Dr. James J. Zogby<\/p>\n
Palestinian Fayez Sayegh once wrote that when pro-Israel groups appeared to be at their strongest, they were masking their weakness. Recent actions and statements by Congress and pro-Israel groups and Israel\u2019s sharp decline in standing among American voters bear this out.
\nIsrael\u2019s been losing ground in American public opinion since well before October 7th. Polls have shown young people, Black, Latino, and Asian Americans holding somewhat more negative views of Israelis and more support for Palestinians. While Israel, in general, has retained support, its policies are strongly opposed by majorities among all demographics, with majorities supportive of cutting US aid to Israel because of settlement construction and other human rights violations.
\nThus, in recent years, pro-Israel groups launched a multi-pronged offensive including: smearing pro-Palestinian activists and members of Congress; passing state laws penalizing supporters of boycotting or sanctioning Israel, and equating criticism of Israel with antisemitism; and a campaign to improve Israel\u2019s image. After the Hamas attack, Israel squandered the opportunity to regain lost support through sheer brutality and wanton disregard for Palestinian lives, weakening Israel\u2019s standing, especially among Democrats and key parts of its base.
\nStill, Israel has had continued support from the White House, bipartisan congressional leadership, mainstream media outlets, and most commentators and \u201canalysts\u201d who remain receptive to Israeli narratives of events. Biden administration officials have persistently defended Israeli behaviors, even when suggesting that Palestinian civilians should be protected. \u201cLeaks\u201d from US media executives telling staff how to cover stories\u2014what must, and may not, be said\u2014echo Israel\u2019s positions. Congressional leaders\u2019 statements defending Israeli actions have been especially shameful.
\nDespite this top-down advantage, trouble percolates from below. Israel continues losing support from key Democratic constituents, with that decline impacting support for the President. While the precipitous decline in Arab American support and the half-million-plus \u201cuncommitted\u201d primary votes have made news, the problem is deeper. A recent Washington Post poll shows a significant drop in Biden\u2019s support among Black voters, with his backing for Israel cited as one reason. The changing mood among voters toward Israel has an activist bent: massive demonstrations in major cities; hundreds of local governments, major institutions, and unions criticizing Israeli actions and calling for immediate ceasefire; and Black clergy, Catholic leaders, major Protestant churches, and prominent groups of young progressive Jews calling for ceasefire and conditions on military aid to Israel. Student-led anti-war demonstrations and protest encampments at US colleges and universities call for ceasefire and demand divestment from US companies supporting Israel.
\nWhile congressional leadership remains supportive of Israel, a growing number of Senators and Representatives have signed letters calling for conditioning aid to Israel or voted against pro-Israel legislation. Change is clearly afoot, leading pro-Israel groups to launch an all-out campaign, not to make their case but to stomp out their opponents. It\u2019s both ruthless and a threat to our democracy. One pro-Israel lobbying group has earmarked $100 million to defeat members of Congress supportive of Palestinian rights. At the high end a congressional election costs about $5 million; the $20 million committed to defeat Rep. Jamaal Bowman is obscene by comparison.
\nIn Congress, they are pushing national legislation equating opposition to Israel with antisemitism and denying federal funding to colleges and universities that don\u2019t pass the pro-Israel purity test. Legislation has passed the House removing the tax-exempt status of institutions deemed \u201csupportive\u201d of terrorist organizations (which includes advocating for Palestinian rights). Congressional leaders have threatened the International Criminal Court with sanctions if they charge any Israeli leader with crimes and expanded the ban on US funding for UNWRA. Congressional leaders and pro-Israel groups echo the rhetoric of Israel\u2019s Prime Minister in calling protesting students antisemites (though a disproportionately large number are Jewish) and equating protests with Nazi antisemitic campaigns leading up to the Holocaust.
\nFinally, pro-Israel groups are \u201cexposing\u201d foundations supporting progressive Jewish groups opposing Israel, calling for them to be shunned by the Jewish community.
\nWhile these actions may appear to demonstrate strength, in reality, they betray weakness. Efforts to police speech and crush criticism of Israel and its policies are reminiscent of the McCarthy era. But because Israeli behaviors won\u2019t change, the critics won\u2019t \u201cgo quietly into the night.\u201d Instead, their resolve will harden\u2014and may ultimately damage President Biden\u2019s bid for reelection.<\/p>\n
The writer is the President of Arab American Institute.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dr. James J. Zogby Palestinian Fayez Sayegh once wrote that when pro-Israel groups appeared to be at their strongest, they were masking their weakness. Recent actions and statements by Congress and pro-Israel groups and Israel\u2019s sharp decline in standing among American voters bear this out. Israel\u2019s been losing ground in American public opinion since well […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[13158],"class_list":{"0":"post-408089","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-article","7":"tag-dr-james-j-zogby"},"yoast_head":"\n