(RNS) — The executive committee of North Carolina’s Democratic Party passed a strongly worded resolution Saturday (June 28), calling for an end to military aid, weapons shipments and logistical support to Israel, angering many North Carolina Jews.
The resolution is believed to be among the first state affiliates of the Democratic Party to pass similar measures seeking to restrict weapons to Israel. Wisconsin and Washington state Democratic parties passed similar measures. The vote in North Carolina passed by a slim margin, 161-151.
The resolution refers to what human rights groups have called an “apartheid” (or state-sponsored segregation) against Palestinians and credible evidence of a genocide in Gaza, as documented by the International Court of Justice. Israel denies those accusations.
It also cites polling showing that 62% of young Democrats support an arms embargo against Israel. The resolution suggests military funding to Israel would be better used to address the needs of Americans in the United States.
Rabbis across the state said they felt the resolution, which has been years in the making, is one-sided. It makes no mention of the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that killed about 1,200 people or the 251 hostages taken to Gaza or the violence directed toward pro-Israel Jews in the United States since the war began. On Monday, Colorado prosecutors said an 82-year-old Jewish woman died from wounds sustained in a firebombing attack against Jewish protesters in Boulder, Colorado, earlier this month.
“For many in the Jewish community, this framing is not only inaccurate, but also deeply painful because it overlooks the trauma of Oct. 7, because it overlooks the ongoing threats to Israeli and Jewish civilian …