Is it antisemitic to say that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza? More generally, is it “hurtful and insensitive” for someone to acknowledge the suffering that Israel has inflicted on the Palestinian people? In recent weeks, actions by two different institutions of higher learning brought these two questions to the forefront.

Recent polls of US voters by several national public opinion research companies demonstrate that there is a steep decline in overall support for Israel. For example, in February of this year, Gallup showed that when asked with whom they most sympathized, 41% of respondents said Palestinians as opposed to only 36% who named Israel. This stands in marked contrast with results to the same question asked by Gallup in 2023 in which 54% of respondents said they sympathized more with Israel while 36% said they were more sympathetic to Palestinians. Then, just a few weeks ago, Pew released a poll in which 60% of respondents had an unfavorable view of Israel. 

It’s Arab American Heritage month. And as it’s the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, it’s a good time to reflect on the history of Arab immigration to America and the community’s more than two and one-half centuries of continuous presence in this country. 

For decades, frustrated reformers within the Democratic National Committee have fought for changes in party operations—particularly more financial transparency, accountability, and internal democracy. This past weekend’s meeting in New Orleans represented a hopeful step in the right direction.

With the apparent collapse of the US talks with Iran, President Donald Trump finds himself in a box with no easy way out. Polls are showing that key elements of his winning electoral coalition are growing weary of the war and frustrated with its domestic consequences. As we approach the midterm elections, Republicans in Congress are also nervous about how voters may react when they go to the polls.

Since Donald Trump first broke onto the national political scene, there has been a serious debate among Republicans regarding his commitment to conservative principles. His style was, in a word, flamboyant. His morality was questionable. And his behavior and language were outrageous. None of these behaviors could be identified with the staid “buttoned down” behaviors on display in conservative circles. 

In the days following US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s February speech to the Munich Security Conference, the press reviews were glowing. Unlike President Donald Trump and Vice President Vance—both of whom had delivered remarks before European fora using “insulting,” “harsh,” or “threatening” language—Rubio was praised for his “respectful tone” that eased the concerns of America’s European allies. 
 

The costs associated with any war—losses of lives, treasure, and security—are to be expected. And so it is with the US-Israel war on Iran. It was unnecessary. It has been massive. And it has been waged without any clear objective or strategic purpose. Though only a few weeks old, and still too early to project how it will play out, early signs of this war’s costs and consequences are worrisome.

I was honored to have been asked by Rev. Jesse Jackson’s family to speak at his memorial service in Chicago. Because I had worked with Rev. Jackson for almost a half century and because he had meant so much to me, my family, and my community, I labored over my remarks.