There’s no sign that John Fetterman will be progressive on Palestine

Last month Democrat John Fetterman declared victory over Republican Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania’s Senate race.

In recent years Fetterman has drawn national attention through his no-nonsense political style, criticisms of Donald Trump, and support for liberal causes like raising the minimum wage. “Here’s how John Fetterman won the all-important Pennsylvania Senate seat for Democrats: he knew Pennsylvania,” wrote Charlotte Alter in Time. “This is the Fetterman formula: a down-to-earth vibe, plus outreach to rural areas, plus pro-labor Democratic politics with some progressive accents.”

There’s been little talk about Fetterman’s foreign policy, as there’s not much to point to yet. Before becoming Pennsylvania’s Lieutenant Governor he spent thirteen years as the Mayor of Braddock, so he hasn’t established any sort of record on international affairs. His campaign website contained a section called “Maintaining Smart Global Leadership,” but it offers little in way of details. In just six sentences Fetterman says he opposes forever wars, supports Ukraine, and says we can’t “allow China to out-innovate us.” No other conflicts are mentioned.

Jewish Insider interview

One of the only foreign policy issues that Fetterman has been vocal about is Israel. In an April interview with Jewish Insider Fetterman expressed his staunch support for the country. “Whenever I’m in a situation to be called on to take up the cause of strengthening and enhancing the security of Israel or deepening our relationship between the United States and Israel, I’m going to lean in,” he told the website. “The relationship is a special one that needs to be safeguarded, protected, supported and nurtured through legislation and all available diplomatic efforts in the region.”

Fetterman also criticized progressive lawmakers who voted against an additional $1 billion for Israel’s Iron Dome missile-defense system in 2021 (“I believe that the vote was misguided, and that is something that I would never be a part of”) and voiced his opposition to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. “It’s just wrong,” he said. “Israel is our closest ally and friend in the region, and I do not believe that is anything productive that enhances not only Israel’s security but the region’s security through that process.”

Fetterman says he encountered no concerns about the issue on the campaign trail. “I would also respectfully say that I’m not really a progressive in that sense,” he explained. “Our campaign is based on core Democratic values and principles, and always has been, and there is no daylight between myself and these kinds of unwavering commitments to Israel’s security.”

“We have a lot of work to do,” Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee member Kate Daher told Mondoweiss. “We have to shift. He’s never been in this position before. We have a growing coalition in the state that has to pressure him.”

Israel lobby

During the Senate campaign Oz attacked Fetterman multiple times for being backed by liberal Zionist groups like J Street, which he claimed were “far left.” He even denounced his opponent after Mondoweiss used a picture of Fetterman for a story on Democrats neglecting to defend Israel on Twitter after a recent attack on Gaza. “It’s no surprise that a radical left anti-Israel website is praising John Fetterman for not standing up for Israel,” tweeted Oz.

“John Fetterman is on the opposite side of just about every major issue from me, and that includes Israel,” Oz told the Republican Jewish Coalition in August. “He’s OK with the United States putting pressure on Israel to manage their internal affairs differently, in particular how they manage the Palestinian population within Israel.”

Obviously Oz’s claims were pure fantasy. In addition to expressing loyalty to Israel Fetterman was endorsed by Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI), a group created by political insiders in 2019 to stomp out a growing concern for Palestinian rights within the party. The group’s political action committee spent six figures on mailers targeting Oz during the midterms.

“Most Democrats are strongly pro-Israel and we want to keep it that way,” the group’s founder and president Mark Mellman told the New York Times. “There are a few discordant voices, but we want to make sure that what’s a very small problem doesn’t metastasize into a bigger problem.”

According to Mellman the group reached out to Fetterman for a position paper on the issue. He submitted one that was “very strong” on Israel, but not good enough for DMFI. They asked for additions and he delivered in a second draft.

Fetterman is certainly not the only person poised to join congress who sports some progressive bonafides but stops short of supporting Palestinian self-determination. Maxwell Frost’s win in Florida’s 10th district will make him the first Gen Z member of congress. On the campaign trail Frost courted the backing of local Palestine groups and pledged to support the BDS movement, before abandoning those commitments and putting out a pro-Israel position paper.

Opportunities for activists

USCPR’s Manager of Policy and Advocacy Campaigns Sana Siddiq cites Rep. Betty McCollum’s (D-MN) historic child detention bill and recent legislative efforts to seek justice for slain journalist Shireen Abu Akleh as baseline stands for incoming Democrats to support. “With any incoming progressive Member of Congress, we would first reach out for a meeting with advocates and local Palestine organizers to help them build relationships,” she told Mondoweiss. “As these new Members develop relationships with others who are already taking a lead on Palestine, such as the Squad, their politics can sometimes evolve towards more public stances supporting Palestinian rights. The current legislative work on Palestine is in many ways an easy ask.”

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) Palestine Activism Program Director Jennifer Bing notes that there could be some bright spots in the new congress, but also points out that most candidates still perceive support for Palestine as a campaign killer.

“Collectively we need to build beyond informational webinars (that indeed are still key to keeping existing activists informed) and get out to where the country is beginning to re-emerge and meet again..in houses of worship, college campuses, community centers, professional conferences, art spaces,” said Bing. “We need to build out more creative campaigns, organize community discussions, and prepare people to have the fortitude to keep pestering even unlikely members of Congress and other influencers to speak up for Palestinian freedom, justice and equality.”

“We do have some allies in Congress, which is great progress if one remembers what it was like to advocate on Capitol Hill a decade ago,” she continued. “But we need to translate the polls that show growing support for Palestinian rights into more visible actions around the country, and eventually, more elected officials willing to challenge misguided U.S. policies.”