Hey, Pro-Israel People: We Need to Speak Up!

A member of We Are Progressive, Liberal, Woke and Pro-Israel, the Facebook group of more than 11,000 members that I founded and administer, recently asked a question that stayed with me:

“I’m getting the impression that more than a few people in America and the West are not on board with the pro-Palestinian, fake-genocide narrative, but they are silent for fear of very serious repercussions, from job loss to death threats. I do not blame these people, especially when their families are threatened. I’m wondering whether there is some way to strengthen their path toward voting for pro-Israel Democrats.”

Momentum creates more momentum. Many people follow what they perceive to be the prevailing social trend, especially when they are unfamiliar with the facts. When the loudest voices make anti-Israel sentiment appear dominant, people may simply drift in that direction. That is why those of us who are informed and supportive of Israel must speak up. By making our views visible, we can challenge the illusion of consensus and give others permission to question the trend rather than merely follow it.

There are far more pro-Israel Americans than public debate suggests. Many remain quiet. Some fear losing friendships, professional opportunities, standing within their communities, or even their personal safety. Those fears are reinforced by a campaign intended to intimidate Israel’s supporters into silence. We should not surrender to it.

Our tradition calls on us to make our voices heard.

When people who support Israel remain silent, others begin to assume that public support for Israel has disappeared. Loud DSA activists create the impression that their position is universal, that every progressive has abandoned Israel, and that anyone who rejects the accusation of genocide must be morally suspect.

One statistic helps put this in perspective. The DSA has about 120,000 members, compared with approximately 45 million registered Democrats in states that track party affiliation. Yet its influence is wildly disproportionate to its size.

That influence comes from organization, visibility, and strict ideological discipline. Nationally endorsed candidates are expected to uphold the DSA’s platform and priorities, coordinate with other DSA officeholders, and treat issues such as Palestinian liberation as central considerations.

The Democratic Party has traditionally allowed candidates considerable room to reflect their constituents and exercise independent judgment. By contrast, listen closely to DSA-endorsed candidates, and you often hear the same positions, the same language, and what sounds like the same handbook.

In my June 27, 2026, article, “I Call the DSA Corrupted by the Worldwide Jihadist Movement,” I argued that the DSA presents the American public with a domestic agenda many people might otherwise embrace. But I believe jihadist and Islamist ideology has deeply influenced the organization, which is now attempting to influence the Democratic Party, win as many seats as possible, defund Israel, and push the party further toward anti-Zionism.

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/i-call-the-dsa-corrupted-by-the-worldwide-jihadist-movement/

Fear spreads socially. So does courage.

Every person who calmly says, “I support Israel,” makes it easier for the next person to say it too.

You do not need to become a full-time activist.

Say that you support Israel’s right to exist and defend its people.

Challenge false accusations when you hear them.

Speak with pride about Israel’s accomplishments in medicine, science, technology, agriculture, disaster response, culture, and democracy. Remind people that Israel protects access to sacred places belonging to Jews, Christians, and Muslims under extraordinarily difficult circumstances.

We should also explain that Israel is defending its borders against Iran and its well-armed proxies: Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. These terrorist groups aim to destroy Israel and kill its citizens.

We must distinguish these terms. Muslims are people whose faith is Islam. “Islamic” is an adjective meaning related to Islam. Islamism is a political ideology. Jihadist organizations represent a more radical and violent current. Those distinctions matter.

Israel stands on the front line against the Islamic Republic of Iran and jihadist organizations that openly reject coexistence and celebrate violence against civilians.

Supporting Israel does not require supporting every Israeli policy or military decision. It means recognizing that the destruction of Israel is not a progressive goal and that Jewish self-determination is no less legitimate than the national aspirations of other peoples.

Visibility also matters politically, especially as we enter another election cycle. Most primaries may be over, but candidate forums, public meetings, campaign events, local appearances, and pro-Israel rallies still offer opportunities to meet people and to be heard and seen. Speak one-on-one or in small groups. These conversations can happen anywhere people gather.

