Local opinion: Democrats' self-immolation

I am a lifelong Democrat. I was a Vice Chair of the Pima County Democratic Party for two terms, Chairman for two, and then a Vice Chair of the State Party in 2015. I am proud to have helped elect City and County leaders whom I consider among the greatest leaders in our community’s history. Today, though, I find myself deeply troubled about the direction of my beloved Democratic Party.

Although it’s still a minority of the party, there is an emerging group of so-called “Progressive Democrats,” or Palestinian Terrorist Sympathizers as I call them, who are endangering our Party and America’s future.

Thursday, one Michigan Democratic US Senate primary candidate, Abdul El-Sayed, was asked three times by a CNN reporter if “Israel has a right to exist.” He repeatedly refused to answer. Hours later, Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez endorsed him. Friday, an MSNOW reporter confronted him and asked again if he believed Israel had a right to exist. He doubled down, answering “if Palestinians will it.” He then went on a rant about AIPAC'S fundraising and donations to candidates.

This is reprehensible and should be condemned by every person who considers themselves a Democrat. It is absurd to suggest that the existence of Israel, a sovereign nation created by UN mandate in 1948 and the only Jewish nation on earth, should depend upon the approval of people who live in a disputed geographical area and who elected a terrorist group, Hamas, to run their government.

This goes way beyond legitimate criticism of Israeli policy into something approaching antisemitism. Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, during the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, ruthlessly slaughtering 1,200, including at least 828 civilians, among them 36 children and 71 foreign nationals. Like America after 9/11, Israel responded appropriately and attempted to dismantle the Hamas terrorist organization. It wasn’t pretty, but it was necessary for Israel to survive.

Should Mr. El-Sayed win the Michigan Senate nomination, Democrats will lose that Senate seat in November and deservedly so. We may lose the chance for a Democratic majority in the Senate and the ability to hold Trump accountable for his vast corruption, overreach, and incompetence. Democrats and Republicans should be able to agree on two ideas: Israel, like all nations, has an absolute right to exist, and we all should condemn terrorists and their sympathizers.