that protect human rights and prevent harm to civilians.” (The draft was written before Biden dropped out of the race last month.)
Republicans and some Jewish groups have questioned Harris and Walz’s commitment to Israel and their commitment with the pro-Palestinian movement. Former President Donald Trump suggested last week that a group of left-wing congressmen and the protesters “will determine US foreign policy in the White House and Israel will be gone.” Matt Brooks, executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, told the DNC that the RJC would plant 1,800 trees in Israel for every Democrat who praises Israel from the stage.
When asked via text message how many trees the RJC would plant for the 29 positive references to Israel in the party’s manifesto, Brooks replied: “Zero.”
President Biden is expected to speak at the DNC on Monday night, a platform that will be given to him as he leaves the stage and passes the baton to his successor. In a Interview with AxiosWhite House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients said that the president is focused on building his reputation in the remaining five months of his term, and that one of his main goals is to “reach a hostage agreement for a ceasefire in the Middle East.”
In the three-page section on Israel, the party points to support for the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and the support the Biden administration has given Israel in the face of Iranian attacks and threats to attack Israelis. “All of this stands in sharp contrast to Trump’s irresponsibility and weakness in the face of Iranian aggression during his presidency.”
The document also cites the government’s national plan to combat anti-Semitism, including on university campuses.
Before the DNC: The Jewish Democratic Council of America PAC launched a digital advertising campaign This underscores Harris and Walz’s commitment to strengthening U.S.-Israel relations and combating anti-Semitism.
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