Jewish Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice David Wecht jolted friends when he recently announced he was leaving the Democratic Party, citing the group’s “acquiescence to Jew-hatred.” Wecht not only voted Democrat, he was a decades-long activist who won two races for the Supreme Court as a Democrat. Wecht noted that the party too often minimized, ignored or excused anti-Jewish rhetoric and incidents.

What’s perhaps more surprising is that more American Jews haven’t reacted similarly to the party’s increasing disregard—and even approval—of open attacks on Israel and Jewish life.

Indeed, high-profile Jewish attorney and noted supporter of Israel Alan Dershowitz claims “The Democratic Party has become the most anti-Israel party in U.S. history.” Dershowitz announced last April that he was leaving the party, just one example of how Democrats are slowly squeezing Jews—the overwhelming majority of whom support Israel—out of the party.

In recent years, the Democrats have framed Israel as an oppressor/colonialist state that—against factual evidence—commits genocide against the Palestinians. Indeed, Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) described Israel as an “ongoing project of ethnic cleansing and settler colonial domination.” Jewish New York Congressional candidate Brad Lander reportedly told New York Muslims that he was morally obligated to denounce what he called “Israel’s genocide in Gaza.”

A growing number of Democrats have also embraced anti-Israel positions that endanger the U.S.-Israeli alliance and have the potential to severely compromise Israel’s security. Last April, for instance, a record number of Senate Democrats supported resolutions to restrict weapons sales to Israel.

Furthermore, Democrats have openly embraced antisemitic rhetoric. No wonder rising stars in the Democratic Party, such as Maureen Galindo, Chris Rabb, and Graham Platner, have all recently invoked crude antisemitic tropes.

Even supposedly pro-Israel Democrats are adopting anti-Israel positions. California Governor and 2028 presidential hopeful Gavin Newsom, for example, claims to “revere” Israel, but now hurls false slanders against it.

Despite the Democrats’ growing embrace of anti-Zionism and antisemitism—a normalization of Jew-hatred rivaling early stages of Nazi Germany—the overwhelming majority of American Jews still support the party. How long will it take Jewish Americans to reject allegiance to politicians who oppose their existential interests?

Democrats embrace anti-Israel ideology. This includes concepts like critical race theory, by which Israel is branded a white colonial settler state that commits genocide against the “indigenous” Palestinians—notwithstanding all factual evidence that Jews are the indigenous people of so-called “Palestine.”

Just last week, for example, even as chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, again admitted there is insufficient proof Israel has committed genocide, Congressman Al Green (D-TX) slammed AIPAC for not denouncing the “genocide in Gaza.”

In addition, Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) reintroduced a House resolution recognizing the false narrative that Israel drove the Palestinians from their land and made them refugees. The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which sponsors the resolution, asserted—in contradiction to all historical facts—that “Since 1948, every war Israel waged has served to bolster their settler-colonial project.”

Jews who align with the Democrats might well ask how long they can support a party that openly and falsely smears them as guilty of genocide and apartheid??

Democrats embrace policy positions that endanger the U.S.-Israel alliance. Last April, a record number of Senate Democrats voted to support resolutions proposed by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to prevent weapons sales to Israel. One resolution—to prevent U.S. sales of 1,000-pound bombs to Israel—garnered support from 36 Senate Democrats. The other resolution advocated a halt to selling military bulldozers to Israel, which 40 of 47 Senate Democrats supported.

Needless to say, restricting U.S. arms sales to Israel would severely inhibit the Jewish state’s ability to defend itself against enemies who regularly attack it. Should not American Jews consider the wisdom of voting for a party that rejects Israel’s right to self-defense?

Democrats normalize, embrace antisemitism. Not long ago, Democratic politicians who maligned Jews or Israel would find themselves quickly marginalized. Today, anti-Jewish and anti-Israel slurs are not only common among Democrat leaders, but also popular.

