The pro-Israel Democratic party group Democratic Majority for Israel issued a scathing statement on Monday criticizing the party’s progressive wing amid New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani’s refusal to condemn the “globalize the intifada” slogan and the North Carolina state party’s recent passage of several anti-Israel resolutions, including one endorsing an arms embargo against the Jewish state.

DMFI President Brian Romick said in a lengthy statement that the incidents, which he described as “a series of deeply troubling developments” — including the National Education Association’s adoption of a measure barring the use of any teaching materials from the Anti-Defamation League — were a reflection of “a growing willingness to excuse or embrace rhetoric and policies hostile to the safety of Jewish Americans, to Israel, and to those who support its right to exist in peace and security.”

“None of these incidents occurred in isolation. Together, they reflect a troubling pattern: the erosion of core pillars of the Democratic Party and the marginalization of pro-Israel voices across the progressive landscape,” Romick, who took over as president and CEO of the group in May, said.

“The path forward demands courage, clarity, and conviction — and DMFI will not waver. In this moment, Democrats must remain united in defending democracy and our shared values. The pro-Israel community has always been and will always be part of that coalition, working together to ensure our party reflects both our ideals and our commitment to a just, inclusive future for all,” he added.

Regarding Mamdani and the debate over how to treat the phrase “globalize the intifada,” Romick said, “Let’s be clear: this phrase is not a call for justice or equality. It is a call for bloodshed. We urge Mr. Mamdani to say so plainly and unequivocally and to engage with Jewish New Yorkers, whether they supported him in the primary or not, in order to understand the community’s legitimate fears and concerns. There should be no place in our party nor our country for slogans that celebrate terror or glorify violence.”

The DMFI president also criticized North Carolina state party leaders for even considering a resolution to call for an arms embargo, calling it “factually inaccurate and morally unserious” and accusing leading Democrats of forcing it “through without following the proper process and procedures, ignoring the valid concerns of many party members who sought a more thoughtful debate.”

“Rather than building consensus to help elect Democrats, the resolution deepened divisions at a moment when the party should be united,” Romick said.

Romick defended the ADL following the NEA’s decision to cut ties with the group, describing the group as “an organization with a long and bipartisan record of fighting hate and educating students about civil rights, antisemitism, and the Holocaust.”

“We urge the NEA’s executive committee to reject this proposal and reaffirm the union’s commitment to combating hate and uphold its responsibility to educate our children with history, facts, and without bias,” he said.

Reached for comment on Romick’s criticisms, a Democratic National Committee spokesperson referred Jewish Insider to a newly released statement from DNC Chairman Ken Martin, made before Romick spoke out.

“The Democratic Party is a big tent. It means we are a political home for people from every background who believe in justice, equality, dignity and opportunity for all. It means we champion those who have been marginalized — including Jewish Americans, who have joined with others in the big tent to help shape the values of this party. But being a big tent doesn’t mean there’s space for hate,” Martin said, days after he made a more ambivalent statement regarding Mamdani’s refusal to condemn “globalize the intifada” rhetoric.

“Let me be clear, at a time of rising antisemitism, there’s no place for rhetoric that can be seen as a call to violence. There is no room in the Democratic Party for hate speech or incitement to violence and calls to ‘globalize the intifada.’ That is not progressive. That is not justice. And let me be clear: there is no room in the Democratic Party for that rhetoric or any rhetoric that can be seen as a green light to terror,” he continued.

Martin pointed to his relationship with former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, who were killed in a politically motivated assassination last month.

“This is personal to me. Two of my close, close friends – Melissa and Mark Hortman – were just murdered in cold blood by a madman. There are real life consequences to hate speech that incites people to violence,” Martin said.