Fifty Democrat leaders from across the nation signed a letter Tuesday urging Harris to consider Minnesota Governor Tim Walz or Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and rule out Gov. Josh Shapiro, describing him as an “unnecessary obstacle to grassroots organizing, fundraising, fundraising, and excitement.” While the letter refers to his “controversial” policy decisions on school choice and the environment, there’s one issue they left out of the letter that has divided the Democratic party: Israel.
Shortly after the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, Governor Walz expressed his support for Israel and the Jewish community in Minnesota. Governor Beshear, also an Israel supporter, had the state flags lowered to half-staff to honor the victims of the terrorist attack. Governor Shapiro has been vocally consistent in his support for Israel before and after the war with Hamas. He has chastised members of “The Squad” in Congress over their anti-Israel views.
"The congresswoman should know better. Others should know better… And they should understand what is clearly wrong – Hamas, a terrorist organization – and what is right, Israel's right to defend itself."@GovernorShapiro responds to recent comments from Rep. Rashida Tlaib. pic.twitter.com/RorqSCfAyi
— Inside with Jen Psaki (@InsideWithPsaki) November 7, 2023
While he described the pro-Palestinian boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement as “rooted in antisemitism”, he has also criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him “one of the worst leaders of all time” according to a reporter with Business Insider.
Governor @JoshShapiroPA called Prime Minister @netanyahu “one of the worst leaders of all time,” saying the leader is steering Israel in the “wrong direction.” pic.twitter.com/eQQu6o19mR
— Akayla Gardner (@gardnerakayla) January 12, 2024
While all three of these governors agree on Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas, Governor Shapiro is the only one of the three who is Jewish and a Zionist.
Zionism refers to support for the continued existence of Israel as a Jewish state, the only Jewish state in the world. Some in f the Democrat party are collectively self-described anti-Zionists. The Philadelphia Democratic Socialists of America released a statement on Governor Shapiro’s candidacy for VP, describing him as a supporter of “the Zionist Project in Palestine”, and called on Vice President Harris to push for an immediate ceasefire and “select a candidate who is strong on these issues”.
A statement on the ongoing media blitz for Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro: pic.twitter.com/LcQBYuLcka
— Philly DSA 🌹 (@PhillyDSA) July 27, 2024
New York Congressman Ritchie Torres, a staunch supporter of Israel, called it a “smear campaign” against Governor Shapiro and accused the DSA of antisemitism by singling him out because he is Jewish.
Almost half of Congressional Democrats skipped Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Joint Address to Congress on July 24 as a form of protest against the Jewish leader. Thousands of left-wing protesters violently descended on Capitol Hill during his joint address, vandalizing monuments and displaying antisemitic signs and slogans.
A new online campaign called “No Genocide Josh” was recently launched by activists, and its messaging document describes the anti-Israel and anti-Zionist sentiments. One of the creators of the campaign is Dear White Staffers, one of the largest anti-Israel platforms in Washington, which is run by one of Pennsylvania Congresswoman Summer Lee’s staffers. Now, Democrats are voicing their worries about having a Jewish Vice President.
It’s also noteworthy that many of the signers of the aforementioned letter to Vice President Harris have expressed anti-Israel sentiments online. Signer Emad Salem, the Vice President of the Texas Progressive Caucus, regularly amplifies Hamas propaganda and UN accusations against Israel. Carolina Ampudia, the President of the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Broward County, Florida, called Shapiro “genocide Josh”, and also regularly reposts anti-Zionist propaganda online.
The Democratic National Committee’s approved rules require that delegates vote electronically for a presidential candidate and that candidate’s running mate by August 7, 2024.
