MILWAUKEE — Democratic Party Platform Maintains Pro-Israel Stance
The final version of the Democratic Party platform upholds the pro-Israel language of previous versions and condemns Hamas for initiating the current conflict with Israel in the Gaza Strip.
The platform reaffirms the commitment to provide “ironclad” defense assistance to Israel, a sentiment echoed by President Joe Biden. This decision followed testimonies from witnesses advocating for both the continuation and expansion of defense assistance, as well as those calling for its reduction.
While platforms do not bind parties to specific actions, they are indicative of a party’s values. The leaked platform, approved by the platform committee, emphasizes President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’s belief in a strong, secure, and democratic Israel as essential to U.S. interests.
The platform references the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which guarantees $3.8 billion in annual defense funding for Israel, a landmark agreement reached during the Obama administration when Biden served as vice president.
Despite concerns from some pro-Israel groups about calls within the Democratic Party to cut aid to Israel, the platform’s language aims to allay these fears. However, tensions surrounding the issue may persist, with pro-Palestinian groups planning to protest at the upcoming Democratic convention in Chicago.
Pro-Israel Democrats have praised the platform’s language for aligning with key aspects of the 2020 platform, including support for a two-state solution, opposition to BDS, and recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The platform also addresses the conflict in Gaza, placing blame on Hamas for initiating and perpetuating the violence. President Biden and Vice President Harris have condemned Hamas’s actions and expressed a desire to see the group defeated.
Additionally, the platform acknowledges efforts by the Biden administration to sanction Israeli extremists and facilitate aid delivery to Palestinians in Gaza. Despite criticism from Biden regarding Israel’s cooperation in allowing aid, the platform does not explicitly fault Israel in this regard.