Keep Our Eyes on the Prize

 We May Just Blow It

Progressives in the United States are in danger of throwing away a real chance at victory in this fall's elections. The split in the progressive movement over support for Israel could destroy the opportunity for progressive change that Pres. Trump’s corruption, incompetence and racism have given us.

Trump was a elected on promises to bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States and to keep us out of pointless wars. He has done neither. In addition, his tariffs have inflicted major pain on rural voters who voted for him in large numbers, and his campaign to deport undocumented immigrants has led to shooting ordinary, white Americans dead in the streets. Finally, his pointless war with Iran, and his support for Israel’s indefensible actions in Gaza have alienated millions of Americans. These things should make taking control of Congress in 2026 a slam-dunk for Democrats.

Within the Democratic Party, the progressive wing is growing in power because its members are the only Democratic leaders with ideas about how to make our country more just and equitable. The senior leaders of the party offer only that they are not Trump, but that is not enough. So, we see progressive candidates winning primaries all over the country. Many Americans are hungry for progressive change, and that offers an opportunity to Democrats in November.

An Opportunity is Not a Victory

We can easily blow our opportunity. To turn it into a reality, Democrats must stick together, but the party is in danger of unraveling because of differences over Israel. On the one hand, we have many people supporting the Palestinian cause to the point of saying that the State of Israel is a colonialist entity that ought not to exist. That position borders on overt antisemitism.

On the other hand, we have people who believe that support for Israel must include support for its current government even when those policies are turning the State of Israel into an apartheid state. Those who hold this view are investing millions through AIPAC into electing candidates who support American military aid to Israel.

Those on one side of this argument seem to say that any violence committed against Israel is justified, and those on the other side seem to say just as strongly that any violence committed against Palestinians is justified. Neither of these positions makes sense, and neither should be allowed to dominate the Democratic Party. Either position will drive millions of progressive Americans out of the Democratic Party and doom the party’s chances of taking control of Congress this fall.

Eyes on the Prize

Progressives should remember that this election has two purposes. The first is to preserve American democracy from Trump’s attempt to destroy it. We cannot allow him to continue his march toward fascism. The second purpose is to elect legislators who will support real, practical, progressive solutions to our country’s many problems. We want legislators who will put Social Security on a secure financial footing without cutting benefits; we want legislators who will take climate change seriously enough to promote actions to mitigate its worst effects; we want legislators who will support an equitable national healthcare system; and we want legislators who will take a realistic view of our other national problems.

We will get these things only if we maintain a clear focus on the goals of this election. If we allow our attention to be diverted, we will very likely lose this year’s election. We must not allow our differences over Israel and the war in Gaza to split our party. Those who support the Palestinian cause must avoid claiming that Israel should not exist, and those who support Israel must accept that opposition to Israel’s policies or to American military aid to the Israel is not antisemitic.

Let’s keep our eyes on the prize and win this fall’s election!