As more and more young Jews say that Israel practices “apartheid” or “genocide” against Palestinians, Israeli President Isaac Herzog calls on the U.S. Jewish community to push back against these Jews. But he never mentions Palestinian conditions that alienate American Jews.

Kamala Harris visited a political science class at George Mason University in Virginia on Tuesday and after a Middle Eastern student described personal pain over Israel committing “ethnic genocide and displacement of people, the same that happened in America,” Harris nodded and said everyone’s perspective must be included in a democracy. The interchange became a scandal — and Harris has rushed to assure pro-Israel groups that she disagrees with the student.

Progressive forces enjoyed a triumph for Palestinian human rights last week before House leadership called for a standalone vote that went 420-9 for Israel military aid. The pro-Israel lobby still has a “stranglehold” over policymaking because it has the overwhelming backing of the organized Jewish community, and a lot of money to spend on political races.

Rashida Tlaib had sound reasons to call Israel an apartheid state, including Human Rights Watch’s report saying as much. But politicians and journalists don’t defend her because pro-Israel journalists like Bret Stephens have viciously attributed all criticism of Israel to its status as a Jewish state, and said the critics are motivated by antisemitism.

Progressives lost a vote on Israel in the House yesterday, overwhelmingly, by 420-9. But the ten Democrats who refused to vote for the funding represent a solid beachhead of opposition inside Congress to the special relationship between the U.S. and the apartheid “Jewish state.” Pro-Palestinian human rights forces are not going away — and the sooner the American public is exposed to this debate, the better.

Jewish Voice for Peace stages a religious protest at the home of Jeffrey Yass, the richest person in Pennsylvania. He supports expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine, and also supported Democrat Andrew Yang’s unsuccessful campaign for NY mayor.

House progressives were able to temporarily hold up an additional $1 billion to Israel, but the victory was shortlived. Only eight Democrats ended up voting against the spending. NY Congressperson Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez did not vote no, voting present; while Betty McCollum, Mark Pocan and Jamaal Bowman, who have been critical of Israel, all voted for the funding.

As progressives, including two Jewish groups, try to block $1 billion in extra aid to Israel, liberal Zionists are once again stuck in the middle, unable to come out against the funding and thereby alienate the mainstream Israel lobby.

In an unprecedented show of strength by House progressives, Democratic leadership was forced to strip $1 billion in funding for an Israeli arms system from a government spending bill. House Majority leader Steny Hoyer rushed to assure Israeli Foreign Minister that the money would go through next week.

Three progressive House members are making a legislative effort to block the delivery of US-made bombs to Israel.