New York Democrat who sharply criticizes Israel faces ouster threat

[brooklynite]

CNN

The war in Gaza is reverberating all the way through north Bronx and Westchester County, defining the most competitive primary an incumbent House Democrat is facing anywhere in the country.

That’s where Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York, who got to Washington four years ago by winning a primary against one of Israel’s then-most adamant defenders in Congress, is now facing a major challenger of his own, driven in part because of criticism of Israel that opponents say has put “Squad”-aligned politics ahead of what his district wants.

Bowman became a central figure in taking on Israel from the first days after October 7, almost immediately supporting a resolution calling for a ceasefire that made no mention of Hamas or the return of Israeli hostages. By December, he was standing with hunger strikers outside the White House, upping his criticism of the actions in Gaza. He has called Israel an apartheid state, and in a video that surfaced of him speaking at a demonstration in November, said it was “propaganda” and a “lie” that Hamas raped Israeli women in the October 7 attacks, though he later attempted to clean up that remark. (A United Nations report in March found “convincing” evidence that Hamas raped hostages.)

He’s gone far enough out that even the left-leaning Israel advocacy group J Street withdrew its endorsement of Bowman in January, complaining that he had crossed a line in putting the blame for the conflict too much on Israel and not on Hamas.

Now even many of Bowman’s fellow New York Democrats in Congress say privately they doubt he will win – but more than that, when asked by CNN, several pointedly refused to say that they want Bowman to win, or that they would support him as the race enters its final month ahead of the June 25 primary.

[Cha]

1. And by "Ouster" they mean George Larimer could beat

him in the Primary!?

He’s gone far enough out that even the left-leaning Israel advocacy group J Street withdrew its endorsement of Bowman in January, complaining that he had crossed a line in putting the blame for the conflict too much on Israel and not on Hamas.

From what I've read I really like George Latimer!

https://latimerforny.com/bio/

[Gaugamela]

2. Here is Bowman's view, which I agree with:

Bowman has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s invasion of Gaza, calling for a permanent ceasefire in October and later condemning Israel’s actions as “genocide” – which led the liberal pro-Israel group J Street to rescind its endorsement of him.

”Left-leaning” as applied to J Street is a meaningless term. All they do is advocate for Israel.

Here’s who endorses each candidate:

JAMAAL BOWMAN (INCUMBENT)

Organizations: New York Working Families Party, Make the Road Action, DC 37, 1199 SEIU, UAW Region 9A, New York State Nurses Association, National Nurses United, Justice Democrats, League of Conservation Voters, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, Congressional Black Caucus PAC, Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, Alliance for Quality Education, Human Rights Campaign

Elected officials: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Cori Bush, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Yvette Clark, Rep. Katherine Clark, Rep. Pete Aguilar, state Sen. Jamaal Bailey, state Sen. Gustavo Rivera, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, New York City Council Member Kevin Riley, Hastings-on-Hudson Mayor Nicola Armacost

GEORGE LATIMER, WESTCHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE

Organizations: American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Jewish Democratic Council of America, Democratic Majority for Israel PAC, Dream for America, Civil Service Employees Association, Laborers International Union of North America, Mason Tenders District Council, Transit Workers Union Local 100, New York State Professional Firefighters District 5, International Union of Operating Engineers, Democratic committees from Eastchester, Rye City, Rye Town, White Plains, Pelham, Mamaroneck, Harrison, Scarsdale, Greenburgh, Yonkers and Mount Vernon

Elected officials: State Sen. Shelley Mayer, State Sen. Peter Harckham, Assembly Member Amy Paulin, Assembly Member Chris Burdick, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Port Chester Mayor Luis Marino, Larchmont Mayor Sarah Bauer, Rye Town Supervisor Gary Zuckerman, former Rep. Eliot Engel, former Rep. Nita Lowey, former Gov. David Paterson

If all you care about is “Israel Right Or Wrong”, then Latimer is your man. But as far as I’m concerned, this is just the usual AIPAC propaganda.

