While some supporters of Palestinian rights saw the developments at last week’s meeting of the Democratic National Committee as a defeat, it was, in fact, a victory. Plenty happened at this meeting, involving the principal executive leadership board of the Democratic Party, that leads me to believe that progress was made.
At the party’s Resolutions Committee, two separate resolutions were debated. While both resolutions called for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, one of them – submitted by young Democrats – went further, condemning Israeli actions in Gaza and calling for a suspension of US arms sales to Israel and US recognition of Palestinian statehood.
In response to this resolution, the party’s establishment submitted an alternative that included no such criticism of Israeli policies nor any mention of stopping US arms shipments to Israel.
There was intense lobbying for and against both efforts, with pro-Israel groups and some elected officials and party donors warning members of the committee that passing the resolution critical of Israel would divide the Democratic Party, costing it contributions and victories in the midterm elections. On the other side, committee members each reported receiving upwards of 5,000 emails or phone calls from young Democrats and progressive activists urging them to vote for the resolution demanding an end to US weapons to Israel.
As expected, the establishment resolution won, and the young Democrats’ effort lost.
However, immediately after the vote, the Democratic Party’s chair, Ken Martin, after speaking to Allison Minnerly, who had introduced the more critical resolution, rose to announce that he was asking that, in the name of party unity, his resolution be withdrawn and not presented to the entire Democratic National Committee for their acceptance. He further pledged to create a task force of stakeholders in this debate to continue this conversation and find solutions that can be brought back to the party for consideration.
Some advocates, on both sides of this debate, were disappointed. On the pro-Israel side, Mr Martin was derided for his weakness in “surrendering to the far left”, while some supporters of Palestinian rights said that the way the issue was handled would only delay Israel’s day of reckoning, cost more Palestinian lives, and further alienate young voters from the Democratic Party.
Both are wrong. Mr Martin’s decision was politically thoughtful, and in reality, advocates for a change in US policy towards Israel won a significant victory.
Before explaining why this is so, one important fact must be understood: the Democratic National Committee is not a legislative body. It doesn’t make policy. Policy is made by the US Congress and the White House. Even if the committee had passed a resolution calling for ending arms sales to Israel, nothing would have happened. What the party can do is reflect where Democrats stand on critical issues facing the country and help to move forward the discussion of these matters. This is exactly what the Minnerly resolution forced onto the agenda last week.
What also must be considered is that the debate over these resolutions was only the fourth time that any such discussion of the Palestinian issue has occurred in an official party meeting during the past four decades.
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Activists and students take part in an encampment protest at George Washington University, in Washington. AFP -
Students and faculty of Drexel University and University of Pennsylvania erect an encapment to protest against the war in Gaza, at the University of Pennsylvania campus, in Philadelphia. AFP -
Columbia University students continue their demonstration on campus afterlast week's arrest of more than 100 protesters, in New York City. Getty Images -
Police watch as students and faculty show support at a Protect Palestine Rally at the University of Texas, in Austin. EPA -
A student is arrested during a pro-Palestine demonstration at the University of Texas at Austin. Getty Images -
Students rally at the University of Texas at Austin, where police arrested scores of protesters. Getty images -
Mounted police confront students protesting against the war in Gaza, at the University of Texas at Austin. Getty Images -
Pro-Palestine demonstrators argue with University of Southern California officials, who attempted to take down an encampment set up in support of Gaza, at the institution in Los Angeles. Getty images -
University of Southern California police officers detain a pro-Palestine demonstrator. Getty Images -
University of Southern California officers dismantle protesters' tents. EPA -
Police stand guard at an entrance to Columbia University, in New York City, where students continue to protest in support of Palestinians, amid the war in Gaza. Reuters -
Najla Said, daughter of Palestinian-American academic and literary critic Edward Said, and Motaz Azaiza, a Palestinian photojournalist from Gaza, join the Gaza solidarity encampment at Columbia University. Photo: Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine -
As the campus protests continue, Columbia has moved its classes online. AFP -
Workers erect a wooden barrier at New York University Stern School of Business after an encampment set up by students was cleared out on Monday night. Getty Images -
Massachusetts Institute of Technology student Isa Liggans, front left, takes part in Muslim prayer with others, at an encampment of tents at the college, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. AP -
Police officers disperse pro-Palestinian students and protesters who set up an encampment on the campus of New York University. AFP -
A protester outside New York University. Reuters -
Pro-Palestinian protesters gather in front of Sproul Hall on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley. AP -
Pro-Israeli demonstrators chant 'shame' after Columbia University assistant professor Shai Davidai was denied access to the main campus. AP -
A tent used by pro-Palestinian demonstrators at MIT. Bloomberg -
A coalition of University of Michigan students rally to pressure the university to divest its endowment from companies that support Israel. Reuters -
A sign at the University of Michigan. Reuters -
A pro-Palestinian protester in front of Sproul Hall in Berkeley, California. Getty Images / AP -
Police officers detain pro-Palestinian students and protesters at New York University. AFP -
Police in Riot gear stand guard as demonstrators chant slogans outside the Columbia University campus. AP -
Pro-Palestinian students and activists protest against the Israel-Gaza war on the campus of New York University. AFP
In 1984 and 1988, I was able to represent the campaign of the civil rights activist and presidential candidate Jesse Jackson in introducing platform planks calling for Palestinian rights. The issue wasn’t introduced again in a party gathering until 2016, when representing the campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders, we again brought forward a platform resolution on Palestine.
In all of those previous instances, we lost and no one in the party establishment cared to find a way to accommodate our concerns. In fact, in the wake of the defeat of our 1988 resolution calling for “mutual recognition, territorial compromise and self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians”, I was asked to vacate my post on the Democratic National Committee because I was told that the presence of a pro-Palestinian advocate would be a liability for the party.
This year’s outcome was clearly different, and it is due to the fact that public opinion has dramatically changed. And while pro-Israel groups still have some sway, their influence has been diminished.
Polls show that Democrats are deeply offended by Israel’s actions. They are far more sympathetic to Palestinians and want an end to US military and political support for Israel, often by margins of between seven or 10 to one. And as we approach the 2026 midterm elections, the issues of support for Palestinians and ending arms sales to Israel have become litmus tests for Democratic senators and representatives.
Given all this, Mr Martin’s decision to withdraw his resolution and create a task force to continue the conversation within the party was a recognition of the shifting tides within the party and the reality that the status quo has become unacceptable and untenable. Supporters of Palestinian rights should understand that this was a victory and an important step forward in the long struggle for justice.