I let candidates and their campaigns know, “I am pro-Israel, and I am voting for pro-Israel candidates.” You can speak only for yourself, but you can also tell candidates that you believe many others share your position.

Anti-Israel activists may object, interrupt, or attempt to drown you out. Let them. Other people will still hear you. You may even give someone else the courage to speak.

Speak with the people around you as well. Politely challenge anti-Israel arguments.

Perhaps, if members of the DSA begin hearing consistent support for Israel from Democrats, some may start questioning whether the organization truly represents the broader progressive electorate. Point out that Israel itself reflects many principles of democratic socialism. I explain this and other counterarguments in my article, “The Counterargument to the DSA’s Position on Israel.”

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-counterargument-to-the-dsas-position-on-israel/

Candidates also need to know their support for Israel is appreciated. When contributing to a campaign, include a brief note explaining that you support the candidate because of that position. If a congressional or Senate candidate is speaking nearby, attend, shake the candidate’s hand, and thank them directly. You can also email the campaign or publicly thank the candidate on their social media pages and elsewhere online.

Candidates face intense pressure from organized anti-Israel activists. They need to know that standing with Israel will not leave them isolated. Pro-Israel voters must give them the confidence to continue speaking clearly.

Do not worry about how informed you may be. It is better to be enthusiastic and willing to learn than knowledgeable and silent.

Start today, and do not let an opportunity to speak pass you by. Let today be the day you commit to making your support for Israel visible.

Do not underestimate the impact of one conversation. You may not be the first person to challenge someone’s misinformation, and you may not be the last. When people hear thoughtful, respectful arguments from several directions, they may finally fact-check what they have been told and discover that their information about Israel is wrong.

That realization may begin to change their thinking, nudge them to leave the DSA, or give a member the confidence to stand up at a meeting and say, “Our position on Israel does not add up.” Once people begin questioning from within, change becomes possible.

This article is not primarily about why we support Israel. It is about how we make that support visible.

Democrats share many values with Israel, including support for labor rights, civil rights, reproductive freedom, environmental protection, universal health care, LGBTQ equality, and democracy. We must preserve our place within the progressive coalition.

We must also reject the accusation that being pro-Israel means being pro-genocide. Supporting Israel can also mean supporting the liberation of Gaza from Hamas, ending Palestinian suffering, providing humanitarian relief, and defending Israel’s existence and security.

The answer to intimidation is calm, informed, persistent visibility. We should know the facts, choose our words carefully, and speak without hatred, even toward those who oppose Israel. Our message is strongest when it is principled, humane, precise, and persistent.

But we must speak.

A silent majority is politically indistinguishable from no majority at all.

Mitch Mallett is a pro-Israel Democrat, writer, media commentator, and community organizer. He is the founder and administrator of the Facebook group “We Are Progressive, Liberal, Woke and Pro Israel,” a growing community dedicated to supporting Israel from a liberal and progressive perspective.

Mitch has been writing articles for The JCA International Jewish News, focusing on Israel, antisemitism, Middle East politics, Democratic Party dynamics, and the importance of maintaining strong bipartisan support for Israel. His writing reflects a lifelong commitment to progressive democratic values, Jewish identity, and the defense of Israel’s legitimacy in public discourse.

Before turning to published commentary, Mitch spent seven years as a morning drive-time radio talk show host in the Tampa market, where he discussed politics, public affairs, and current events with a broad audience. His background also includes years of involvement in Democratic Party leadership, Jewish advocacy, and grassroots organizing.

Mitch has traveled to Israel multiple times over several decades, experiences that continue to shape his understanding of Israeli society, Jewish history, regional conflict, and the possibilities for peace. He writes as someone who believes that support for Israel, concern for Palestinian human rights, opposition to antisemitism, and progressive values are not contradictory, but deeply connected.

His work is grounded in the conviction that pro-Israel voices on the left must remain engaged, informed, and active in shaping the public conversation.