Indeed, May 2026 Pennsylvania Democratic primary winner Chris Rabb called the 2025 massacre of Jews at Australia’s Bondi Beach a “false flag” by “Zionists,” while Texas Congressional candidate Maureen Galindo claimed “Zionist billionaires run the world,” and Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, who has a tattoo resembling a Nazi SS symbol, accused Senator Susan Collins of selling out to “the president and to the Epstein class,” evoking a conspiracy of perverse Jewish power.

How will we American Jews explain to our grandchildren our persistence in supporting today’s Democratic Party?

“Pro-Israel” Democrats have become anti-Israel. California Governor Gavin Newsom was once considered a staunch supporter of Jews and Israel. Indeed, shortly after the October 7^th massacre, Newsom visited Israel, meeting with survivors, families of hostages, and Israeli leaders and launched a California plan to “Counter Antisemitism.”

Recently, however, Newsom has joined the Israel-bashing bandwagon. He accuses Israel of being an “apartheid state,” suggested the U.S. should reconsider military support for Israel, and said he never will accept money from AIPAC.

Another possible 2028 presidential contender, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who is Jewish, previously supported and donated to AIPAC, but today he attacks the organization. He “withdrew his support” when AIPAC “became a pro-Trump organization” (another patently false assertion, as AIPAC supports all pro-Israel candidates).

When even “pro-Israel Democrats” reverse themselves, it raises the question of whether Jewish Democrats can trust the Party’s integrity.

Most American Jews, puzzlingly, still support anti-Israel, antisemitic Democrats. More than two thirds of American Jewish voters still lean Democrat, indicating that the party’s increasing tilt away from Israel and towards outright antisemitism hasn’t yet made a significant dent in their support.

Nonetheless, Dershowitz and Wecht aren’t the only prominent Jewish Democrats to reject their party’s antisemitic drift. Just last week, Pennsylvania’s Governor Josh Shapiro warned his fellow Democratics against criticizing AIPAC, predicting it would “stigmatize” Jewish voters and “silence” their voices. Given the cascade of anti-Israel and anti-AIPAC rhetoric in recent days, such warnings may prove too little too late.

Please make the point when speaking with family, friends, colleagues—or in letters to the editor—that Jews who remain loyal Democrats in the face of such antisemitic hostility are living a contradiction—one that is not only illogical, but that also threatens the Jewish people.

If you agree we need to spread this truth, please use your email browser to forward this Hotline issue to fellow lovers of Israel—and encourage them to join us by subscribing to the Hotline at no charge.

Best regards,
Jason Shvili, Contributing Editor
Facts and Logic About the Middle East (FLAME)

P.S.      Surely, you’ve recently read of some celebrity, politician, radical student, foreign head of state or media pundit slander Israel with the “Gaza genocide” lie. Many who spread this lie are ignorant, but most are anti-Israel haters. They care nothing for the truth. The tragedy is, when they utter the Gaza genocide falsehood, too few knowledgeable people—and virtually no media—stand up to refute it. Indeed, when you share the simple facts, the genocide lie crumbles. Upon learning that Israel conducts its war against Hamas terrorists with the highest ethical standards—and that nothing Israel does in Gaza fits the definition of genocide—fair-minded people quickly see through the lie. I hope you’ll agree that we supporters of the Israel-U.S. relationship need to speak out. FLAME’s new hasbarah—explanatory message—“Facts Shatter Gaza Genocide Lies”—describes what genocide is and is not and proves factually that Israel’s tactics in the war are ethical and righteous. It also reveals demographic data showing that the Palestinian population in Gaza is actually increasing. Finally, it notes that those who spread the Gaza genocide lie fit the classic definition of antisemites. Please review this convincing, fact-based editorial, which FLAME is about to publish to millions—in leading social media, as well as in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Tampa Bay Times, Denver Post and Los Angeles Times. This piece will also be sent to all members of Congress, the President and Vice President. If you agree that this kind of public relations effort on Israel’s behalf is critical, I urge you to support us with a donation.