Americans’ ardent support for Israel is palpable in poll after poll showing far greater sympathy for the Jewish state than for Palestinians.

It’s evidenced in the vote in the last U.S. Congress to top up American funding for Israel’s missile-defence system: a lopsided result of 420 to 9.

So that American backing is not in question; it’s a decades-long reality and was just reinforced with the blood-curdling massacre of Israeli civilians by Hamas militants on Oct. 7.

What’s less certain is the reaction from one important constituency as Israel expands its counter-offensive in Gaza and as the death toll mounts among Palestinian civilians.

We’re talking about the U.S. left. It’s virtually the only place in American politics where there might be a debate — over what’s acceptable in war, and about a path back to peace.

And signs are emerging of Democrats wanting to pressure Israel into abiding by certain limits in its operation.

  • @[email protected]
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    332 years ago

    I wouldn’t be so confident.

    The American majority is solidly center-left.

    Sure, the progressive wing is still small and they are smart enough to dodge the anti-semitism rhetoric. Why paint a target on your back.

    But the public opinion is definitely shifting away from unconditional support for Israel. I haven’t seen this much pro-Palestinian support in my life.

    • @[email protected]
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      132 years ago

      20 years ago you’d have Noam Chomksy and Norman Finkelstein calling out what’s going on and that’s about it. It’s very different today.

      • roguetrick
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        2 years ago

        There’s no cold war anymore and the assassination of Rabin and rise of the Israeli right wing has been the change (even if it was a delayed effect in American perception). The only political assassination that was so successful at achieving the assassin’s goals as that of Rabin in recent memory was the one of Japan’s Abe.

    • @[email protected]
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      52 years ago

      …my god…. the US centre left are the most violent government in the world and have just sailed 2 aircraft carriers to theatre.

          • @[email protected]
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            212 years ago

            Don’t refer to the entirety of the US government as “center left”. It makes you look like an idiot.

            • Maeve
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              162 years ago

              Especially when the entire government is noticeably right wing.

            • @[email protected]
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              12 years ago

              The sitting President is listed next to every war. If you can’t read a table, better sit this one out.

                • @[email protected]
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                  2 years ago

                  No, I’ve been really clear.

                  • Article : Democrats’ growing sympathy for Palestinians unlikely to shape near-term policy

                  • The comment I replied to said, “Dont be too confident, there’s a Centre Left Majority and support for Israel is dwindling” (My paraphrase)

                  • I replied and said that Centre Left governments are still massive war mongers (“the most violent government”), and have just sailed 2 aircraft carriers into theatre.

                  • you questioned that, which is cool

                  • I posted a link to a list on wikipedia of all the US interventions in the 21st century.the data show the US to be involved in many wars. Its more than anyone else, for anyone who wanted to check my facts - but no one did. It’s also obvious from the wikipage, that not every war was prosecuted by a Centre left government - (which was never the claim, for the idiots at the back).

                  • chaos ensued, because Team USA showed up, did their patriotic duty of bullying the dissenter

              • @[email protected]OP
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                42 years ago

                No he isn’t. I guess you didn’t scroll far enough.

                Maybe verify what you think before stating it as fact.

        • @[email protected]
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          32 years ago

          Most dems are right of center and the party just like the Republicans are avowed capitalists.

          The US doesn’t have a left political party.