The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the largest socialist organisation in the United States, passed a resolution on Sunday that supports the Palestinian right to resist and makes supporting Israel an expellable offence, reports the Middle East Eye.
The resolution, passed with a 56 to 43 percent vote at DSA’s biennial convention, also allocates resources to pro-Palestine organising and emphasises the Palestinian right to return “from the river to the sea”.
One of DSA’s most influential members is New York State assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who in June won the Democratic Primary for Mayor of New York City. Mamdani is part of the DSA’s “State Socialists in Office”, a nine-person bloc of DSA-endorsed officials elected to office.
Mamdani has historically supported the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which aims to make Israel comply with international laws and respect Palestinian rights through non-violent means. He also says he would discourage the use of the phrase “Globalise the Intifada” and says Israel “has a right to exist as a state with equal rights”.
The DSA wields influence over several important unions around the country, such as the United Auto Workers (UAW). The UAW was one of seven major unions representing nearly half of unionised workers in the US, which called for the end of all US military aid to Israel.
Still, some unions, like the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), have refused to call for an arms embargo. When the ILA workers went on strike in October, union workers continued to ship military cargo despite the work stoppage.
Sunday’s resolutions contained both political and practical commitments for DSA.
Politically, the resolution supports al-Thawabit, or the Palestinian red lines, the unifying principles outlined by the Palestinian Liberation Organisation in 1977. These principles include the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, the Palestinian right to resist and the right to self-determination.
The resolutions also make publicly and consistently opposing the BDS movement, taking money from pro-Israel lobbying groups, and supporting the transfer of funds or weapons to Israel an expellable offence.
