Friendly reminder: US politics are based on a system that profits from and normalizes the Israeli state’s ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, I’d like to revisit the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) debacle regarding Congressman Jamaal Bowman that took place recently.
For those who need a quick refresher, on Thursday, November 29th, the DSA Palestine and BDS Solidarity Working Group called for Bowman’s expulsion from the DSA. In their statement, the Palestine and BDS Solidarity Working Group explained that Bowman had previously slandered BDS and claimed not to work with pro-BDS organizations (which would include the DSA itself,) failed to commit to Defense for Children International—Palestine’s petition for the #StandWithThe6 campaign, and would make no clear commitments to block funding for Israeli apartheid in the future. Bowman also notoriously voted to increase funding for Israel’s Iron Dome system.
But wait, there’s more.
Bowman took a propaganda trip to Israel sponsored by the pro-colonization “liberal” Zionist group, J Street, on which he posed for a photo with Israel’s murderous Prime Minister, Naftali Bennet. After being sent the Working Group’s concerns with his anti-Palestinian behavior, Bowman again crossed a clear organizational red-line by appearing at a J Street conference to wax nostalgic about the good times seeing apartheid up close.
Such an ally to Palestine.
Honestly, the most bemusing thing in all of this is certainly not Bowman’s actions. He’s a politician and, for all of the fanfare about being an outsider to the system, he’s managing being a professional hypocrite amazingly well.
No, the bizarre aspect in all of this is that there are those who are ostensibly committed to Palestinian freedom and liberation who are going out of their way to say that, somehow, Bowman’s actions are those of a fighter for Palestine, to use a phrase coined by Steven Salaita to describe mediocre politicians people like to paint as far more radical than their actual words or voting records reflect.
I hate to break the news, but by those standards diehard Zionists are pro-Palestine. Hell, Israeli politicians could cross that ridiculously low threshold.
In a move aptly described by Ali Abunimah as a fudge, after laying out a strongly-worded critique of Bowman’s actions, the DSA National Political Committee (NPC) concluded that Bowman would not be expelled but that the organization “will not re-endorse Bowman unless he is able to demonstrate solidarity with Palestine in alignment with expectations we have set.”
Finally, the NPC, apparently greater experts on the Palestine liberation movement than all of those who sided with the Palestine and BDS Solidarity Working Group in calling for Bowman’s expulsion, claimed that such a move would only give Zionists what they need to fragment the movement even more: “Expelling Bowman would mean handing the perfect tool to the establishment to stoke divisions within the Palestine solidarity movement, the left and the working class, and play into the strategy of divide and conquer. It is exactly what our enemies want.”
Apparently, having political principles means siding with Zionists.
It’s true that we can’t completely ignore Congress in Palestine work, especially given that they keep the money for Israel’s regime of Palestinian death and dehumanization flowing.
But this also can’t mean that we throw any and all semblance of political fortitude away the moment a politician comes along who is able to issue a variation on the sentiment that “Apartheid is maybe not so good, actually.”
Being sycophants to careerist politicians and engaging in pretzel-knotted degrees of mental gymnastics to justify pro-apartheid actions and sentiments is not how to build power.
Building power comes from self-respect. It comes from never selling out our people or cause to appease institutional bureaucrats—especially those who ostensibly came into their positions for the purpose of creating more ethical political protocols.
Expulsion from the DSA would not have been “harsh.” It would have simply meant that Bowman would have his membership revoked. But this wouldn’t even necessarily be permanent, given that Bowman could technically reapply if he were so inclined. Non-members are not eligible for endorsements by National DSA and most local chapters, so Bowman would need to be a member in order to count on an endorsement as an elected. “Harsh” is the US-funded hell that Palestinians are forced to endure due to ongoing Israeli brutality.
As for the NPC, their decision not to expel makes the prospect of them being able to hold Bowman accountable laughable, given that they’ve essentially surrendered any real leverage that they have for the sake of playing nice with a professional sell-out. But perhaps I shouldn’t speak too soon—maybe they’ll take him off of a mailing list.
Scary.
As for the rest of us who want to fight for Palestinian freedom and liberation, even as we continue to support the intrepid efforts of the Palestine and BDS Working Group, we should take stock of the fact that the highest echelons of the DSA have participated in one of the most time-tested rituals necessary to anyone who prioritizes image and cultural clout over political standards: selling out Palestine.
I didn’t know apartheid was a functional component of “democratic socialism,” but hey, you learn something new every day.
Once again we’re reminded that the liberation of Palestine will never come from professional politicians or their fawning fanbases.
Let’s take note—and carry on.
This article was written in Omar Zahzah’s personal capacity and does not represent an official position of any organization for which he works or is affiliated with.
Correction: The article has been updated to reflect that the DSA Palestine and BDS Solidarity Working Group called for Bowman’s expulsion from the DSA, not the the DSA National Political Committee.
First of all, Bowman is not a member of DSA’s National Political Committee, so he couldn’t have been expelled from it. He one of about 100,000 members of DSA, where actual expulsion is a drastic measure rarely done, maybe even never. It’s a big tent organization where debate over many issues is not only tolerated but welcomed. The world does not revolve only around Palestine, and even on that, others of Bowman’s statements as he tries to navigate the politics of his constituency have been helpful. To dismiss that as “hypocrisy” is out of touch with political realities.
That said, we can agree that some of Bowman’s recent actions have caused harm to the struggle for Palestinian freedom and to the credibility of DSA, having endorsed him. Future endorsement is an open question that remains to be tackled.
But please, can we agree that there’s space between “perfect ally of Palestine” and “enemy”? Aside from Rashida Tlaib, perhaps, other DSA members of Congress have slipped up as well. Most of the co-sponsors of H.R. 2590, including Betty McCollum, voted for the Iron Dome funding.
In the end, the way to change in Congress is to 1) maintain communication with less-than-perfect allies; and most importantly, 2) organize, organize, organize so their constituencies will back improvements in their positions.
Zahzah has conveyed well the justified pain and suffering of his people. The question I have is what to do about it. What solution can work? Not only for Palestinians and Israelis, but for humanity as well. As Jerusalem goes, the world will go.
His conclusion is concerning, “Once again we’re reminded that the liberation of Palestine will never come from professional politicians or their fawning fanbases.Let’s take note—and carry on.”
This seems a flawed analysis. Ultimately politicians depend on their constituents to elect them. IMO, the path to success is through influencing constituents. America and most of the world will back the original PLO approach, a secular state with equality under its laws
I am puzzled what Zahzah’s roadmap looks like.
Whatever one’s position is on the fair solution to the Palestine question and the best means to achieve it, the one most important thing that an aware American voter can do is shun the politicians who compete with each other to be most obedient to AIPAC. Do not vote for PEPs. Do not let them say “you can’t be a one issue voter, there are other issues.” They have been saying that for seven decades. It is a shame that many friends of the Palestinians in America and even Palestinian Americans will at the last minute decide to vote for the Zionist politician who is perceived to be less evil than the rival on other issues. Shun the politicians of the old parties and vote third party or not at all. My vote goes to the Libertarians unless a misguided one spouts Hasbara.