Maine voters are paying attention to Israeli-Palestinian conflict | Letter

The recent Democratic Party primary wins of Graham Platner and Matt Dunlap point to a momentous change: Palestine now matters in Maine politics.

The Gaza genocide and economic populism are driving voter change. Endless images of dismembered children, a revolt against sending our tax dollars overseas and rising gas prices blamed on the U.S-Israeli war on Iran are upending past uniform support for Israel. In nationwide polls, more Americans now sympathize with the Palestinian people than with Israelis. And in Maine, the biggest cheer at Platner rallies has been his line that, “We should be building hospitals in Maine, not bombing children in Gaza,” while 2nd District runoff winner Dunlap turned down Israel lobby campaign funding.

The outlier among Democratic Party candidates was State Sen. Joe Baldacci, endorsed by the Democratic Majority For Israel political action committee, and who has justified the genocide in Gaza by repeating the Zionist talking point that “Israel has a right to defend itself.” This moral and political myopia cost him dearly. In the runoff to determine the CD2 primary victor, the preponderance of votes of candidates not aligned with Israel first policies did not go to him.

The November general election will serve as the real litmus test of political change. But even on the Republican side, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are airing the idea that U.S. interests are not synonymous with unconditional support for Israel.

Nathan Paradis
Portland

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Tagged: letter to the editor