Democrats split on Israel policy at DNC ​​spring meeting in New Orleans

Democrats are united in their opposition to President Donald Trump and his unprecedented second term agenda. But as the Democratic National Committee (DNC) gathers in New Orleans for its spring meeting, the party has once again faced deep internal divisions over the actions of the Israeli military and the meddling of a powerful pro-Israel group in the Democratic Party primaries.

The DNC’s Resolutions Committee debated and held exploratory votes Thursday on resolutions recognizing the state of Palestine, limiting military aid to Israel, and targeting what another resolution called the “growing influence” of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, better known by its acronym AIPAC, and other so-called dark money groups.

Two resolutions on imposing conditions on military aid to Israel and recognizing a Palestinian state were referred to the DNC’s Middle East Task Force. The resolution calling for AIPAC was defeated after the Resolutions Committee passed a comprehensive resolution targeting all black money circles. The non-binding decisions were among more than 100 on many issues under consideration.

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The decisions were the latest clash between DNC leaders who support Israel and a growing base of progressives who give Israel the thumbs up. Another DNC committee member, who was not named, called the decision “a problem” for the group.

The possibility of divisive discussions and outbursts of speech on these issues comes eight months after similar protests at the DNC’s 2025 summer convention in Minneapolis.

This year’s spring meeting also comes as a national Pew Research survey released this week revealed that 80% of Democrats and party-leaning independents have a negative view of Israel, up nearly 30 points since 2022. An NBC News survey conducted earlier this year revealed that 57% of Democrats had a negative view of Israel, rising from 35%.Hamas killed 20% of people after Israel attacked Hamas. on October 7, 2023.

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Israeli Defense Forces personnel gather near military vehicles near the Gaza border, as seen from the Israeli side, on September 3, 2025. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)

But negative views have grown since Israel’s military campaign in Gaza two and a half years ago has killed more than 72,000 people, according to health officials in the Palestinian territory. And Israel joined the US in attacking Iran in a nearly month-and-a-half long war that polls suggest is unpopular with most Americans.

“Israel’s behavior has turned the American people against it,” said longtime DNC member James Zogby – president of the Arab American Institute and a critic of Israel – in a media statement this week. “It seems that the American people do not like people who use our money and weapons to kill people and steal Palestinian land.”

The resolution condemning AIPAC and other corporate spending in the Democratic primaries was sponsored by Allison Minnerly, a DNC member from Florida who at last year’s summer convention stood out as she unsuccessfully pushed for a resolution calling for an arms embargo on Israel.

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Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin (center) meets with committee member from Florida, Allison Minnerly, at a DNC Elections Committee meeting, Aug. 26, 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

Following the defeat of Minnerly’s resolution, DNC Chairman Ken Martin issued his own resolution, which called for “unrestricted” aid to Gaza and a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Martin then the Middle East Working Group, which will meet for the fourth time in the spring meeting.

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Some Democrats blame the party’s support for Israel for their 2024 election woes, when they lost control of the White House and Senate and failed to regain a majority in the House.

Fox News has reached out to the DNC and AIPAC for comment.