The Republican Jewish Coalition said speakers at the Democratic National Convention, held this past week in Chicago, had failed to support and celebrate Israel.
CEO Matt Brooks described the RJC’s “Praise Israel Watch,” which had urged anyone addressing audiences to advocate for Israel in exchange for the planting of 1,800 trees in their name, in a statement on Friday, the day after the convention’s conclusion.
According to the group, no one succeeded.
“Unfortunately, the Democrats acted as if Israel didn’t exist, which is exactly what their pro-Palestinian base wanted,” Brooks said. “Of the 155 Democratic Convention speakers, not a single one, including Kamala Harris, praised Israel from the main stage as the Jewish state fights for its very survival.”
Brooks called Harris’ Thursday night brief mention of Israel and her pledge to uphold its security “the bare minimum.”
Brooks also noted that “she never praised Israel. Instead, she implicitly criticized Israel for the suffering Hamas has caused in Gaza.” He characterized calls by the current vice president and 2024 Democratic presidential candidate for a ceasefire in Gaza as implying that Hamas would survive, saying “that’s unacceptable.”
Even though no DNC speaker passed the group’s challenge, Brooks announced that the RJC “will still donate to plant 1,189 trees in Israel in memory of the 1,189 victims killed on Oct. 7.”
