We Don't Need an Autopsy to Tell Us the Democrats Failed on Gaza

"I am no stranger to how the party handles-or, more accurately, avoids handling-issues involving Palestine/Israel. In 1988, I spoke from the Democratic National Convention podium in Atlanta to introduce Jesse Jackson's platform plank calling for "mutual recognition, territorial compromise, and self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians." For my efforts, I was asked to withdraw from the DNC, because "party leaders" were concerned that Republicans would use my membership and support for Palestine as an issue in the campaign."

"On eight occasions over the years, I testified that the party needed to acknowledge Palestinian rights. Having argued and lost this many times, I am well aware of the party establishment's fear of addressing Palestine."

"But I believe that the fight over this autopsy report is not where those of us who support Palestine, and who know that leading Democrats have been on the wrong side of this issue for far too long, should be focusing our energy."

A controversy has emerged regarding whether the Democratic National Committee has concealed an autopsy report analyzing Kamala Harris's 2024 presidential election defeat. Some groups suspect the report is being withheld because it attributes Harris's loss to her alignment with Biden's Gaza policy, and they are demanding its release as evidence of a cover-up. The author, a longtime DNC member with over three decades of involvement including service on the executive committee and resolutions committee, provides historical context about the party's consistent avoidance of Palestine/Israel issues. The author recounts personal experiences, including being asked to withdraw from the DNC in 1988 for introducing a platform plank supporting Palestinian self-determination, and testifying multiple times about Palestinian rights. Despite this history, the author argues that focusing energy on the autopsy report dispute is not the most effective strategy for advancing Palestinian advocacy within the Democratic Party.

Read at The Nation