JERUSALEM, ISRAEL – MARCH 21: (ISRAEL OUT) Final preparations are made before US President Barack Obama’s speech to Israeli students on March 21, 2013 in Jerusalem, Israel. This is President Obama’s first visit as president to the region, and his itinerary includes meetings with the Palestinian and Israeli leaders as well as a visit to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images) The California Democratic Party Executive Board passed two resolutions during its Zoom board meeting over the weekend condemning those blaming Israel for police brutality in the United States as well as opposing unilateral actions by both Israelis and Palestinians.
The first resolution, titled “Condemning Anti-Semitism and Deadly Exchange,” states that there are people who claim that Israel’s training with U.S. law enforcement has resulted in police brutality.
“While the effects of U.S. police militarization are dehumanizing, the U.S.-Israel Homeland Security program has a specific focus on anti-terrorist training where participants learn how Israeli law enforcement disrupts, and responds to terrorist attacks, explores the ideology of suicide bombers, mass shooters, and other attackers, and teaches best practices to de-escalate an ongoing incident — training which is clearly distinguishable from police militarization or arrest mechanics — and these trips are only for senior officers, not patrol officers on the street,” the resolution stated.
Additionally, the resolution argued that Israel has never taught the knee-to-neck technique that was used on George Floyd, who died while in police custody on May 25.
“Israel has never taught arrest mechanics or restraints in its training programs with senior law enforcement officers from other countries as confirmed by Minneapolis Police which stated that it authorized the technique years before any Israeli contacts,” the resolution stated.
It concluded “that the California Democratic Party condemns all forms of anti-Semitism, including the false allegations around the Homeland Security Program” and called to “end the scourge of police brutality, transforming racist oppressive institutions that disproportionately harm people of color, and effectively combating white supremacy.”
The second resolution, titled “Resolution affirming the need for Israeli and Palestinian leaders to return to direct mutual negotiations to discuss peace, refugee rights and final borders,” argues that any Israeli annexation of the West Bank would undermine efforts for a two-state solution. The resolution also argues that the Palestinian “Right of Return,” where descendants of displaced Palestinians during the 1948 War for Independence would be allowed to return to Israel, also would undermine a two-state solution.
“The California Democratic Party opposes unilateral annexation of territory on either side of the 1948 Israeli-Palestinian conflict and reiterates that any related rights of refugees should solely be determined through bilateral, direct negotiations between the parties that justly address compensation, rights of return and final borders in a manner that ensures the safety, security and dignity of the parties involved,” the resolution stated.
Both resolutions were passed unanimously.
“We are delighted to see the California Democratic Party reject anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and affirm its commitment to a two-state solution, achieved through fair and direct negotiations,” Progressive Zionists of California Executive Director Susan George said in a statement. “Progressive Zionists of California is grateful to our activist allies and supporters for their guidance and support. We will continue our work to encourage unity and solidarity within the Democratic Party by rooting out anti-Semitism that marginalizes Jews on the left.”
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