Fetterman to leave Democratic Party if it becomes ‘anti-Israel party’
Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) stated that he would consider leaving the Democratic Party if it were to abandon support for Israel, emphasizing that defending Israel is a moral issue for him. Known as a traditionalist within the party, Fetterman has rejected switching to the Republican Party but indicated potential frustration with the partyS direction, especially as it leans more progressive. He expressed concern over the Democratic Party becoming anti-Israel,which he views as a moral boundary. Fetterman also highlighted concerns about recent progressive candidates gaining influence, some with anti-Israel views, and criticized efforts within the party to defund aid to Israel.He noted that House Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries oppose ending aid to Israel and warned against the resurgence of socialist-leaning candidates who may reflect an anti-Israel sentiment. Fetterman’s comments reflect his deep commitment to Israel and concerns about ideological shifts within the Democratic Party.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) on Wednesday revealed his redline for staying in the Democratic Party, saying he would leave it should the political system abandon Israel.
Fetterman is known as an old-style maverick in the Democratic Party, sticking to traditional positions on immigration, foreign policy, and more that are increasingly out of favor with the party’s growing progressive wing. Though he has repeatedly dismissed switching to the Republican Party, Fetterman suggested during an interview at the Hill Nation Summit in Washington that there could be a point where he feels pushed out of his home party, after being urged by a former colleague to become an independent.
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“My long-term concern has been with the Democratic Party, as I am a member of that, is that our party is going to back away and turn their back to Israel,” he said. “If our party ever becomes, and just makes it official, the anti-Israel party, that’s when I would leave because that’s been a moral clarity for me.”
During the interview, Fetterman acknowledged he has been approached by Republicans about leaving the Democratic Party but declined to detail “private conversations.” He referenced a more recent development he worried reflects an anti-Israel trend in the Democratic Party, when the No. 2 House Democrat bucked Democratic leadership to back a measure ending all defensive funding aid to Israel. House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) moved against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) on the matter.
Fetterman expressed particular concern over a string of progressive or openly socialist candidates who are scoring wins in the Democratic Party, including Abdul el Sayed, who has been polling well ahead of the Michigan Senate Democratic primary on Aug. 4. El Sayed’s refusal to disavow Twitch streamer Hasan Piker has been controversial, due to his anti-Israel views, including comments in April that he “would vote for Hamas over Israel every single time.” Piker has continued a close association with el Sayed, as he stumps for him on the campaign trail.
“You look at the kinds of individuals that are winning our recent primaries,” Fetterman said Wednesday, criticizing colleagues he said are trying to ingratiate themselves “with that segment of the base of our voters that are intensely, intensely anti-Israel.”
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“Now here’s more Democrats to ‘defund the police.’ Here we are back to part of the worst impulses that we just can’t resist,” he added. “We forgot the crazy things that we said, and that cost us the election in 2024. Now we want to revisit that. If anything, they’re coming back in the strongest kind of terms. Look at the people who are winning.”
Fetterman previously raised concerns over several socialists who won primary elections in New York House races in June, including Darializa Avila Chevalier, a self-described “prison abolitionist” who is against deporting anyone from the United States and has declined to confirm whether she believes Israel should continue to exist.
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