How Democrats are parsing their language to talk about Israel and Gaza
A woman writes “We Stand with Israel” on a poster outside of the Israeli Embassy on Oct. 8, 2023. Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images
By Jacob Kornbluh October 10, 2023
The Hamas attack on Israel Saturday elicited resounding condemnation from elected officials across the United States. There have also been bipartisan pledges in Congress to provide emergency military aid to Israel.
But while President Joe Biden and most Democrats were aligned in expressing complete support for Israel’s right to defend itself, a close look at some of the individual statements reflected the increasing complexity of views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within the party that a large majority of American Jews identify with.
Take, for example, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, whose every word is closely watched because she is seen as a future presidential candidate. Her initial tweet on Saturday evening was condemned for not specifically naming Israel as the victim — she referred to “communities impacted by what’s happening in the region” — or condemning Hamas for its wanton aggression. Three hours later, she had a new tweet.
“The loss of lives in Israel — children and families — is absolutely heartbreaking and appalling,” Whitmer said. “There is no justification for violence against Israel. My support is steadfast.”
The Squad
Members of the leftist group known as The Squad were not unified in their statements, perhaps reflecting their political bases. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman of New York, home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel, issued a strong condemnation of Hamas, while Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts expressed deep sorrow for the losses of Israeli lives. All three also called for the conflict to de-escalate and for an immediate ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan spoke in one breath of losses on both sides and rushed to oppose Israeli military action in Gaza. Tlaib, who is of Palestinian heritage, referred to Israel as an “apartheid government” in her Instagram post.
“I grieve the Palestinian and Israeli lives lost yesterday, today, and every day,” she said on Instagram. “As long as our country provides billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government, this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue.”
More conservative Democrats and American Jewish leaders rushed to condemn both Tlaib and Ocasio-Cortez for calling for an immediate ceasefire.
‘A transformative moment’
While a recent poll showed that a plurality of Democrats sympathize more with the Palestinians than the Israelis in the Middle East conflict, this war, which is entering its fifth day, is also very different from prior rounds of fighting in Gaza.
The Israeli military said more than 1,000 people were brutally killed in Hamas’ attacks, including 14 Americans and other foreign nationals. More than 100 — again, including some U.S. citizens — remain unaccounted for and are presumed kidnapped. The Gaza Health Ministry said that at least 850 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli airstrikes so far.
The Hamas invasion, and its killing sprees in Israeli communities near the Gaza border as well as an all-night desert dance party, crossed a line for some liberal Democrats who both support Israel and advocate for Palestinian rights.
“The right to defend itself is sacrosanct,” said Joel Rubin, who is running for Congress in Maryland. “This is a transformative moment where acknowledgment of Israeli suffering and pain is essential to credibility to be seen as a fair honest advocate for peace.”
Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, said that speaking in a clear voice against the atrocities committed by Hamas is important, especially for those who have been opposing Israeli government policy toward the Palestinians and on other matters.
“First and foremost, this was the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust,” Spitalnick noted. “It is crucial that we make clear that there’s no justification for this. And in doing so, you can still acknowledge that Israelis and Palestinians are real people who want peace and safety.”
A stern rebuke
New York City Mayor Eric Adams echoed that sentiment when he spoke at a vigil for the Israeli victims in Manhattan on Monday. “Yes, I stand with Israel,” he said. “Yes. I stand with the Jewish community. But most importantly, I stand with humanity.”
Though Ocasio-Cortez and Bowman criticized Israel’s policy on Gaza, they forcefully rebuked the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America for celebrating the Hamas attack and demonstrating with antisemitic images at a pro-Palestinian rally it backed in Times Square on Sunday.
“It should not be hard to shut down hatred and antisemitism where we see it,” said Ocasio-Cortez, who like Bowman has been endorsed by the DSA. “The bigotry and callousness expressed in Times Square on Sunday were unacceptable and harmful in this devastating moment.”
Bowman, in a lengthy statement on Tuesday, also condemned participants in that demonstration “in the strongest possible terms.” The U.S., he said, “must stand up for all life. Palestinian and Israeli alike. And we must govern in ways that nurture humanity, not succumb to violence.”
Up for debate
The war in Israel also highlighted stark differences among the candidates running for Senate in California next year. The seat is currently held by Laphonza Butler, the former president of Emily’s List, following the death last month of Dianne Feinstein.
During a candidate forum on Sunday, Rep. Adam Schiff — who, like Feinstein, is Jewish — expressed his “unequivocal support for the security and the rights of Israel,” while the other candidates on stage, Reps. Katie Porter and Barbara Lee, highlighted the losses on both sides.
“Our country has a responsibility, I believe, to call for a ceasefire and to call for the whole world to come together to try to stop the escalation of what is taking place in the Middle East,” Lee said.
Porter attributed blame to the U.S. for not adopting a stronger stance against Iran, which provides support to Hamas and Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militia. Though she did not specify whether she was criticizing the Biden administration or past administrations.
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