The Democratic National Convention in Chicago kicked off on Aug. 19 without incident, despite the presence of thousands of pro-Hamas activists marching outside the security perimeter. The anti-Israel demonstrators descended on the convention to pressure the U.S. administration to end support for the State of Israel. At the same time, top U.S. diplomats spent relentless hours meeting with Israeli and other Middle East leaders to pursue a ceasefire agreement.
The irony of protesting the countries that accept a ceasefire—America and Israel, but not Hamas and its Iranian sponsor—was lost on activists. Despite an increasingly vocal minority trying to make Israel a wedge issue, the Jewish state maintains strong bipartisan congressional support.
The Biden administration continues to lead an international mediation effort between Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists and the Israeli government for a ceasefire, calling for Hamas to release hostages in exchange for Israel freeing Palestinian terrorist prisoners. Egypt and Qatar are heavily involved in the negotiations. Israel recently agreed to the American proposal, announced just before the convention, after a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem.
Opponents of Israel and some reporters have portrayed Netanyahu as being the main obstacle to reaching an agreement. Hamas has repeatedly rejected multiple ceasefire proposals. Israel’s two main objections that reportedly remain unfulfilled are that Israel retains security control over the Gaza-Egypt border and that Palestinians returning to Gaza must be checked for weapons. These requests were made to prevent additional weapons from reaching Hamas from Egypt and to prevent Hamas terrorists from returning to northern Gaza to launch new attacks against Israel.
Hamas currently remains steadfast in its opposition to the deal. The Wall Street Journal reported that Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar seeks to expand the war beyond Gaza, launching terrorist attacks from the West Bank. The day before Blinken met with Netanyahu, the Iranian-backed terror groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for an attempted suicide bombing in Tel Aviv—a bomb in the man’s backpack detonated prematurely while he walked down the street. Both terror groups vowed to launch additional attacks. Israeli security officials believe that Iran or Hezbollah may have been directly involved in the failed attack. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking at the DNC, said: “Israel says they can work it out. Hamas is now backing away.”
The bodies of six hostages killed in Gaza were recently recovered by the Israeli Defense Forces in a Hamas tunnel. Five of them were already presumed dead. All six were abducted alive by Hamas on Oct. 7. The deceased included Chaim Peri, 79, a peace activist who volunteered to drive sick Palestinian children to Israeli hospitals; Alex Dancyg, 75, born in Warsaw to Holocaust survivors who worked as a Holocaust educator; and Yagev Buchshtav, 35, who rescued abused animals.
Israelis recently celebrated Tu B’Av, the Jewish day of love. The wives of some of the hostages penned heart-wrenching letters to their loved ones. Noa Argamani was rescued after 246 days in captivity while her boyfriend, Avinatan Or, remains a hostage in Gaza. Noa wrote: “Happy Tu B’Av, my love. Every year, you’d surprise me with a bouquet and share the story of Tu B’Av’s origins—how young women in white would dance in the vineyards of Shiloh under the full moon, hoping to find their soulmates. That’s why Tu B’Av symbolizes beauty and love. Here’s to many more kisses and days filled with love—together, not apart.”
Anti-Israel protesters: ‘We’re going to bring the war home!’
Despite administration leaders supporting a ceasefire deal and Hamas chiefs opposing it, anti-Israel activists are leading thousands of protesters in rallies at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Their demands include calls for a ceasefire aimed at the parties already in agreement and with no mention of the hostages. The standard call to “Free Palestine, from the river to the sea” (meaning the destruction of the Jewish state) is a prominent rallying cry once again. Protesters also chanted: “DNC go home! Or we’re gonna bring the war home!” This is in line with calls to “Globalize the Intifada” to spur violence around the world against Jews and non-Jews alike.
Calls of “Genocide Joe,” referring to Biden, have been replaced with “Holocaust Harris” and “Killer Kamala,” fueling frustration from many towards pro-Palestinian activists who condemn them for supporting Vice President Kamala Harris for president and not standing firmly enough with their cause. In a video, a number of black influencers acknowledge that they will no longer be supporting the Palestinian cause since they are being blamed for not being supportive enough. Last year, professor Tabia Lee was told she was not the “right kind of black person” and denigrated as a “dirty Zionist” for supporting the inclusion of Jewish students in a California college’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.
Large faces characterizing Biden and Harris as vampires were seen on the first day at the DNC. This is a depiction often used against the Jewish people. Jews have been portrayed as vampires dating back hundreds of years to anti-Jewish blood libels that falsely accuse Jews of murdering children for their blood. This libel has appeared frequently since Oct. 7.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said: “A vampire named Netanyahu, who feeds on blood. Oh America, this blood is on your hands, too.”
Strong bipartisan support: ‘Committed to Israel’
A strong tradition of bipartisan support exists for Israel. It continues despite opposition by a small but vocal progressive group in Congress.
The U.S. State Department recently announced the approval of $20 billion in arms sales to Israel: “The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability.”
DNC delegates endorsed an “ironclad” commitment to Israel’s security.
The new bipartisan Stand with Israel Act seeks to withhold funding from anti-Israel U.N. agencies that “expel, downgrade, suspend or restrict Israel’s participation.” In May, a bipartisan group of senators censured the International Criminal Court for its “false equivalence between Israel with its longstanding commitment to the rule of law and Hamas’s theocratic, autocratic and unaccountable rule over Gaza. To state the obvious: Israel is a functioning democracy, while Hamas is a terrorist organization.”
Points to consider:
- Support for Israel transcends party lines.
Democratic and Republican politicians consistently advocate for Israel’s security and right to self-defense, recognizing its role as a key ally in a volatile region. This bipartisan consensus underscores the shared values of democracy, freedom and strategic cooperation. Americans benefit from Israeli expertise in security, technology and science. U.S. aid to Israel, including military assistance, is regularly approved with overwhelming support across party lines. The commitment to Israel’s safety and sovereignty transcends political differences, affirming steadfast support for Israel, regardless of shifting dynamics in international relations or domestic politics.
- Anti-Israel protests must be directed at Hamas and Iran.
Protests calling for a ceasefire at the Democratic National Convention should be redirected towards Hamas and Iran, the true obstacles to regional peace. Israel has expressed a willingness for a ceasefire, but the Hamas refusal to release hostages and lay down its arms perpetuates the violence—most notably, to its own citizens. Iran’s support for Hamas further fuels this conflict. Protestors should hold Hamas accountable for its aggression and Iran for its sponsorship of terrorism. Peace can be achieved if Hamas ceases its attacks and stops sacrificing its own civilians to garner public sympathy. The focus must shift from criticizing Israel’s self-defense to pressuring those who instigate and sustain the conflict.
- Israelis want peace and security; Hamas wants death and destruction.
Israel is a democracy striving for peaceful coexistence with its neighbors, while continually advocating for negotiations that ensure the safety of its citizens. The Jewish state secured peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan, and more recently, the United Arab Emirates Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. In contrast, Iranian-backed Hamas is a designated terrorist organization guided by an ideology of hatred and violence. It openly calls for the killing of Jews everywhere and the destruction of Israel. Hamas sacrifices its citizens to gain public sympathy by intentionally embedding terrorists, rocket launchers and weapons in or near schools, mosques, hospitals and humanitarian zones. The Hamas commitment to violence is the primary obstacle to a Palestinian-Israeli peace agreement.
