Biden’s nomination to OMB of Neera Tanden, a political operator who fawned over Netanyahu in the weeks after he tried to destroy the Iran deal in 2015, and censored Israel critics after they were smeared as antisemitic in 2012, shows how ensconced the Israel lobby is in the Democratic Party.

Pompeo’s gifts to Netanyahu in occupied territory yesterday were all about getting the Israel lobby on Pompeo’s side for 2024. The one headwind Pompeo has it in his power to possibly create against Biden/Harris in 2024 is to get Biden fighting with Netanyahu over settlements and get the Democratic Party fighting over Israel.

Bernie Sanders: “In Russia, in India, in Brazil, in Hungary, in Israel and elsewhere, we see this rise of a divisive and destructive form of politics. We see intolerant, authoritarian political leaders attacking the very foundations of democratic societies. These leaders exploit people’s fears by amplifying resentments, stoking intolerance and inciting hatred against ethnic and religious minorities, fanning hostility toward democratic norms and a free press, and promoting constant paranoia about foreign plots.”

The Democratic Party has squelched the Palestinian issue. Yesterday, Kamala Harris had a conference call with 1800 Jewish Democratic donors and assured them a President Biden will never condition aid to Israel over its conduct and that Biden-Harris will show “unwavering support” for Israel. The party has shut down the left’s criticism of Israel saying it could damage the effort to make Donald Trump a one-termer.

Kamala Harris is so pro-Israel she helps Biden remove the issue from his race with Trump. But progressives who want it to be an issue are winning House races. The Democratic street wants boycott and sanctions.

The Biden team is about to put out very pro-Israel language on a party platform draft. And while it is likely that Israel-critics will try to amend that language, party insider Mark Mellman says they will not succeed.

1000 alumni of J Street U fault the parent org’s efforts to stop Israeli expansion as toothless. “Time and again, J Street has organized letters of condemnation, Jewish communal pressure, and congressional measures that fall short of creating material consequences for Israel’s actions.”

Vermont Senator, and former presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders addressed a Tel Aviv protest opposing the Israeli government’s plan to annex parts of the Jordan Valley and West Bank.

Joe Biden’s idea of criticizing Israel was being 90 minutes late to dinner at the Netanyahus on the day the Israelis insulted him as vice president in 2010 by announcing more settlements. And Biden embraces Trump’s move of the embassy to Jerusalem and offers only mild criticism of annexation plans.

Michael Arria interviews Jim Zogby on the uphill battle over Palestine within the Democratic party over the past 40 years.