Largest US socialist organisation passes resolution supporting Palestinian resistance
The resolution, passed with a 56 to 43 percent vote at DSA's biennial convention, also allocates resources to pro-Palestine organising and emphasises the Palestinian right to return "from the river to the sea".
One of DSA's most influential members is New York State assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who in June won the Democratic Primary for Mayor of New York City. Mamdani is part of the DSA's 'State Socialists in Office', a nine-person bloc of DSA-endorsed officials elected to office.
Mamdani has historically supported the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which aims to make Israel comply with international laws and respect Palestinian rights through non-violent means. He also says he would discourage the use of the phrase 'Globalise the Intifada' and says Israel 'has a right to exist as a state with equal rights'.
The DSA wields influence over several important unions around the country, such as the United Auto Workers (UAW).
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
The UAW was one of seven major unions representing nearly half of unionised workers in the US, which called for the end of all US military aid to Israel.
Still, some unions, like the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), have refused to call for an arms embargo. When the ILA workers went on strike in October, union workers continued to ship military cargo despite the work stoppage.
The resolution
Sunday's resolutions contained both political and practical commitments for DSA.
Politically, the resolution supports al-Thawabit, or the Palestinian red lines, the unifying principles outlined by the Palestinian Liberation Organisation in 1977.
These principles include the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, the Palestinian right to resist and the right to self-determination.
Zohran Mamdani's support for Palestinian rights sealed mayoral primary win, poll shows Read More »
The resolutions also make publicly and consistently opposing the BDS movement, taking money from pro-Israel lobbying groups, and supporting the transfer of funds or weapons to Israel an expellable offence.
Elected officials are expected to be held to similar standards by DSA.
Last year, DSA unendorsed representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over her support for the funding of the Iron Dome, an Israeli defence system, and a definition of antisemitism that considers Zionism a protected class.
Practically, Sunday's resolution resolved to devote attention and resources to the 'Student Intifada', a term activists have used to describe pro-Palestine protests on university campuses, and to the Mask off Maersk campaign.
The Mask Off campaign, spearheaded by the Palestinian Youth Movement, aims to halt the shipments of arms to Israel by shipping giant Maersk.
Moroccan unions have called on their workers to boycott Maersk vessels carrying military cargo, and Spanish port authorities have denied entry to Maersk ships transporting weapons to Israel.
DSA's resolution states it will leverage its influence in the labour movement to enact similar pressure on Maersk in the United States.
Shifting politics
When the DSA was founded in 1982, the organisation and its leader, Michael Harrington, supported Israel.
Harrington described Zionism as a 'national liberation movement' and DSA initially held largely liberal Zionist views. But as DSA grew and pro-Palestine sentiments became more widely accepted among the American left, DSA's position gradually changed.
Sunday's resolution, and its support for al-Thawabit, represent a years-long political shift from DSA's initial liberal Zionist principles towards more pro-Palestine positions.
This shift has hastened since the beginning of Israel's war on Gaza, which has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians and has been recognised by several countries, as well as leading rights groups and experts, as an act of genocide.
Several hours after the resolution was passed, Israel killed six journalists in Gaza in a targeted assassination, a move condemned by human rights organisations globally.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Filipino Times
8 minutes ago
- Filipino Times
UAE, Jordan Conduct 69th Humanitarian Aid Drop Over Gaza
The UAE and Jordan jointly carried out their 69th airdrop of humanitarian aid into Gaza on Tuesday, joined by seven aircraft from Germany, Italy, Belgium, and France. The shipment, prepared with the support of UAE-based charities, was part of Operation Gallant Knight 3 — a relief mission directed by President Sheikh Mohamed to deliver food and essential supplies to Gaza's most affected areas. In addition to the airdrop, 20 lorries carrying around 500 tonnes of food entered Gaza through land crossings. According to state news agency Wam, the UAE has now parachuted more than 3,924 tonnes of aid, including food and other essential items, since the start of the operation. The Palestinian death toll since the conflict began on October 7, 2023, stands at 61,599, with 154,088 injured.
