Wiesenthal Center Thanks President Trump, Senator Schumer, Other Congressional Leaders for Supporting Israel in Gaza Conflict; Shocked by Silence of 21 Democratic Presidential Candidates

May 6, 2019

**UPDATE TO THIS STORY**

JTA - 4 Democratic presidential candidates weighed in on the Gaza violence

For Immediate Release

May 6, 2019

Leaders of the Simon Wiesenthal Center thanked President Trump, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Rep. McCaul (R-TX) and others for their unequivocal support of Israel as she fought back against an unprecedented 700+ missile onslaught from Hamas in Gaza.

“Jews the world over, in Israel, and the US are grateful for America’s support for Israel in this time of crisis,” said Rabbis Marvin Hier and Abraham Cooper, Founder and Dean, and Associate Dean and Global Social Action Head. “This includes the powerful warning sent to the Iranian regime which is deeply involved in supporting terrorist groups in Gaza,” they added.

“But we are shocked and dismayed by the silence of 21 candidates for the Democratic presidential candidates,” Center officials added. “We are not surprised that Reps. Talib (D-MI) and Omar (D-MN) expressed support for Hamas. However, anyone seeking the nation’s highest office must continue to show solidarity and support for the US-Israel alliance, especially in these trying times. The candidates’ silence must change in word and deed, if they expect support from the party’s Jewish base,” they added.

Among Democratic leaders who have publicly supported Israel are:

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) who said in a statement to Jewish Insider, “Israel has every right to defend herself from indiscriminate rocket attacks, the same right as any other nation. The United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Israel.”

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) stated, “The United States Congress, in a bipartisan fashion, stands strongly in support of our ally Israel and its right to protect its citizens from terror.”

A joint statement from Reps. Eliot Engel (D-NY), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) condemned the, “outrageous, indiscriminate rocket attacks” and proclaimed, “Israel has a right and responsibility to defend itself and its citizens militarily from further violence.”

Senator Krysten Sinema (D-AZ): stated, "I condemn the rocket attacks on innocent civilians and stand in support of Israel and peace."

For more information, please contact the Center's Communications Department, 310-553-9036. join the Center on Facebook, www.facebook.com/simonwiesenthalcenter, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent direct to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).

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