The Democratic votes on the pair of resolutions from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., were not enough to overcome universal opposition from Republicans.
Still, the votes represented a watershed moment in the party’s relationship with Israel and the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel had continued to enjoy strong support from Democratic leaders, despite outrage from the base over the war on Gaza. Sanders said the votes signaled that party leaders are finally taking note.
“This is where the American people are. The polls are very clear: The overwhelming majority of American people do not want to continue to give weapons to Netanyahu and his horrific wars in the Mideast,” he said. “I think the Democrats have caught on to that. It took a little while, but they caught on to that. But Republicans, I think, are standing in opposition to millions of their own supporters.”
Which is more likely: a Tankie being convinced to vote Democrat or the Democratic leadership rejecting genocide? Like yes voter apathy is helping Republicans, but the cure isn’t “voter discipline”, it’s having a party that listens to its constituents.
Schumer and Jeffries are unapologetic zionists and should be replaced, but I don’t follow the logic that says we need to desert the entire democratic party, when they’re the only viable opposition to republicans who aren’t merely permissive of israel’s genocide but actively encourage and participate in it.