BY MOSHE HILL OPINION COLUMNS OCTOBER 11 2023
The news drifted around slowly, picking up fervor on the morning of Sh’mini Atzeres, as American Jews learned of the attacks by Palestinian terrorists into the heart of Israel. Hundreds of dead, thousands wounded, and a Jewish state declaring its first war in exactly 50 years. This is the time where even the most fair-weather friends of Israel back their actions, and the most despicable among us reveal themselves even more. The reactions from America are damning and telling.
If you want to find the most despicable people in the world, search on Twitter for the phrase, “immediate ceasefire & de-escalation.” There you will see all the left-wing Israel haters who cheer when Jewish blood is spilled but demand no retaliation against those who spilled it. They all, from Jeremy Corbyn in the UK to media pundits, are saying this so that Hamas can build up again for another strike. They are demanding this while there are Jewish hostages in Gaza.
The New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialist of America held a rally on Sunday in support of the terrorists. The rally, titled “All Out For Palestine” is “in solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to resist 75 years of occupation and apartheid.” They make no effort to hide their intention. They crave Jewish blood. They cheer for the kidnappers and murderers of civilian women and children. This is the DSA.
Zhoran Mamdani, a DSA member in the New York State Assembly who is behind the “Not On Our Dime Act,” placed the blame on Israel for these attacks. Mamdani said in a statement, “Netanyahu’s declaration of war, the Israeli government’s decision to cut electricity to Gaza, and Knesset members calling for another Nakba will undoubtedly lead to more violence and suffering in the days and weeks to come. The path toward a just and lasting peace can only begin by ending the occupation and dismantling apartheid.” According to Mamdani, it’s Netanyahu who declared war, not Hamas when it infiltrated Israel and kidnapped and murdered civilians.
Not to be outdone, our most despicable and grotesque members of Congress chipped in. Ilhan Omar is worried that the attacks “will only repeat the back and forth cycle we’ve seen” and “Reminder, Gaza doesn’t have shelters or an iron dome.” Jamaal Bowman condemned the attacks but threw in a condemnation of the “blockade of Gaza,” seemingly justifying the attacks. Cori Bush demanded no military response from Israel, and said that “[America] must do our part to stop this violence and trauma by ending US government support for Israeli military occupation and apartheid.” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez disliked the tactics used, claiming that “this violence will not solve the ongoing oppression and occupation in the region.”
Taking the proverbial cake, of course, is Palestinian Member of Congress Rashida Tlaib: “The path to that future must include lifting the blockade, ending the occupation, and dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance,” she said in a statement. “The failure to recognize the violent reality of living under siege, occupation, and apartheid makes no one safer. No person, no child anywhere should have to suffer or live in fear of violence. We cannot ignore the humanity in each other. As long as our country provides billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government, this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue.”
This is justification, pure and simple. Members of Congress are justifying a surprise attack by an Iranian-backed terrorist organization that killed over 700 Israelis and injured over 2,000 more so far. Israel is an American ally, yet they speak on behalf of Hamas. This is the Hamas caucus.
They must all be expelled from Congress, immediately. Mamdani and any other member of the New York State Senate or Assembly who maintains a membership in the DSA must be expelled, immediately. This includes Senators Kristen Gonzalez, Julia Salazar, Jabari Brisport, and Assemblymembers Sarahana Shrestha, Marcela Mitaynes, Emily Gallagher, and Phara Souffrant Forrest. Yes, there are that many self-proclaimed and avowed socialists in the State government and are part of a group that chants “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” This is what they are chanting for. This is not hyperbole or an overreaction. These people actively take the sides of terrorists over allies in a war. They cannot be representative of any branch of government of the United States, federal or local level.
Democrat Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries needs to take immediate action against these members. Senate leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes must take immediate action in the State Senate and Assembly. Enough is enough.
