The first Gen Zer set for Congress has some surprising views on Israel
With endorsements from the likes of Bernie Sanders, Floridian Democrat Maxwell Frost was regarded as a classic young progressive. Then he released his position paper on the Israel-Palestine issue
Maxwell Frost won the crowded Democratic primary in Florida’s 10th Congressional District on Tuesday. Courtesy of Maxwell Alejandro Frost for Congress
This article originally appeared on Haaretz, and was reprinted here with permission. Sign up here to get Haaretz’s free Daily Brief newsletter delivered to your inbox.
Maxwell Frost made history in Florida on Tuesday when he won the 10th district’s crowded Democratic primary. The 25-year-old is set to become the first Gen-Z member of Congress, serving the solidly blue Orlando-based district.
Frost rose to national prominence as a gun safety advocate and has worked with the American Civil Liberties Union and numerous political campaigns in addition to his work as a community organizer. The Democratic candidate, who did not finish college and would be the only Afro-Cuban in Congress, supports key progressive tentpoles such as Medicare for All and Green New Deal.
His progressive stance helped him earn endorsements from Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC and the AFL-CIO federation of unions.
Where he seemingly differs from many progressives, however, is his evolving stance on the Israel-Palestine issue.
Frost says he will be a “pro-Israel, pro-Palestinian member of Congress.” He did not provoke enough opposition for super PAC spending, nor was he embraced enough for a specific endorsement ahead of the primary. Prior to his congressional campaign, however, he seemed to be in step with many progressive critics of Israel.
“We have to demand – not ask – that our leaders see the world through the eyes of the most vulnerable, and use that vision to make every goddamn decision they’ll ever make,” he told a pro-Palestinian rally in 2021.
He also lent support to local pro-Palestinian demonstrators during that year’s Gaza war, posting: “Wish I was home today. Our community is fighting! A rally to save local news, a protest in solidarity with our family in Palestine, and mutual aid across the city. #CommunityForever.”
According to the Florida Palestine Network, during a Zoom meeting in March, Frost committed to ending U.S. military aid to Israel and backing the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. He also promised not to submit a position paper on the matter without the network’s collaboration or approval, it said.
However, Frost’s position paper, first published in August by Jewish Insider, revealed a near-total about-face on the issues at hand. He called BDS “extremely problematic” and “automatically disqualifying” for not seeking a future that includes both Israelis and Palestinians together.
He further backed U.S. aid as stipulated in the current memorandum of understanding, saying “the threat to Israel … is far too grave.” Helping Israel maintain its qualitative military edge is “strategic investment to regional stability and an effective way for us to pursue foreign policy goals in the Middle East without needing American troops on the ground,” he added.
Frost said he backed the Biden administration’s decision to restore aid to UN agencies supporting the Palestinians. He also said he supported “robust U.S. assistance that benefits the Palestinian people and is in compliance with Taylor Force Act,” referring to the U.S. law that cuts economic aid to the Palestinian Authority until it ends its program granting payments to security prisoners and the families of those convicted of carrying out attacks against Israelis.
The Florida Palestine Network said it only learned of the position paper via the Jewish Insider article. It accused Frost of lying to and deceiving “his early supporters – many of whom were his only supporters early on in his candidacy and built the foundations for his campaign.”
It continued: “After Palestinian and pro-Palestinian organizers and organizations assisted in building, funding and powering his campaign, Maxwell Frost has already violated his commitments to protecting and fighting for human rights for all.”
Rasha Mubarak, head of the Unbought Power grassroots community advocacy group, said prior to the primary vote that “as someone who helped build out [Frost’s] camp, connect him with local/national orgs/stakeholders – my only ask was to stay right on Palestine.”
Pro-Israel organizations across the political spectrum demonstrated a rare moment of unity this election cycle by welcoming Frost’s victory Tuesday, with several taking credit for influencing Frost’s changing stance on Israel.
While liberal group J Street was not directly involved in the race, its national political director, Laura Birnbaum, said it had “spoken with Maxwell extensively about Israel-Palestine issues. He approaches them very thoughtfully and we’re looking forward to working with him and a number of other exciting pro-Israel, pro-peace candidates in this next Congress.”
Democratic Majority for Israel’s PAC, which originally endorsed one of his opponents, Randolph Bracy, said it had also been in contact with Frost.
“We have had a number of conversations with Frost and his team in recent months, and have been pleased to see the evolution of his views on Israel issues as he has learned more about the country and the U.S.-Israel relationship,” said DMFI PAC Political Director Joel Wanger.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee did not endorse in the race and its United Democracy Project super PAC did not spend money to defeat Frost. It too gave Frost an unqualified welcome this week.
“We congratulate Maxwell Frost on his primary victory and we look forward to continuing to work with him as a likely new member of Congress to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship,” AIPAC spokesperson Marshall Wittmann said.
Frost has already said that, if he wins in November as expected, “as a member of Congress, I hope to visit Israel and will play my part in promoting U.S. leadership in bringing peace to a region that so desperately needs and deserves it.”
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