Under the leadership of Democratic Majority for Israel, a group of organizations helped ensure the California Democratic Party rejected a series of anti-Israel amendments to the party platform, which was debated Friday, Saturday and today at the party convention, held in Long Beach, CA.
Democratic Majority for Israel mobilized a battalion of over 850 convention delegates who worked to defeat these amendments. DMFI also circulated talking points to delegates, met with them at our headquarters booth, texted them information and aired a series of digital advertisements, directed at convention attendees, urging “no” votes. Among those appearing in the ads or speaking out against the anti-Israel amendments were DMFI Board Member and long-time Democratic activist Sam Lauter, Labor leader Willie Pelote, Assemblywoman and #MeToo leader Laura Friedman, State Senator Scott Wiener and Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel.
The amendments, none of which passed, would have threatened the existence of Israel as a Jewish state, cut off all aid to Israel and endorsed the BDS Movement (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) targeting Israel.
This victory builds on a similar win at the party’s May Resolutions Convention where a series of bellicose anti-Israel resolutions were also rejected. Following these events, Democratic Majority for Israel President and CEO Mark Mellman today issued this statement:
“We’re tired of sitting back and letting a few vocal outliers hijack the Democratic Party’s Israel policy, so we’re thrilled an overwhelming majority of California Democratic Party leaders and delegates rejected attempts to incorporate extreme and one-sided, anti-Israel planks into their platform. Instead, the platform continues the Party’s proud history of supporting both Israel and the peace process.
“To help achieve this outcome, we worked closely with Progressive Zionists of California, the AJC, Zioness, A Wider Bridge, Democrats for Israel-LA, JIMENA, Democrats for Peace in the Middle East, California Young Democrats Jewish Caucus, California Legislative Jewish Caucus, ADL Orange County/Long Beach and Jewish Federation & Family Services of Orange County as well as with party leaders, activists and elected officials.
“Victories like this demonstrate both the critical need for Democratic Majority for Israel and the strong support for Israel among Democrats. Unfortunately, anti-Israel organizations have already announced a campaign to change the national party platform to conform to their views. Democratic Majority for Israel will be on the ground fighting one-sided attempts to delegitimize and demonize Israel, just as we have in California. We’re organizing a grassroots movement of pro-Israel Democrats to work within the Party for a strong U.S.-Israel alliance and a negotiated, two-state solution to the conflict.”
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