Six months since October 7

Today marks six months since Hamas’s horrific terrorist attack on October 7. The Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) grieves with the people of Israel for all those who were brutally murdered, raped, victimized, traumatized, and impacted by terror on that horrific day and the days since. In two weeks, Jews around the world will celebrate Pesach, the Festival of Freedom, but none of us will be free until all of the hostages are free. We stand with the families of the 134 hostages whose fates remain unknown in Gaza, and continue to call for their immediate release.

Jewish Dems stand with Israel and strongly support its security and right to self-defense. President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Democratic leaders in Congress have supported Israel throughout this crisis, providing Israel with ongoing military and diplomatic support, and calling for the hostages release. Keep reading for talking points on President Biden and Vice President Harris’s support of Israel.

After October 7, President Biden immediately surged additional military assistance to Israel, including ammunition and interceptors to replenish the Iron Dome. He moved a U.S. Carrier fleet to the Eastern Mediterranean, and sent more fighter jets into the region, thereby thwarting Hamas’s goal of setting off an immediate regional conflagration. Later in October, President Biden visited Israel in a historic act of solidarity, offering light and support in Israel’s darkest hour and demonstrating America’s unwavering commitment to Israel. No previous sitting president has traveled to Israel during wartime, and no U.S. president has a longer or stronger record of support of Israel than President Biden.

Since then, President Biden and Vice President Harris have repeatedly reiterated U.S. support for Israel’s security goals and the urgent need to get the hostages out of Gaza and humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel and American Jews could have no greater friends in the White House at this incredibly difficult time.

TALKING POINTS ON PRESIDENT BIDEN’S SUPPORT OF ISRAEL SINCE OCT. 7

TALKING POINTS ON VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS DELIVERING FOR JEWISH AMERICANS

Meanwhile, in the days following October 7, Donald Trump mocked Israel and praised Hezbollah. More recently, in an interview with Israel Hayom, Trump added to his long record of antisemitic rhetoric, which includes numerous claims of dual loyalty. He blamed the rise in antisemitism on the “very bad picture for the world” that Israel created in Gaza. He said, “look at the New York Times. It’s a Jewish family. I think they hate Israel.”

In the same interview with Israel Hayom, Trump called for Israel to get the war in Gaza “over with” and “finish up” its effort to defeat Hamas. Never — not once — did he acknowledge or mention the Israeli hostages in Gaza. Reflecting on this interview, which apparently alarmed Republicans, Trump’s former National Security Advisor John Bolton said, “Trump’s support for Israel in the first term is not guaranteed in the second term, because Trump’s positions are made on the basis of what’s good for Donald Trump, not on some coherent theory of national security.”

Which reminds us of when Trump affirmed in 2020 that he moved the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem for “the evangelicals” because Evangelical Christians are more loyal political supporters of Donald Trump than Jewish Americans.

We are loyal to our values and we are Democrats. Democratic leader’s share our values, including our strong support for Israel, support of democracy and freedom, and our opposition to extremism and antisemitism. The same cannot be said of the Republican Party and its leaders. Elections matter. Friends matter. And we have a chance to (re)elect our friends – and Israel’s friends – in the November election.

On this solemn six-month anniversary, let us remember that. And let us continue to do all we can to free the hostages. May the memories of those lost forever be a blessing.

Sincerely,

Ron Klein
Chair, Jewish Democratic Council of America

Halie Soifer
CEO, Jewish Democratic Council of America