Foreign Policy Took Precedence Over Addressing Issues Affecting North Carolinians
RALEIGH, NC — The North Carolina Democratic Party Jewish Caucus (NCDPJC), along with Jewish communities across the state, have been wrestling with the question of how to understand the passing of seven resolutions concerning the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. These votes had an outsized grip on the attention of the Resolutions and Platform Committee, and whose common theme was the demonization and delegitimization of the State of Israel.(1) The resolutions accused Israel of genocide, apartheid, and of occupation, all which terms are demonstrably misapplied.(2,3,4,5)
Democratic party members of the Resolutions and Platform Committee prioritized these resolutions, and the Progressive, Interfaith, and Young Dems Caucuses, carried these resolutions across the finish line, but ignored issues that affect North Carolinians like, Medicare, the cost of housing, and healthcare. There were also other resolutions that passed at the meeting, without discussion, and which were not well thought out.(6) The NCDPJC firmly believes that the SEC misguidedly spent all its time and energy on international affairs, over which they have no impact, to the detriment of local issues and hard-working North Carolinians.
“Now more than ever, Democrats must unite to oppose Donald Trump’s extreme agenda and a gerrymandered North Carolina Republican legislature,” said Lisa Jewel, “As President of a caucus [NCDPJC] that represents more than 500+ members, I’m deeply disappointed that a vocal minority within our party continues to sow division. At a time when antisemitic incidents are on the rise across the state, double the national average, according to recent data, the Jewish Caucus has repeatedly called for unity, yet the Resolutions Committee chose to focus on wedge issues that, ultimately, would result in harm to our friends and family.”
NCDPJC 1st Vice President and Membership Chair Amy DeLoach added “Our caucus includes a wide range of views on Israel. We are not a monolith in how we practice Judaism, or how we engage with Israel. As a caucus, we are united in a rising concern that the constant demonization of Israel affects our safety here at home, especially after recent antisemitic attacks in places like Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Boulder.”
As an approved Affiliated Organization of the NCDP, the Caucus will continue to support the North Carolina Democratic Party. Currently the Caucus is working to continue growing its membership (which is up 25% in just the last five months), while also identifying and supporting Democratic candidates that listen to their concerns and can advocate on their behalf. They believe that their membership has an excellent track record of strategically targeting resources to get out the vote.
- These were 7 out of the total 8 international resolutions the committee recommended that the SEC vote to approve. In all, the committee brought 34 resolutions before the SEC, out of 300 resolutions it considered.
- Zach Goldberg, How the Media Manufactured a ‘Genocide’, Gabriel Epstein, Gaza Fatality Data Has Become Completely Unreliable
- Israel completely withdrew from Gaza in 2005.
- It is the Palestinian Authority (PA) that practices apartheid, as no Israeli civilian is allowed in the areas it controls in the West Bank.
- Even the resolution ostensibly calling for unity, gave lip service to the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and then went on to imply that Israel is guilty of genocide, collective punishment, and carpet bombing of the Palestinians.
- E.g., Resolution Rig 001, which calls on local law enforcement to not cooperate with agencies under the Department of Homeland Security.
Contact Information:
Perry Dror, Communications Chair
North Carolina Democratic Party Jewish Caucus
828-280-2084
communications@ncdpjc.org
ncdpjc.org