The American Jewish establishment has long assumed that a Democratic president can rely on a steadfast and generous base of voters to support his Israel policy. But that assumption may have been miscalculated. A growing number of liberals, especially those from Muslim and Arab communities, are no longer prepared to buy into the notion that their well-being is tied to a president’s steadfast support for Israel. They have taken to social media, rallied in the streets, and penned open letters to warn that Joe Biden’s continued enabling of violence in Gaza will exact a political price in 2024.
A key issue is the president’s insistence that Israel has every right to defend itself against Hamas’ rocket attacks and to pursue its military campaign as long as it does so “within international law.” By framing the conflict as a battle between democracy and extremism, Biden bolsters Netanyahu’s narrative that Palestinian attacks are a direct result of the US government’s support for his regime. The view is deeply troubling to the many American liberals who share this concern and fear that it could lead to an unimaginable escalation of the war in Gaza.
As the death toll from Israeli airstrikes and Palestinian rocket fire continues to rise, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib of Michigan has warned that Democrats who continue to heed the administration’s call to back an all-out attack on Hamas will pay a price with Muslim and Arab Americans. The activists who have penned the letter to the White House have made an unequivocal request: If the Obama administration doesn’t take immediate steps to broker a ceasefire, they will work to mobilize millions of Muslim voters to withhold donations and votes from anyone who endorses a pro-Israel agenda.
This is a powerful message that speaks to the real stakes of this crisis. Suppose the US does not act to help end the conflict and halt the relentless bombing. In that case, it will send the message to people in the Middle East that they are not fully included in the world of global liberties and security that the United States is so proud to stand for.
It is a powerful and urgent appeal that should not be ignored by those who believe that a pro-Israel policy has no place in a progressive vision for the future of the American empire. It is a reminder that the deep, abiding support for Israel on Capitol Hill hides a much more profound shift in how many Democrats see their responsibilities as Americans in a world that includes not just Israelis and Palestinians but all humanity. Joe Biden should heed this warning and push his ally toward a genuine ceasefire. It is the only way to reclaim his legacy as a defender of democracy and civil rights. It is also the only way to regain the trust of the Muslim and Arab American voters who have put their faith in him.