[Cha]

3. I'll stop you right there.. I don't like Bowman.. Never have.

[brooklynite]

7. A member of the J STREET Board is a close personal friend...

...and they've been strong advocates for both constraint on the part of Israel's military and a two-state solution in the long term.

We support a massive commitment to humanitarian relief by the United States that matches its commitment to security assistance for Israel. Congress should approve a supplemental assistance package that includes significant, designated assistance for Gaza civilian relief – the Biden Administration must ensure conditions on the ground enable the rapid delivery of this urgent aid, including further breaks in hostilities. US funding of weapons and equipment for Israel brings with it responsibility for the well-being of the civilians in harm’s way.

We support the Biden Administration’s warnings to Israel that it modify the nature of its military campaign. The Netanyahu government’s large-scale bombing and ground invasion have caused an unfathomable level of civilian casualties, as well as a humanitarian crisis that had led to rising levels of disease, hunger and death. More must be done to protect civilian lives and facilitate humanitarian aid. As the US has stated, continuing the operation in this way is both strategically and morally unacceptable.

We support consideration of alternative strategies and tactics for removing Hamas from operational control of Gaza that minimize harm to Palestinian civilians. The relentless air campaign and the invasion underway on the ground have killed tens of thousands of noncombatants. The Israeli government must consider alternative strategies and heed the advice of military veterans of recent urban combat in Iraq among others offering alternatives. As US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has warned, Israel’s current path risks a “strategic defeat.”

We support the Biden Administration’s efforts to prevent regional escalation. Regional actors from Hezbollah to Iran and other loosely affiliated groups continue to try to expand the field of fighting. The Biden Administration is right to send clear diplomatic and military signals that it does not want escalation but will not hesitate to respond appropriately to those who try to take advantage of or expand this crisis. The Biden administration must continue as well to press Israel to end violence and provocations in the West Bank, aimed at driving Palestinians from their villages and land.

We urge the White House and Congress to impose clear guardrails on Israeli policy as it works to secure further security assistance from Congress in a supplemental aid package. These include ensuring that Israel: take all possible measures to minimize civilian casualties and harm; facilitate robust humanitarian aid; enact zero tolerance for settler violence and bring a halt to all provocative policies and actions on the West Bank and East Jerusalem; and acknowledge that post-conflict arrangements will ultimately result in the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

We call on the President to outline a clear vision to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This conflict did not start on October 7th. It has no military resolution. Only courageous diplomacy to achieve a political resolution leading to a Palestinian state can end this conflict and provide the meaningful security both people crave and the freedom Palestinians must have from occupation, settlements and blockade. J Street has outlined thoughts about how to do this, and we believe the President should commit to recognition of a Palestinian state and lay out a clear vision now of the path to statehood that establishes the rationale for removal of Hamas from operational control of Gaza and clarifies the future the United States envisions.

We urge leaders of all communities – Jewish, Arab, Christian, Muslim and more – to condemn antisemitism and Islamophobia and to express empathy for the suffering of all caught up in this conflict. We are deeply concerned by the upswing in antisemitism, and hate generally, around this conflict. 21st century communications are driving people to extremes, and bad actors are stoking the divisions. All Palestinians cannot be held responsible for the actions of Hamas or other Palestinian groups nor can all Jewish people be held responsible for the actions of the state of Israel.

But I guess some Jewish stereotyping doesn't hurt...

[question everything]

8. Breaking News: A ceasefire was in effect on October 7

[tritsofme]

4. Fingers crossed! It would be great to get a pro-Biden Democrat back in this seat!

[Cha]

5. Yes it will be if GL Wins!

[Sympthsical]

6. The YouTube stuff is wild

If anyone found my account, it'd be a grab bag of astronomy, history docs, and movie nonsense.

Not *checks* flat earth, Nation of Islam (because of course), Illuminati, and UFOs all at the same time.

[LiberalFighter]

9. I support Israel but not their PM.

I sure as hell don't support Hamas.

[Danmel]

10. Bowman called confirmed gang rape and mutilation propaganda

He is disgusting. I hope he goes down in flamed.