OPINION:
There has long been a quip in American politics: The odd-numbered years are pro-Israel, while the even-numbered years are more pro-Palestinian.
This is because in even-numbered years, elections, either presidential or midterm, take place, while in other years, politicking takes a back seat to committed policies. In other words, there is a belief among many, especially in the Democratic Party, that they have to take a more critical stance toward Israel to get elected.
Part of the reason for this is that long-term voting patterns show that the overwhelming majority of American Jews vote Democratic almost regardless of who is running or what their policies are. In addition, there is a growing well-funded mobilization of American Muslims and their supporters to send a message to the Democrats that they can tilt the upcoming elections against them.
In many Democratic presidential primaries, these pressure groups have pushed for “uncommitted” on the ballot in a show of protest over what they see as President Biden’s support for Israel against Hamas. This vacuous strategy appears to have panicked senior Democrats such as Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, who made a shameful speech calling for the deposing of a democratically elected foreign ally, and many in the Biden administration.
Of course, the threat is empty because none of the people who voted “uncommitted” will vote for Mr. Biden’s rival, former President Donald Trump, and abstaining on Election Day gives Mr. Trump a better chance of success.
But Jews and our supporters do have another option. While it is true that Jewish Republicans are in the minority, they are growing.
Many have become disillusioned and disgusted by the growth and seeming influence of the hard left within the Democratic Party, which is chipping away at support for America’s historic allies and calling for the support of countries and groups that hate the U.S.
While some Jews are not fans of Mr. Trump’s views or policies on a host of issues, they approve of his resolute and ongoing support for the Jewish state, especially during his time in office when he recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Israel’s sovereignty on the Golan Heights and midwifed the historic Abraham Accords.
The bottom line is that I am hearing for the first time in many generations, Jewish Americans have serious options, and there may well be a swing across the aisle. I am hearing more and more from my colleagues in the Jewish organizational world and Jews in communities up and down our country that lifelong Democrats will vote Republican for the first time.
This should matter and will have an effect far greater than any perceived anti-Israel mob voting “uncommitted” in the primaries.
Significant Jewish communities live in many swing states.
Nowhere is that more evident than in Pennsylvania, the swing state with the largest Jewish population, where around 300,000 Jews with the right to vote live in a state Mr. Biden won by roughly 80,000 votes in 2020.
The Jews of Pennsylvania, like Jews around the country, see the hatred around them by those who openly call for the eradication of Israel and the harming of Jews.
Many look to the authorities to see them take a hard hand against calls for the genocide of Jews, and they are afraid to walk around while “openly Jewish.”
They see the Biden administration not doing enough domestically to protect our loyal community against those who hate this country and see it taking unprecedented negative steps against Israel while it is fighting for its very existence.
Those in the Biden administration who see all of this remain committed to the idea that the Jewish community will never abandon the Democrats. Still, they should crunch their numbers again and see the combination of fear and anger brewing across the country among Jews.
In battleground states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Georgia, the number of Jews is larger than the margin of victory in 2020, and there are many other states, like Nevada, Arizona, Michigan and Ohio, where the Jewish vote could play a crucial role in the presidential and Senate races.
On the whole, Jewish Americans don’t feel comfortable with identity politics and certainly don’t tend to shout it from the rooftops. But when your community is in constant and ongoing danger, and your national homeland’s existence is being threatened by genocidal enemies, Jews have learned from history that they cannot afford to remain silent.
In November, this can and will matter.
President Biden, you and your people might be swayed by the “uncommitted” ballots of Michigan and elsewhere, but it is time to take the Jews into account as well.
Don’t take us for granted in November.
• Bobby Rechnitz is a Los Angeles-based philanthropist and real estate developer who serves as chairman of the Golda Meir Commemorative Coin Committee and the Abraham Accords Roundtable in Washington.
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