Dear Vice President Harris and Governor Walz,
I am writing to urge you, as we approach the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago, to continue to proudly represent your strong pro-Israel stance, including highlighting the plight of Israeli hostages held by Hamas terrorists and calling for their immediate release.
There are still 115 hostages being held in Gaza. No one knows how many are still alive or dead. Most are injured, malnourished, suffering from severe weight loss and psychological trauma. For example, 23-year-old Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin had most of his left arm torn off on October 7 by a Hamas grenade thrown into a bomb shelter where he was hiding. Many others were seriously injured when they were taken into tunnels, where they still languish without medical care under the watchful eye of cruel guards. Fourteen of the hostages are women who have suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of their captors, as Michal Herzog, wife of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, documents in an eloquent commentary.
While we appropriately acknowledge the pain on both sides of this conflict and strive to alleviate it, we should unequivocally demand that all Israeli hostages be immediately and unconditionally returned to their families who have lived through this nightmare for 318 horrific days and counting. This would be a core element of any ceasefire agreement that includes an end to the unnecessary and heartbreaking suffering of the Palestinian people.
At their convention last month, Republicans declared they stand firmly with Israel. Prominent party officials reiterated their unwavering support for the Jewish state, and students also described their fears of anti-Semitism on campus. Republicans claim their party is good for Jews and the only pro-Israel party. They cited as examples the actions of former President Donald Trump, including moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, recognizing permanent Israeli control of the Golan Heights and brokering the Abraham Accords.
Democrats should not cede the pro-Israel votes to Trump/Vance and should use the convention to remind their audiences that their party is unwavering in its support of Israel. They should talk about President Joe Biden being the first sitting U.S. president to travel to Israel during wartime and the Biden/Harris administration’s unprecedented $14 billion financial and military aid package to Israel this year. They should talk about how the current administration arranged for the U.S. military to support Israel when it was attacked by 300 Iranian missiles last April. And they should talk about the deployment of submarines and aircraft carriers this month to help Israel defend against expected Iranian retaliation for the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Prominent Democrats, who will be in the global spotlight over the next four days, must speak out unequivocally for the right of the Jewish state to defend itself not only against Hamas but also against Hezbollah, the Houthis and other anti-Israel terrorist groups, most of which are sponsored by Iran.
Speaking of Iran, it is worth reminding the world that the Islamic Republic’s “breakout time” (the amount of time needed to produce enough weapons-grade material for a nuclear weapon) has shortened from over a year in 2018 to just a week or two today, due to Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in May of that year.
DNC Goals
The convention should also be used to highlight the work of Doug Emhoff (husband of the Vice President) in combating anti-Semitism – and to remind Americans that anti-Semitism increased by 56% in Trump’s first year in office compared to the last year of the Obama/Biden administration, and by 60% by the end of his term. It should inform everyone of Governor Walz’s longstanding support for Israel and his close relationship with the Jewish community in Minnesota, dating back to his 2001 master’s thesis on Holocaust education.
There are many more Jewish leaders in the big tent of the Democratic Party than in the Republican Party. The world needs to be reminded that there are four Jewish cabinet members in the Biden/Harris administration, while there was only one in the Trump administration. There are four Jewish Democratic governors and zero Republicans. Eight of the 48 Democratic senators are Jewish, and yet there is not a single Jew among the 49 Republican senators. Twenty-five Jewish members of the House of Representatives are Democrats, while only two are Republicans. Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer of New York is the first Jewish majority leader in history—and Joe Lieberman was the first Jew on a major presidential race.
The anti-Israel protesters will receive plenty of media attention, and some will no doubt chant “From the river to the sea.” Fifty-six years ago, at the 1968 Democratic National Convention – also in Chicago – televised images of anti-war protests in the streets overshadowed what was happening inside. This week, too many will try to claim that pro-Palestinian protest images in the streets somehow reflect the views of the Democratic Party inside the building.
The world will listen with bated breath to what will be said from the podium.
I urge you: Do not allow fringe factions of the party and protesters on the streets to draw attention to themselves. Stay strong. Do not give up your unwavering support for Israel. And please do not forget the suffering of the hostages and their families.
The author is co-founder and chairman of the Genesis Prize Foundation, which celebrates Jewish achievements and promotes Jewish unity and strong ties between Israel and the Diaspora. The views expressed in this article are his own. This year, the Genesis Prize, worth one million dollars, was awarded to Israeli organizations and activists working to secure the release and support of hostages and their families.
