The Assault on Israel
While most Coloradans condemn Hamas's terrorism, various 'Democratic Socialists' blame Israel.
‘Democratic Socialists’ Blame Israel
Complete Colorado published my column on Tim Hernández’s belated condemnation of Hamas.
Meanwhile, Hernández’s local “Democratic Socialist” comrades have doubled-down on their support for Hamas. An October 14 Tweet states:
Denver DSA [Democratic Socialists of America] unequivocally stands in solidarity with the people of Palestine in their fight for liberation from the apartheid regime of Israel.
In an online document (the link is indicated in the Tweet; I will not provide the link here), Denver DSA calls for “ceasing all U.S. aid to Israel, lifting the blockade of Gaza, ending Zionist settler-colonialism, and ensuring the right for Palestinians to return to their homeland.” This organization appears to publicly support the outright obliteration of the state of Israel, repeating the anti-Israel line, “May Palestine be free, from the river to the sea.”
This was too much even for some of Colorado’s “Democratic Socialist” legislators. Luige Del Puerto reports for Colorado Politics:
Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver, and Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Adams County, said they’re disappointed in the group’s position.
“And I reject it in the strongest possible terms,” Mabrey said. “I deeply believe that we must reject violence and terrorism in all of its forms and that each of us had a duty to appreciate the fundamental value of all human life.”
Mabrey said the “horrific actions of Hamas, the murder, hostage taking, and brutalization of innocent civilians can never be justified.”
“We can recognize that, while also condemning the brutality of the Israeli response - the collective punishment and killing of Palestinians all while calling for an end to the oppression of the Palestinian people,” he added. . . .
Garcia echoed the sentiment, saying she’s saddened by the group’s stance.
“As an organization that works towards a society free of exploitation and oppression, this statement does not reflect its values,” Garcia said. “Violence is exploitation and oppression and all violence should be rejected.”
Kyle Clark also has some notes about this.
If “Democratic Socialist” Elisabeth Epps has made any statement on the matter, I have not seen it.
It seems that the anti-Israel “Democratic Socialists” care a lot more about the socialism part than the democracy part. For them, “liberation” means replacing a basically (imperfect!) rights-respecting and democratic government with yet another Islamic authoritarian regime in which the rights of women, homosexuals, and apostates mean nothing.
The Mountain States Anti-Defamation League issued a statement:
The Anti-Defamation League Mountain States Region is deeply concerned by the extremely harmful and troubling statement released on Oct. 14 by the Denver chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. The statement appears to justify the atrocious massacre by the terrorist organization Hamas in Israel. It lacks any basic human decency by failing to denounce the war crimes committed by Hamas against innocent Israeli civilians and seemingly defending the terrorist violence that included the brutal killing of children, women and men, including babies and Holocaust survivors. . . .
Denver New Liberals issued a statement that reads, in part:
On Saturday, the Denver chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) responded to the abhorrent images and videos we’ve seen over the past week by issuing a statement that failed to condemn Hamas and ended with an anti-Semitic epithet that calls for an end to the state of Israel. . . . Denver DSA . . . does not once mention or condemn the originator of the violence, Hamas. . . . The Denver DSA made a choice to downplay this evil and offered justification for acts of terror. . . . The failure to acknowledge the distinct and deliberate suffering of the Israeli people right now reveals a significant lapse in moral judgment among the leadership of the Denver DSA and a significant portion of its membership. . . . We believe that failing to disavow the DSA should render oneself ineligible for public office, and elected officials who fail to do so should face a serious primary challenger.
Coloradans Condemn Hamas
Additional notes in no particular order. . .
Craig Silverman attended a rally where Colorado’s leading Democrats condemned Hamas and supported Israel. Speakers included Ron Weinberg (a Republican), Steve Fenberg, Dafna Michaelson Janet, Brittany Pettersen, Jason Crow, Joe Neguse, Jena Griswold, Phil Weiser, John Hickenlooper, Michael Bennet, and Jared Polis.
Ross Kaminsky is among those unimpressed by Hernández’s apology.
NPR has more on those calling for the annihilation of Israel.
Writing for the Progressive Colorado Times Recorder, Jason Salzman posted an October 12 article (before Hernández apologized), “Democratic Lawmaker Refuses to Denounce Terrorism in Israel.”
On October 11 the Gazette called for Hernández’s removal. Jimmy Sengenberger has out a first and second article on the topic.
Jewish Currents reminds us that attitudes within the Jewish community are complex. Journalist Chase Woodruff offers another example.
When Woodruff wondered why the DSA is getting so much media attention, Tobin Stone replied: “I dunno, I personally I think it’s very bad that 5% of the state legislature is connected to a group that issued such a blatantly anti-Semitic statement, just like I think it’s bad that a portion of the legislature is connected to far-right extremist groups.”
Stone also wrote, “The DSA and every supposed ‘progressive’ that’s celebrating what’s happening right now or claiming it’s just ‘Israel getting what they deserve’ are all f—ing disgraces and every elected official that’s ever worked with them or legitimized them should be disavowing them entirely.”
Journalist (formerly of Colorado) Alex Burness writes, “The real Tim Hernández story: It’s awfully revealing that so many are upset that someone attended a rally meant to educate people about/show support for the Palestinian people. Colorado’s political press should challenge, not indulge, those making this a scandal.” But Burness’s description of the rally in question is not remotely accurate.
Marshall Zelinger points out that some of the Republicans beating up some people on the left for failing to condemn Hamas themselves sometimes fail to condemn those who advocate or perpetrate violence.
Lauren Boebert supports Israel but for faith-based reasons, saying, “I don’t support Israel because I’m a Republican, I support Israel because I’m a Christian. God told us, ‘Those who bless Israel will be blessed.’ That is one of the reasons our nation is so blessed, that God has not given up on us, because Israel is our ally.” That’s all we need is more religious fanaticism in the mix. By the way, let’s not forget that, on January 6, 2021, on the morning of the Capitol assault, Boebert Tweeted, “Today is 1776.”
Following the release of a letter from various Harvard groups blaming Israel for the violence, “more than 350 . . . [Harvard] faculty . . . delivered [an] open letter . . . unequivocally denouncing the mass murder and kidnapping of noncombatants and rejecting the false equivalence between war crimes and self-defense,” writes Steven Pinker.
Referring to the initial Harvard letter, Colorado Progressive activist Scott Wasserman wrote, “Reprehensible rhetoric coming from corners of the Left in this moment. What sets us apart is our sense of history, context, and, most importantly, our humanity. This sheds ALL of that. Do you know how many activists for peace & the end of occupation were murdered yesterday?”
Looking at pro-Hamas videos, Noah Smith summarizes, “It’s difficult to overstate just how deeply much of the Western Left has morally disgraced themselves.” Smith also had some strong words for certain right-wingers: “Hamas rapes and murders hundreds of Israeli civilians --> Right-wingers issue strong condemnations and thunder for blood. Russia rapes and murders tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians --> Right-wingers make excuses for Russia and try to cut off aid to Ukraine.”
The murder of a child of a Muslim family in Illinois, reportedly a hate crime in which the perpetrator specifically targeted a Muslim, is horrific and something that all decent people condemn. End the bigotry.
Nikos Sotirakopoulos has a talk out on “The Left’s Long War on Israel.”