New York Democratic House candidate, George Latimer, has been a strong advocate for Israel. However, his support does have its limits, particularly as the Israel-Hamas conflict enters its sixth month and a recent Israeli airstrike resulted in the tragic death of seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen in Gaza on Monday.
In an interview, Latimer, who is challenging Rep. Jamaal Bowman, expressed his condemnation of the horrific incident, stating that there is no justification for such actions.
Unlike President Joe Biden, Latimer refrained from expressing outrage over the deaths or demanding that Israel take more action to protect civilians. However, similar to Biden, Latimer is seeking answers from Israel regarding their investigation.
He expressed his curiosity about the reasons behind the action, who authorized it, and whether it was intentional. He also mentioned that Israel likely has an understanding of the situation.
Latimer’s responses to POLITICO’s questions on Wednesday in the Bronx reflect a broader change among Democratic supporters of Israel. Recently, there has been a noticeable shift in their tone towards the Israeli government and military, with a more hardened stance being taken.
Westchester County executive, George Latimer, is launching a primary challenge against Jamaal Bowman, who has been a vocal critic of Israel. This high-profile contest is seen as a test of the political repercussions of the Israel-Gaza conflict. Latimer has garnered support from influential organizations such as AIPAC, the Jewish Democratic Council of America, and the Democratic Majority for Israel PAC.
In a display of solidarity, he paid a visit to Israel in November. Additionally, he urged for a temporary cease-fire in early March, emphasizing that such a move would facilitate the release of hostages held by Hamas and enable the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Bowman is actively advocating for a permanent cease-fire, with the support of prominent endorsers such as Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and other members of the Squad. These influential figures have consistently denounced the policies of both the United States and Israel, which have resulted in a devastating Palestinian death toll, now exceeding 30,000.
A spokesperson from the Bowman campaign pointed to a video statement where the House member expresses deep distress over aid workers and civilians becoming targets of military attacks. In another post, Bowman writes with emotion, “The World Central Kitchen is performing life-saving work, and the IDF bombs them. When will we reach a point where enough is enough?”
An AIPAC spokesperson expressed their condolences to the World Central Kitchen community in a statement. The spokesperson also highlighted the recent attack by Hamas on October 7 and criticized the group for refusing to surrender and release the hostages.
During an interview with POLITICO, Latimer seemed to echo the sentiments expressed by the former Governor of New York, David Paterson. The conversation took place in Co-op City, where Latimer graciously accepted Paterson’s endorsement.
According to the speaker, the motive behind avoiding wars is to prevent the loss of innocent lives, like the aid workers who were killed. He also hinted at the importance of refraining from provocative actions that could potentially escalate tensions.
