I Thought We Said Never Again Israel Palestine
Yang Walks Back Stance on Israel After Ocasio-Cortez Calls It 'Shameful'
Mr. Yang said his initial statement in support of Israel, which drew criticism from progressives, "failed to acknowledge pain on both sides."
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Equally the Israeli-Palestinian disharmonize erupted this week, Andrew Yang issued a argument on Mon that in years past might have seemed politically unremarkable, perhaps even expected, from a leading candidate to exist New York Urban center's side by side mayor.
"I'yard continuing with the people of Israel who are coming under battery attacks, and condemn the Hamas terrorists," Mr. Yang said. "The people of N.Y.C. will always stand with our brothers and sisters in Israel who face down terrorism and persevere."
So came the backlash.
At a campaign stop in Queens, Mr. Yang was confronted about his statement and its failure to mention the Palestinians, including children, who were killed in the airstrikes. Mr. Yang was uninvited from an issue hosted by the Astoria Welfare Society to distribute nutrient to families at the end of Ramadan.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat who has condemned the "occupation of Palestine," chosen Mr. Yang's statement "utterly shameful," noting that it came during Ramadan.
And Mr. Yang acknowledged that volunteers with his own entrada were upset past his statement, prompting him to release a new one on Wednesday albeit that his showtime was "overly simplistic" and "failed to acknowledge the pain and suffering on both sides."
"I mourn for every Palestinian life taken before its time every bit I do for every Israeli," he said.
Mr. Yang's clarification reflects the reality that what was once a given in New York City politics — unquestioning back up for State of israel — has become a much more complicated suggestion for Autonomous candidates.
New York City has the largest Jewish population in the world exterior of Israel. While the mayor has no formal strange policy powers, the position often affords opportunities to showcase New York's posture toward Israel.
Mayor Robert F. Wagner in 1957 barred a welcome for a Saudi rex he accounted anti-Jewish. Mayor Edward I. Koch zealously expressed support for Israel and had an statement at Urban center Hall with the Austrian foreign minister in 1984 about whether the Palestine Liberation Organization served as the vocalisation of Palestinian people.
But wholehearted, uncritical support for Israel is no longer automatic amidst officials or candidates.
In contempo years, many members of a growing progressive left accept criticized the Israeli government for its handling of Palestinians and are pushing for public acquittance of Palestinians' suffering.
The shift mirrors the way that on a national level, some Democrats have challenged the decades-long norm of blanket support for Israel, while many liberal American Jews accept become increasingly song about their discomfort with the policies of the Israeli government.
The differing views were credible among the mayoral contenders.
Among those considered to be more than centrist candidates, some maintained a stance similar to that of Mr. Yang'south initial statement. Eric Adams, the Brooklyn borough president and another leading candidate, said on Monday, "Israelis live nether the constant threat of terrorism and state of war, and New York City'due south bail with State of israel remains unbreakable."
Asked on Wednesday if he had annihilation to add to his original statement, Mr. Adams said that "no deed of aggression tin can justify the deaths of innocent children."
"Never again should religious sites be targeted — whether it be a synagogue or a mosque," he said.
Raymond J. McGuire, a former Citi executive, interrupted a news conference in Times Square on Monday to make a argument of support for Israel.
"In that location'southward clearly terrorism that has taken place in Jerusalem. Hamas just claimed credit for rocket attacks aimed at Jerusalem," Mr. McGuire said. "Nosotros stand with our brothers and sisters from Israel."
But others offered more nuanced statements. Dianne Morales, a former nonprofit executive, said on Tuesday that the "world needs leaders who recognize humanity and the dignity of all lives. Whether in N.Y.C., Colombia, Brazil or Israel-Palestine, country violence is incorrect. Targeting civilians is wrong. Killing children is incorrect. "
Asked on the Brian Lehrer show on WNYC on Wed nigh whether Israelis or Palestinians should bear more of the arraign, Kathryn Garcia, a former sanitation commissioner, said it was not appropriate for the mayor "to be doing strange policy." But she said she wanted to support the various communities in New York Metropolis that take ties to the parts of the world embroiled in conflict.
"Clearly the land of State of israel needs to be," she said. "We take strong partnerships with them. They're similar our 4th largest trading partner with the Metropolis of New York. But this escalation of violence is incredibly sad to see."
In a statement on Wednesday, Shaun Donovan, a former federal housing secretary, criticized Mr. Yang's remarks, maxim that they lacked "responsibleness and empathy."
"Kids are not terrorists, and any our differences on this emotionally challenging effect, we should at least display a common humanity," Mr. Donovan said, referring to the fact that children were among those killed in the disharmonize.
Scott K. Stringer, the city comptroller and but Jewish candidate in the race, said he condemned recent "horrific acts of terrorism against innocent Israelis" in Jerusalem and said he supported State of israel's correct to defend itself from extremist groups.
But Mr. Stringer, ane of three candidates consistently characterized as progressive, as well urged the Israeli government to stop "wrongful evictions of Palestinian families, and for all parties to practise circumspection and restraint to prevent further suffering and loss of precious life."
"And as we almost the end of Ramadan, nosotros must recognize and mourn the Israeli and Palestinian lives that have been so tragically lost," Mr. Stringer said.
The city's Orthodox Jewish community has long been considered a politically salient voting bloc and has been courted by both Mr. Adams and Mr. Yang, who has been endorsed by several ultra-Orthodox leaders.
The endorsements came after Mr. Yang defended the yeshiva education system, which has faced criticism over the failure of some schools to provide a bones secular instruction: A 2022 city report found that roughly 2 dozen Hasidic yeshivas had fallen short of city standards in math, science and English education.
In a race where voter interest has then far been low, the endorsement of influential religious leaders could exist a boon to any campaign. But even in neighborhoods with big ultra-Orthodox populations, like Borough Park, Brooklyn, at that place were mixed feelings virtually Mr. Yang'southward initial statement and subsequent turnaround.
"If you're talking almost the Jewish community, if someone is pro-Israel, that volition e'er exist seen as a plus," said Yoel Greenfeld, 22, every bit he left a synagogue on Borough Park's principal shopping street at midday. "Just and then for Yang to say something else a day afterwards because of A.O.C.? Allow me tell y'all something, people around hither think A.O.C. is a consummate joke."
The Astoria Welfare Society rescinded its invitation to Mr. Yang because his tweet felt similar an insult to Muslims in New York City, the grouping's secretary full general, Mohamed Jabed Uddin, said.
"It is similar he is blatantly proverb to Muslim New Yorkers that he does not intendance almost us, our issues, the attacks on our houses or worship," said Mr. Uddin. "He will but take a principled stand when it will pay off politically. That is not the type of leadership that we desire for this city."
Assemblyman Ron Kim of Queens, a progressive who has endorsed Mr. Yang for mayor, said that he thought Mr. Yang'southward initial statement was "inhumane," and he said he had called Mr. Yang on Tuesday to relay his concerns.
"He came off as taking a one-sided, 100 percent pro-Israel dominating position, with no nuance, and I know that that'due south non what he believes and I know that those aren't the values that guide him, specially when there are innocent people dying," he said.
Jeffery C. Mays and Michael Gold contributed reporting.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/12/nyregion/andrew-yang-israel-palestine-attack.html
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