We, the undersigned Young Democrats and College Democrats leaders, respectfully urge Democratic Party leaders to ensure that the Israel/Palestine section of the Party’s platform expresses support for the security and rights of both Israelis and Palestinians. United as young people by our commitment to progressive principles, we share the view of a majority of our party that the be an honest broker in the region. We ask the Democratic Party to make this a central element of its vision for the Middle East in its 2020 Platform.

Date: June 2020 To: The Democratic National Committee From: Young Democrats and College Democrats leaders Subject: Israel/Palestine in the Democratic Party Platform

The actions of the Trump administration have upended decades of bipartisan US support for a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They have provided the Israeli government with a green light to permanently reject Palestinian statehood, legitimize settlement expansion, entrench the occupation, and pave the way for annexation in the West Bank.

Past party platforms have rightly stated a commitment to Israel's security and included condemnations of threats and actions against our ally, in addition to embracing a two-state outcome. Those platforms have, however, also been silent on the rights of Palestinians, on Israeli actions that undermine those rights and the prospects for a two-state solution, and on the need for security for both peoples.

The 2020 platform should end this double standard by expressly stating both a commitment to Israel and its security and a commitment to Palestinian rights. It should include clear opposition to ongoing occupation, settlement expansion and any form of unilateral annexation of territory in the West Bank.

We ask that the platform address these issues—each of which has been exacerbated under the current administration—to make clear what a comprehensive Israel/Palestine foreign policy looks like under a future administration, which includes a commitment to security, democracy, and human rights.

Signed,

1. Ethan Smith - National Vice President, College Democrats of America, Former Membership Director, College Democrats of America 2. Mia Vafa - Development Director, DC College Democrats 3. Keith Nagy - Former President, GW College Democrats; Former National Councilman, DC College Democrats 4. Andrew Abramson - Events Director, College Democrats of Massachusetts 5. Michael Suchecki - Secretary of Public Relations, Student Government Association; Member, UMass Amherst Democrats 6. Tamar Stollman - Chief of Staff, Student Government Association; Member, UMass Amherst Democrats 7. Carla Montilla - Membership Director, UMass Democrats 8. Chloe Mitchell - Events Director, UMass Democrats 9. Chloe Ostiguy - Communications Director, UMass Amherst Democrats 10. Hayley Fleming - President, College Democrats of Massachusetts 11. Mark Cote - Chapter President of College Democrats at Holyoke Community College; Chair of Western Massachusetts Young Democrats; Massachusetts Democratic State Committee Member; Former Vice Chair of Hampshire & Franklin at Western Massachusetts Young Democrats; 12. Sage Spalter - Communications Director, Tufts Democrats 13. Theo Groh - Elections Director, Young Democrats of New Hampshire 14. Kevin Mendez - President, College Democrats of Washington 15. Moriah Draper - Vice President, Young Democrats at the University of Washington 16. Ayla Bussel - Programs and Development Director, College Democrats of Oregon 17. Annika Albrecht - Political Director, Oregon College Democrats; President, Linfield College Democrats; Campaign Chair, Young Democrats of Oregon 18. Sophia O'Neal - Vice President, Oregon College Democrats 19. Cameron Cochems - Development Chair, Idaho Young Democrats 20. Spencer Lively - President, Young Democrats of Washington 21. Mike DeVine - Vice President of Operations, Young Democrats of Washington 22. Matt Kanter - Chair, King County Democrats 23. Jacob Sanderson - President, Young Democrats at the University of Washington 24. Colt Braylor - Campaign Chair, Young Democrats of Oregon 25. Emily Mooney - Chair, Young Democrats of Oregon 26. Brian Josephson - State Central Committee Delegate, Young Democrats of Oregon 27. Brittany Leffel - Vice Chair, Young Democrats of Oregon 28. Michael Cojocaru - Communications, Young Democrats of Oregon 29. Emma Empol - Secretary, Young Democrats of Oregon 30. Mollie Ping - Director of Communications, Young Democrats at the University of Washington 31. Kevin Kemegue - Administrator, Young Democrats at the University of Washington 32. Kadin Mangalik - Co-Chair, Colorado College Democrats 33. Jack Ross-Pilkington - Secretary, Cornell University Democrats; Former Political Director, College Democrats or New York 34. Jacob Klipstein - President, Penn State College Democrats 35. Daisy Confoy - President, Pennsylvania College Democrats 36. Miranda Asral - President, Lehigh College Democrats 37. Ellie Kimmelman - President, Haverford College Democrats 38. Talia Goerge-Karron - President, Haverford College Democrats 39. Cameron McColgan - Political Affairs Director, Pennsylvania College Democrats 40. Beatrice Murray - Membership Director, Pennsylvania College Democrats 41. Kristen Robinson - Secretary, North Carolina College Democrats 42. Toni Rodriguez - National Director of Political Affairs, College Democrats of America 43. R. Matthew Barocas - Secretary, Florida College Democrats 44. Shawky Nabil Darwish - Deputy Director of Activism, GW College Democrats 45. Andrew Sugrue - VP of Communications, GW College Democrats 46. Molly Ahern - Deputy Director of FemDems, GW College Democrats 47. Kelsey Lewis - Deputy Director of Campaigns, GW College Democrats 48. Abigail Simard - Editor of News and Blog, GW College Democrats 49. Juan Carlos Mora - President, DC College Democrats 50. Henry Walther - Deputy National Political Director, College Democrats of America; Former President, College Democrats of Louisiana 51. Bryan Parks - Executive Board Member, College Democrats of Louisiana State University 52. Bella M. Ryb - Executive Director, DC College Democrats; Former President, DC College Democrats 53. Devon Bradley - Black Student Union President, The George Washington University; Former Vice President, DC College Democrats 54. Grace Forster - National Programs Director, College Democrats of America; Former Political Director, Michigan State Federation of College Democrats; Former Deputy Fundraising Director, College Democrats of America; Former President, Albion College Democrats 55. Jennifer Blemur - President, DC Young Dems; Delegate for at the DNC 56. Keely Sage - President, Tennessee College Democrats 57. Igor Tregub - Rules Vice Chair, Young Democrats of America; Executive Board, Democratic Party 58. LaNiuqa Jones - President, Cleveland State Democrats 59. Evann Englert - Political Director, College Democrats of Indiana 60. Grace E. Hermann - Chair, College Democrats at the University of Michigan 61. Alessia Modjarrad - President, College Democrats of Indiana; President, College Democrats of Indiana University 62. Lindsey Haughton - Executive Board Member, University of Michigan College Democrats 63. Sam Waterman - Communications Director, College Democrats of Indiana 64. Daniel Farrell - Activism Director, College Democrats of Indiana; President, Purdue College Democrats 65. Cameron Peters - Former Communications Director, Northwestern College Democrats 66. Daniel Green - President, College Democrats of Illinois 67. Ashley Winters - Communications Director, College Democrats of Illinois 68. Jasmine Kaltenbach - Executive Director, Michigan AFL-CIO Advocates; Member in Good Standing, College Democrats at the University of Michigan 69. Chris Fernandez - Executive Vice President, Young Democrats of Arizona 70. Emma Burns - VP of Membership, Young Democrats of Arizona 71. Calli Jones - VP of Finance, Young Democrats of Arizona; President, Northern Arizona University Young Democrats 72. Eve Levenson - Policy & Government Affairs Manager MFOL; Member, GW College Dems 73. Maiya De La Rosa - Vice President of Membership, California College Democrats