By Adam Pagnucco.

In Part One, we began discussing how issues related to Israel and the Palestinians intersect with MoCo politics.  Today, let’s discuss the candidate who is so far at the epicenter of the issue: council at-large candidate Josie Caballero.

Caballero is one of three MoCo candidates who answered the questionnaire by the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which had several questions about Israel and the Palestinians.  The other two are Council District 3 candidate Izola Shaw and District 39 Delegate Gabe Acevero. I posted links to their questionnaire responses last fall.  DSA is currently hard at work helping all three to get elected.

Ron Halber, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington (JCRC), has branded DSA’s questionnaire as “revolting” and “anti-Jewish.”  Caballero’s answers made her the subject of a campaign by Jewish activists to get her teachers union endorsement revoked.  Are such charges justified?

Reprinted below are Caballero’s answers to the part of DSA’s questionnaire covering Israel and the Palestinians.  Questions are in standard font and answers are in italics.  Her entire questionnaire response can be found here.  You can decide for yourself whether these views deserve the kind of pushback they have received.

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Palestine

In 2017, the Democratic Socialists of America adopted a resolution at its national convention in support of Palestinian civil society’s call for a global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement until Israel ends its illegal colonization of Palestinian lands, ensures equal rights for Palestinians living within Israel, and guarantees the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes. In 2023, the Democratic Socialists of America again affirmed its commitment to Palestinian liberation and support for BDS, and outlined standards for endorsed candidates. In 2024, Metro DC DSA passed a local resolution which established the following commitments for locally endorsed candidates, and instructed the Political Engagement Committee to issue a recommendation against endorsing candidates who do not meet these expectations:

1. Do you pledge to publicly support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement? Please provide a yes or no answer and explain your position.

Yes, BDS is freedom of speech and freedom of association. I support nonviolent actions for the community to put pressure on the violent actors who refuse to follow international law.

2. Do you pledge to refrain from any and all affiliation with…

The Israeli government or Zionist lobby groups (such as AIPAC, DMFI, Christians United for Israel, J Street).

YES! I have also already worked to stop DMFI and AIPAC candidates from being elected.

Think tanks that obfuscate the reality of the occupation (such as the Foundation for Defense of Democracies);

Yes, I will not participate in misinformation that justifies a genocide.

Political junkets to Israel (such as those sponsored by J Street);

Yes, I will not participate in propaganda tours that mislead political leaders worldwide.

Any event whose content or purpose contravenes DSA’s stated platform and positions on anti-Zionism, apartheid, occupation, or BDS;

Yes, the misinformation and the limiting of free speech are among the biggest reasons why this genocide has been allowed to happen. I will never participate in any of the propaganda groups.

Please provide a yes or no answer and explain your position.

3. Do you pledge to oppose legislation that harms Palestinians and supporters of the Palestine solidarity movement, such as…

Any official adoption (including affirmation or codification) of a redefinition of antisemitism to include opposition to Israelʼs policies or legal system, or support for BDS (e.g. IHRA definition of antisemitism);

Yes, this re-definition is being used to regulate speech on behalf of the Trump administration, including deportation for people who protest at our college campuses. That should not be allowed, and everyone deserves First Amendment protections, especially when they are taking such a brave stand.

Legislative and executive efforts to penalize individuals, universities, and entities that boycott or protest Israel (such as the anti-BDS Executive Order in Maryland and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s order for MPD to crack down on George Washington University student protests, which, in addition to harming Palestinians, violate rights to freedom of speech and expression);

Yes, as I mentioned above, this is a clear free speech violation, and will not be judged by history very kindly. It’s shameful. I will urge Governor Moore to repeal Executive Order 01.01.2017.25.

Legislative and executive efforts to send any military or economic resources to Israel;

Yes, this is a huge problem! One of my policies is to end all the money we are sending to support Israel in Montgomery County by defunding the Maryland Israel Development Center (MIDC). I will advocate when elected to ensure no Maryland money is being sent overseas.

Please provide a yes or no answer and explain your position.

4. Do you pledge to support legislation that furthers the cause of Palestinian liberation, such as…

Legislative and executive efforts to end Israeli apartheid and ethnic cleansing against Palestinians and promote Palestiniansʼ rights to return to and live freely on the land (e.g., H.R. 3103, most recently introduced in the 118th Congress);

Yes, I support ending systems of apartheid and ethnic cleansing.

Condemnation of Israeli apartheid and colonial practices (e.g., H.Res. 751, introduced in the 117th Congress);

Yes, I condemn Israeli apartheid and colonial practices.

Attempts to end the spending of U.S. tax dollars on Israel and/or sanction Israel until it ceases its practices of apartheid and colonialism (e.g., “Not On Our Dime!”);

Yes, I support not sending money to Israel to fund the war.

Legislation to end all funding and cooperation with Israel, such as ending college and university exchange programs, divesting state pension funds from companies complicit in Israeli apartheid, and sanctioning the state of Israel for violations of international law;

Yes, I support county divestment

Calls for a ceasefire in response to genocidal actions taken by the state of Israel;

Yes, I will continue to call for permanent ceasefire and robust humanitarian aid to protect civilian life.

Investigations and accountability for war crimes perpetrated by the state of Israel

Yes, I support independent investigations and accountability for war crimes.

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Whether you agree or disagree with the above, how much does this matter?  We will discuss that next.