THEO VAN GOGH WATCH US WATCH BACKGROUNDER: At DNC, Harris contends with Democratic divide on Gaza

The Democratic National Convention, which wraps tonight in Chicago, has mostly steered clear of foreign policy. China and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza have scarcely been mentioned. AL MONITOR  23-8-24

Nonetheless, a Democratic divide on the Gaza war and the United States’ Israel policy has been discernible, Elizabeth Hagedorn reports.

The rift: The Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week includes about 30 “uncommitted” delegates. They account for less than 1% of the nearly 5,000 delegates but represent the hundreds of thousands of voters who used their primary ballots earlier this year to protest President Joe Biden’s continued military and political support for Israel.

A small group of members representing the Uncommitted National movement staged a sit-in at the convention Wednesday night after they said the DNC had denied a speaking slot to a Palestinian-American. Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin, the parents of 23-year-old Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who is being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, spoke at the convention as a rapturous crowd chanted, “Bring them home.”

Why it matters: Since Vice President Kamala Harris replaced Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee, political commentators say she has distinguished herself by expressing greater sympathy toward the Palestinian plight. They also point out that she rose above the mainstream Democratic fray by first calling for a cease-fire in Gaza back in March.

However, nowhere in the 92-page DNC platform — which leans heavily on Biden’s policy record and agenda — is there any indication that Harris’ policy on the Israel-Hamas war would differ significantly from Biden’s, Elizabeth notes.

DNC platform: The platform emphasizes the Biden administration’s efforts to secure an “immediate and lasting cease-fire” in the Gaza Strip and the release of more than 100 hostages, mostly Israelis, in Gaza. The platform also states the party’s “commitment to Israel’s security, its qualitative military edge” and “its right to defend itself.” Importantly, it stops well short of backing an arms embargo against Israel, a key demand of the Uncommitted Movement. Indeed, military aid to Israel could reach $12 billion this fiscal year.