The world has changed!
The State of Israel must recognize that the war for the hearts and minds of Americans is not just the American Jewish community’s fight; it is their fight, as well. And its importance is such that it comes in second only to the hot war which it is now fighting in Gaza.
During the 2020 primary election season here, early indications pointed to Bernie Sanders becoming the nominee and that the “Squad”, as the progressives in the House of Representatives, led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), are known, would become power brokers in his administration.
Even though that did not happen, I would argue that we are only one standard deviation away from a Bernie Sanders-type candidate becoming president in the near future. This should be a major concern of ours because, as the Gaza War shows, the support of the United States is so important to the safety and security of Israel. Winning the hearts and minds of Americans is truly a matter of life and death for Israel.
The other day I attended a speech by Jason Greenblatt (an architect of the Abraham Accords) about the current situation in Israel. He quoted a poll taken in late October that showed that just under 50 percent of voters between 18 and 34 years old believed that Hamas was justified in its October 7th pogrom. Said Greenblatt, “If this trajectory continues it will be ‘game over.’”
Much of what he said that night was depressing, but for me, that “game over” statement was the most chilling. If the United States does not support Israel, Israel will be left with very few options and very few allies to rely on. The war with Hamas is being fought, but long after the last bullet is fired, the fight for the hearts and minds of Americans will continue. It is a long battle in which victories will be measured in inches, not feet. We must be prepared to fight this because the consequences of failing are too grave to comprehend.
My message to the State of Israel is to recognize that this war in the United States is a public relations battle that is not for the American Jewish community to fight alone. It is both of our wars. The State of Israel must dedicate serious resources to help change the hearts and minds of the age group from which the United States will draw its future leaders, because otherwise it truly will be “game over.”
This battle must be fought both virtually and in person. It will require thousands of people and billions of dollars. But there is no choice. The war must be fought. We must fully embrace this and react to the new reality.
The world has changed!
Daniel Rosen is the former leader of the TorchPAC pro-Israel group at New York University whose activism against campus antisemitism was reported on in the New York Post, the New York Sun, and multiple Jewish newspapers as well as the Village Voice. He worked for the Jewish Agency and now serves as co-CEO of a local family business.