Democrats are set to vote on a pair of resolutions on Tuesday morning, Aug. 26, that are related to Israel’s war with Hamas. The resolutions, which are scheduled to be brought to the Democratic National Committee summer meeting in Minneapolis, speak to the deepening divide in the party in the wake of the Iranian-backed terrorist group’s Oct. 7 attack.
DNC Chairman Ken Martin, who had led Minnesota’s DFL Party for 14 years, submitted one of the resolutions with 18 co-sponsors, while a progressive DNC member and nine co-sponsors backed a competing resolution.
A motion passing requires a simple majority of the 47 members of the resolutions committee present at the session, or their proxies.
Martin’s Resolution 3, Resolution for Humanitarian Aid to Gaza and an End to the Israel-Hamas War, calls for the immediate release of hostages – living and deceased, a credible pathway to a two-state solution “that ensures equal measures of dignity, freedom, and opportunity for Israelis and Palestinians alike, and opposes any unilateral steps by either side that undermines the prospects for the two states.”
The other resolution – Resolution 18 – calls for elected Democrats to support an immediate ceasefire, arms embargo, and suspension of military aid, urging its members to recognize Palestine as a country, and that the “Democratic Party affirms its commitment to international law, human rights for all people, an immediate and continual supply delivery chain opened for humanitarian focused life-saving food and medical care in Gaza, and the pursuit of a just and lasting peace for all in the region.”
The full text of Martin’s resolution acknowledges the historic claims both Israelis and Palestinians have to the land, and the current war started with Hamas’s attack on Oct. 7. By contrast, Resolution 18 does not mention Hamas or Oct. 7. Both resolutions can be seen here on pages 8 and 42, respectively.
In a statement, Democratic Majority for Israel President & CEO Brian Romick said the organization backs an end to Israel’s war with Hamas that frees all the hostages, removes Hamas from power, delivers aid, and “affirms the rights of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security.”
“Unfortunately, there has been widespread amnesia about the Israel-Hamas war and how we got here. It’s Hamas that started this war and is perpetuating the suffering by not accepting the ceasefire deal,” Romick wrote. “Shockingly, this resolution does not even mention the barbaric attacks of October 7 nor the terrorist group Hamas at all. It calls on members of Congress to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state, which would only reward Hamas’ terrorism.
“Should it advance, it will further divide our Party, provide a gift to Republicans, and send a signal that will embolden Israel’s adversaries.”
Resolution 18 was introduced by Florida’s Allison Minnerly, the deputy executive director of Florida-based Youth Action Fund.
Among the groups backing Resolution 18 is RootsAction, a national activist organization. Its political director, Sam Rosenthal, said Martin’s Resolution 3 is “watered-down.”
“The DNC should signal that the party is ready to embrace the will of its base and support an arms embargo against Israel,” Rosenthal said. “Passing the resolution on Gaza would be the first step in the right direction.”
Romick said that passing Resolution 18 would both divide the Democratic Party and embolden Israel’s adversaries.
“There is no question that this is a serious moment in the U.S.-Israel relationship,” he said. “Despite these circumstances, we know that the fundamentals of our Party’s support for Israel are strong because they are grounded in shared democratic values, mutual security interests, and have endured for more than 75 years.”
