Iran attack has Dems change their Israel tune
On Saturday night, Israel and a coalition of allies and partners shot down hundreds of drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles launched from Iran and by its surrogates in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. Tehran’s naked aggression coupled with Jerusalem’s tactical success will likely re-center the Democrats as they head toward drafting their party’s platform and August convention.
The debate is no longer simply about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gaza, but rather about Israel facing Tehran’s ayatollahs and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Mainstream Democratic skepticism toward Israel has suddenly grown muted.
Take Maryland’s Sen. Chris Van Hollen. “I condemn the Iranian attack on Israel and support Israel’s right to defend itself against this aggression,” he tweeted within hours after Iran launched its barrage. “I also stand with @ POTUS in seeking to prevent an even wider conflict that engulfs the people of the entire region.”
Just days earlier, Van Hollen mulled blocking $18 billion worth of F-15 jets to Israel. “I was glad to see the president, at least as reported out, finally say to Netanyahu, that if you don’t follow these, you know, my requests, that there will be consequences,” he said little more than a week ago on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
Van Hollen isn’t alone in shifting toward the political center. Also on Saturday night, Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker, returned to her traditional role as a backer of Israel.
“America’s support for Israel’s security is resolute as we condemn Iran’s horrible attacks,” she posted on X formerly known as Twitter. “Our commitment to the Israeli people and support of their defense remains unwavering — and we must pass the Senate’s national security supplemental.”
Good to know.
Days earlier, she had joined 39 other Democratic House members in calling for a halt to U.S. military aid to Israel. “In light of the recent strike against aid workers and the ever-worsening humanitarian crisis, we believe it is unjustifiable to approve these weapons transfers,” read their letter.
Other signatories included Squad members Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Michigan’s Rashida Tlaib, Missouri’s Cori Bush, Minnesota’s Ilhan Omar and New York’s beleaguered Jamaal Bowman. Previously, Bush, Omar and Tlaib opposed U.S. funding Israel’s Iron Dome.
For his part, Bowman faces a primary challenge from Westchester County Executive George Latimer. The latest poll places the congressman down by double-digits. In case anyone forgot, Bowman’s colleagues censured him for pulling a fire alarm in a House office building when there was no fire. For the record, Bowman subsequently pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor.
Not everyone, however, has undergone a change of heart. Saturday afternoon saw 300 “anti-war” activists packed into a Teamsters union hall in Chicago, the site of the Democrats’ August convention. There, they learned how to chant “death to America” and “death to Israel” in Farsi, the Free Press reported.
“It’s really inspiring to see that people are just as enthusiastic, and maybe even more enthusiastic, to march on the DNC as they are to march on the RNC,” according to one activist. “We can thank Genocide Joe and our movement for that.”
Can you say “déjà vu”?
On Oct. 8, one day after Hamas’ massacre and kidnapping, several hundred pro-Palestinian demonstrators chanted in Times Square “Globalize the intifada,” and “Smash the settler Zionist state.” They also taunted Israel over the number of people killed. The Democratic Socialists of America helped promote the event.
Meanwhile, as Democratic electeds moved to the political high ground, the 45th president was having little of the that. At a Saturday night rally in Pennsylvania, Trump supporters began to chant, “Genocide Joe! Genocide Joe!” echoing the anti-Israel left.
Barely missing a beat, Trump ad-libbed, “They’re not wrong, they’re not wrong. He’s done everything wrong.”
Then again, on Oct. 11, Trump lauded Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed, Lebanese-terrorists, as “very smart.” He also castigated Netanyahu for falling down on the job.
Iran’s attack appears to have brought unintended consequences. Six months after Oct. 7, the Republican-controlled House may finally be ready to pass a support package for Israel.
“We’re going to try again this week, and the details of that package are being put together,” House Speaker Mike Johnson told Fox News. “Right now, we’re looking at the options and all these supplemental issues.” What that package contains remains to be seen.
Attempts to dull U.S. support for Israel in the Democratic platform will now face added hurdles. On the other hand, the streets of Chicago may witness a repeat of 1968. Back then, the action outside the convention proved to be as consequential as what happened inside.
Green, an attorney, served as staff secretary to George Bush’s 1988 campaign’s Middle East Policy Group.