Attitudes toward Israel have shifted. Are SLO County lawmakers paying attention? | Opinion

California’s Central Coast prides itself on compassion, justice and democratic values. Yet Reps. Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and Salud Carbajal (CA-24) continue to resist supporting legislation that would condition U.S. military aid to Israel, even as their Democratic constituents increasingly call for accountability and humanitarian oversight.

National polling shows a dramatic shift in Democratic opinion. In March, Gallup reported that 59% of Democrats now side with Palestinians, compared to just 21% with Israelis. A Pew Research poll conducted in April shows that 69% of Democrats hold an unfavorable view of Israel — a sharp rise from 53% in 2022.

Locally, the demand for accountability is clear. In Santa Cruz, Panetta’s office has been the site of sit-ins and protests led by UC Santa Cruz students calling for restrictions on weapons shipments. In Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, Carbajal’s constituents have delivered letters and staged marches urging him to oppose military aid and support humanitarian relief.

Both representatives have acknowledged the crisis. Panetta joined fellow veterans in urging Israel to allow greater humanitarian aid to Gaza. Carbajal has criticized extremist rhetoric from Israeli leaders and emphasized the need to pair U.S. support with humanitarian protections.

But statements of concern are not enough. Their votes continue to approve billions in unconditional aid, while they have withheld support for House resolutions seeking to block arms sales to Israel.

Meanwhile, public opinion continues to move in the opposite direction.

An Economist/YouGov poll showed that 43% of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. A Quinnipiac University poll found that 75% of Democrats and 60% of all voters surveyed favor ending U.S. military aid to Israel. These numbers underscore the significant gap between Panetta and Carbajal and their constituents.

Campaign contributions compound the problem. Panetta accepted over $250,000, and Carbajal received $65,265 from pro-Israel groups, mostly AIPAC, through the 2024 election cycle. While donations do not automatically determine votes, they raise fundamental questions about whether constituents or lobbyists are shaping policy.

There are clear steps Panetta and Carbajal could take to better reflect local values.

They could cosponsor existing resolutions to block arms sales to Israel, demonstrating that U.S. aid must be conditional on compliance with international law. They could introduce new legislation requiring aid to meet human rights benchmarks and annual reporting on civilian harm. They could join colleagues in supporting a permanent ceasefire resolution, aligning their votes with both national polling and grassroots demands. They could refuse contributions from pro-Israel PACs, ensuring independence from outside influence. Finally, they could hold open town halls on foreign policy, so Central Coast residents know their voices are driving policy, not drowned out by lobbyists in Washington.

If Panetta and Carbajal continue on their current path, expressing concern in words while approving unconditional aid in votes, they risk being remembered as leaders who missed the moral realignment of their time. Their districts are demanding better.

Representation requires empathy, but also legislative follow-through. The Central Coast deserves representatives who will act on their constituents’ values and help ensure that U.S. policy stands for justice abroad, as well as at home.

Jill Stegman, a retired teacher, lives in Grover Beach.