Last week, I spent time deploring the multiplicity of organizations that the American Jewish community keeps creating. The problem is not, per se, their number. Rather, it is the fact that instead of having a positive impact on Jewish causes—especially Israel—the reality is often otherwise. Public support for Israel, within and without American Jewry, has noticeably shrunk. Israel has become a partisan political issue and a significant segment of American Jews regard Donald Trump and the Republican Party as the Messiah and his acolytes. The situation is getting worse, and Trump will continue to be the major beneficiary unless the Democrats get smart and act now.

Here’s the problem: Israel, under Prime Minister Netanyahu, has adopted policies, especially towards the Palestinians, that have drawn vocal opposition  from significant elements within the Democratic Party. The Republicans have taken advantage of that situation to denounce these individuals as anti-Semitic. Again, the perennial debate rages as to what, exactly, that term means. Can you be anti-Israel and/or anti-Zionist (both terms mean essentially the same thing), without being ant–Semitic? For the 70 years that Israel has been in existence, that question has remained in limbo. Today, for Democrats to engage in endless debate on the matter is to fall into a Republican trap from which there is no easy escape.

Anti-Semitism, according to The American Heritage Dictionary is, very simply, “Hostility toward or prejudice against Jews or Judaism.” Israel is not part of the definition but, there should be little doubt that most anti-Semites have no love for Israel. Among many on the Christian Right, the opposite is true: they love Israel for their own religious reasons, but are seriously uncomfortable with Jews. By definition, they are anti-Semitic.

As The New York Times reports regarding current political attacks against the Democrats: “The pressure on Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashid Talib (D-Mich.) is part of a larger GOP effort to drive a partisan wedge into the traditionally non-partisan relationship between the United States and Israel. Republicans are casting themselves as the more resolute defender of Israel, heightening the Party’s appeal to traditionally Democratic Jewish voters.” These two Congresswoman have directed their ire towards Israel and have both consistently declared their support for the Palestinians. They also have major supporters that use social media to make comments that, by any definition, are anti-Semitic.

Just this week, Congresswoman Omar found herself in another round of criticism when she accused the American-Jewish lobby AIPAC, of raising money for candidates who support Israel (it’s illegal by the way). In turn, she ascribed such fundraising as the reason why Israel maintains strong support in Congress. Raising anew anti-Semitic stereotypes, Omar apologized, thanking those who educated her about the  history of anti-Semitism.

Omar, and many of whom make the same accusations, ignore the strategic, religious, moral, and historical reasons for American support of Israel. Do campaign contributions also play a role? Let’s not be naive—of course they do. Just ask Kevin McCarthy, the House Minority Leader, who a few months ago charged Jewish financiers of trying to buy the mid-term elections. Until now, does anybody remember this other anti-Semitic occurrence?

The disparate reactions to the Omar and McCarthy comments  are the direct result of Israel no longer being a bi-partisan issue. The Republicans were also in charge of the House at that time and, unlike their colleagues across the aisle, were very effective in burying McCarthy’s trope. The Democrats must get better at dealing with this and similar-type outbreaks. The big-loser will be the American people if such incidents help Trump in his re-election bid. In turn, if Israel remains a partisan matter, the Jewish state will be in severe trouble. Finally, don’t forget Charlottesville and Trump’s praise for the Nazis. Want him re-elected? Racism, hateful and ill-considered remarks must end now!