Democratic Socialists of America Shift from Zionism to Anti-Zionism, Raising Concerns Among Jewish and Pro-Israel Groups

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), originally founded in the early 1980s as a Zionist organization under the leadership of Michael Harrington, has evolved significantly over the decades. Today, it stands as a far-left group with positions that have raised concerns among Jewish and pro-Israel organizations, including the American Jewish Committee (AJC). The DSA now influences U.S. progressive politics through endorsements, campus activism, and support for prominent elected officials like New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Its stance on Israel and Jewish issues, particularly its support for anti-Zionist campaigns and Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) initiatives, has drawn criticism for allegedly ignoring or tacitly endorsing antisemitism and Palestinian terror groups like Hamas.

The organization traces its origins back to the 1970s and early 1980s, forming in 1982 when the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee, led by Michael Harrington, merged with the New American Movement. Harrington, a Zionist and friend of Shimon Peres, a former Prime Minister and President of Israel, described Zionism as the national-liberation movement of a Jewish people asserting their right to self-determination.

However, since Harrington’s leadership in the 1980s, the DSA’s position on Israel has undergone a dramatic shift. The organization moved away from its initial democratic socialist Zionism and support for a two-state solution, ultimately embracing openly anti-Zionist policies in the 2010s. This shift coincided with the Occupy movement and Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign, which drew a new generation of progressives into the organization. Today, prominent elected officials aligned with the DSA include Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), as well as New York State Assemblymember and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX), a member of the House elected in 2022, lost support from his local DSA chapter due to his pro-Israel stance.

Although Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is not a member of the DSA, he has long identified as a democratic socialist. The organization’s growth has been aided by the popularity of the Vermont senator, whose presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020 inspired a new generation of progressives.

DSA national leadership sets overall strategy, but local chapters heavily influence policy, endorsements, and activism, often pushing the organization toward more extreme positions on Israel and Jewish issues. For example, the DSA’s New York City chapter, with which Zohran Mamdani is associated, has been a significant player in shaping these policies. As the DSA continues to evolve, its stance on Israel remains a contentious issue, reflecting broader debates within progressive circles about Zionism, antisemitism, and the pursuit of peace and justice.

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