Middle East Eye
23 minutes ago
- Middle East Eye
France: 'From the River to the Sea' colouring book sparks far-right fury
A children's colouring book on the history and culture of Palestine is at the centre of a debate about the representation of Palestinians and pro-Palestine advocacy in France. Originally published in English, From the River to Sea by South African author and illustrator Nathi Ngubane was in the summer window display of the Violette and Co bookstore in Paris, alongside titles addressing themes of racism, colonialism and the Palestinian cause. This display triggered what the bookstore described as "intimidation, harassment, cyberbullying, defacement, and threats from the far right", starting in July. In a post on Instagram dated 11 August, Violette and Co, which identifies as a feminist and LGBTQIA+ space, detailed the graffiti on its storefront reading 'Islamocomplice' and 'Hamas rapist', "hateful, LGBT-phobic, sexist, and racist comments", as well as death threats. "A group of five people came to the bookstore to intimidate us," the statement continued, adding that right-wing media outlets in the country fuelled a "disinformation campaign" regarding the shop. From the River to the Sea was singled out by the media, politicians and social media users alike. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters French channel CNews decried the book as "teaching kids to hate Israel", while Europe 1 labelled its title a "Hamas slogan". The title is based on the decades-old chant "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free", widely used by pro-Palestinian campaigners. It refers to liberating the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea in historic Palestine. Propagande du Hamas… en coloriage pour enfants ? Vendu dans le 11eme chez Les Violette and CO. Un livre intitulé 'From the River to the Sea' est en vente. Et il est destiné aux plus jeunes. ➡️ Ce n'est pas un ouvrage d'analyse. C'est un album de coloriage. 🤔 ⬇️ — Jugé Coupable (@JCoupable) August 7, 2025 Translation: Hamas propaganda… in a colouring book for kids? Being sold in the 11th arrondissement at Les Violettes and Co. A book titled "From the River to the Sea" is on sale. And it's aimed at young children. This isn't a political analysis. It's a colouring book. Supporters of Israel claim it implies the destruction of the country. French MP Aurelien Veron joined the chorus, calling it an "appeal to the destruction of Israel", while MP Nelly Garnier and Isabelle Nizard, deputy mayor of the 16th arrondissement of Paris, called for the withdrawal of government subsidies granted to Violette and Co. Amid the backlash, some elected officials voiced their support for the bookstore, with Paris's deputy mayor, Jean-Luc Romero-Michel, posting on X: "Full support to the Violette and Co bookstore, which is currently facing a campaign of intimidation and harassement for placing a colouring book on Palestine in its window." Online, supporters defended the bookstore and the colouring book against attempts at "censorship". Many stated that the right-wing backlash was misplaced amid Israel's ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Soutien à la librairie Violette and Co qui subit des menaces et intimidations depuis quelques jours, en plus d'essuyer des insultes lesbophobes sur les réseaux sociaux. Ces obscurantistes qui sont plus dérangés par une librairie que par un génocide sont répugnants. — Marion Beauvalet (@MarionBeauvalet) August 12, 2025 Translation: Standing with the Violette and Co bookstore, which has been facing threats and intimidation for several days now, along with a flood of lesbophobic abuse on social media. The fact that these reactionary bigots are more outraged by a bookstore than by a genocide is nothing short of disgusting. "Certain struggles, particularly the Palestinian cause, unfortunately expose one to many aggressions and attempts at intimidation and censorship," said Turkish-Israeli-French historian Esther Benbassa in a solidarity message about Violette and Co. One commenter on Instagram said: "People are more offended by a colouring book than by genocide." The backlash also appeared to introduce the book and shop to new and curious readers. "The only good thing about this kind of rage-tweet is that they make you discover lots of people and initiatives," posted journalist Sihame Assbague on X. "If this pisses off the Zionists, then you should go buy this colouring book," said another user. 'Hysterical reaction' Violette and Co, which champions feminist and anti-colonial literature, stated it sought to promote diverse narratives through its display in an effort to counteract "homonationalist and femonationalist" political discourse. "We salute Violette and Co for continuing to elevate Palestinian narratives and for remaining steadfast," said Ngubane, the author and illustrator of the colouring book, in a statement. "The hysterical reaction from the French right wing shows Zionism for what it is: an ideology based on intimidation and supremacy," added the book's publisher, Social Bandit. The book covers key moments such as the Nakba - the ethnic cleansing of around 700,000 Palestinians from their homeland to make way for the creation of Israel - the ongoing Israeli occupation and Palestinian resistance movements. This isn't the first time From the River to the Sea has faced backlash from pro-Israeli groups. In June 2024, South Africa's biggest bookstore chain pulled the book from sales, sparking protest online.
Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
Israeli media praise killing of Palestinian journalist Anas al-Sharif
"It's about time," wrote Daphna Liel, a senior journalist at Israel's Channel 12 News, on her Telegram page on Sunday night. "The IDF killed the terrorist who operated under the guise of an Al Jazeera journalist," her report said, referring to the Israeli army. The picture of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif was attached. The killing of Sharif on Sunday has provoked outrage from press freedom groups and other media outlets - but in Israel, the response by most of the media has seemingly been that Sharif, in fact, had it coming. Ynet described Sharif as "the reporter-terrorist who was assassinated", Maariv newspaper said he was "a journalist in the service of Hamas", and Israel Hayom wrote that he was "a terrorist disguised as a journalist". New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters On Sunday night, the Israeli military announced that it had attacked a journalists' tent near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Sharif, who was one of the most prominent journalists covering Israel's assault on Gaza, was the target of the attack. In addition to Sharif, six other Palestinians were killed in the attack, including Al Jazeera correspondent and Middle East Eye contributor Mohammed Qreiqeh as well as camera operators Mohammed Noufal, Ibrahim Zaher and Moamen Aliwa. "The Israeli media's response to the killing of the journalists was frightening," Zahra Saeed, a Palestinian journalist at Radio Al-Shams, told MEE. "Amit Segal [a senior journalist at Channel 12 News] wrote on his Telegram account that he was waiting for this assassination, it's unbelievable. He is part of the Israeli apparatus of incitement against journalists." 'Murder. Plain and simple' The Israeli attack on Sunday was condemned around the world. Sara Qudah, regional director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said: "Israel wiped out an entire news crew. It has made no claims that any of the other journalists were terrorists. That's murder. Plain and simple." The war in Gaza is the deadliest conflict for journalists since such data began to be collected. Since the beginning of the war, Israel has killed 270 journalists and media workers. The Israeli army spokesperson claimed it had documents indicating that Sharif was active in Hamas, but did not produce the evidence. 'The Israeli media plays a central role in the genocide in Gaza, whether actively or silently' - Hanin Majadli, Haaretz Hanin Majadli, a Palestinian journalist who writes for Haaretz, told MEE that Israeli media were actively trying to misrepresent the current situation as normal. "The Israeli media is an inseparable part of the Israeli apparatus, which also includes the government, the military, and the public, which commits crimes in Gaza," Majadli said. "The Israeli media plays a central role in the genocide in Gaza, whether actively or silently." Right-wing journalist Yinon Magal of Channel 14 criticised a demonstration by Palestinians in Umm al-Fahm, in northern Israel, "for the 'journalist'-terrorist, Anas al-Sharif". Saeed said there was effectively no difference between the mainstream media and the far-right media regarding the coverage of the assassination of Sharif. "Anyone who asks questions and casts doubts finds himself under attack and outside the national consensus. He is labelled a traitor," she told MEE. "The Israeli crimes in Gaza are justified in the mainstream media, just as they are in the extreme right media outlets," Majadli said. "There is no justification for the assassination of Anas al-Sharif. According to Israeli logic, Israeli journalists are also legitimate targets - while an Israeli journalist called for the killing of 100,000 Gazans and another blew up houses in Lebanon, they are considered professional journalists." 'Hunt down Arabs' Journalists in Israel that condemned the attack faced criticism of their own. Majadli and Saeed said they received abuse while expressing their views on the assassination of Sharif. Saeed said that a post on her Instagram account lamenting the killing of Sharif was translated into Hebrew and led to incitement. According to Saeed, the purpose of translating the post was to "hunt down Arabs", adding that this is what happens "when a Palestinian journalist in Israel wants to express her opinion". Exclusive: MPs urge UK to disclose if it holds spy plane footage of Israel's journalist killings Read More » "All of our journalistic work has been reduced to whether you are for or against terrorism. Asking questions beyond the borders of the IDF spokesperson is considered a crime," Saeed said, adding that "it is dangerous to be a journalist in Israel as well, not only in Gaza". "In Israel, the equation is very simple - the Palestinians are terrorists," Majadli said. "A Palestinian journalist who speaks out against the killing of Anas al-Sharif is considered an encourager of terrorism, a sympathiser of terrorism, or an inciter to terrorism. "There is no journalistic space in Israel. The vast majority of Palestinians in Israel can't even say about Anas al-Sharif 'may Allah have mercy on him'." "The incitement against Palestinian journalists is open, it is the norm, it is urgent," Majadli said. "The incitement is here to stay for a long time. In Israel, the Palestinians need to know that they have to keep their mouths shut."
