A Democratic civil struggle erupted over the Israel-Gaza struggle after the Younger Democrats of Albany County issued a press release accusing the Jewish state of committing genocide in Gaza.
State Democratic Social gathering Chairman Jay Jacobs and different Democrats within the Capital District slammed the Albany Younger Democrats’ stand as a wrong-headed smear.
The offshoot Dem group ignited the intraparty battle with a Sept. 3 assertion by its government board.
“Allow us to make this crystal clear: Benjamin Netanyahu’s Israeli authorities has dedicated a genocide in Gaza and gross violations of worldwide regulation towards the Palestinian folks,” the assertion stated.
It made no point out that Hamas began the struggle by launching a sneak assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 that killed about 1,200 folks, together with greater than 800 civilians and lots of younger folks attending a music pageant.
In sum, Albany Younger Democrats aspect with the Palestinians over Israelis.
“We acknowledge the significance of constructing our place clear, and stand firmly in solidarity with younger Democrats throughout America in preventing for the Palestinian folks,” the assertion stated.
“Younger Democrats oppose the genocide in Gaza, the occupation of the West Financial institution and the Israeli authorities’s denial of civil and political rights on an equal foundation within the territories its navy occupies.”
The Younger Dems additionally stated giving a “clean test” of billions of {dollars} in navy help to Israel “has to cease.”
The assertion parrots rising anti-Israel sentiment within the get together, mirrored by New York Metropolis democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani, congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier and “The Squad” within the Home of Representatives that features Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar.
However Gary Greenberg, who served on the Albany County Democratic Committee for 25 years, accused the Younger Democrats of siding with Hamas and fomenting Jew hatred.
“They’re mainly supporting the insurance policies of Hamas. That’s who the Palestinians are,” Greenberg fumed to The Put up Wednesday. “They’re mainly siding with the Palestinians who crossed the border and invaded Israel [on Oct. 7, 2023.
“It’s a vile rant against the Jewish community. It’s a Jew hatred statement. The head of the Albany County Democrats Jake Crawford and County Executive Dan McCoy must rescind this vile rant against the Jewish community.”
State party Chairman Jacobs criticized the statement as a smear and false accusation against Israel, and insisted the statement is an “outlier” within the party committee.
Jacobs, who is Jewish and the descendant of Holocaust survivors, said Israel is engaged in a war following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack against the Jewish state.
“I disagree with their categorization. Genocide it is not,” Jacobs told The Post. “In war, reprehensible things happen. Wars are not neat things without unintended consequences.”
The Young Democrats’ statement, Jacobs said, “does not take into account the reality, the existential threat to Israel.”
“Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack was an existential threat. Hostages were taken,” Jacobs said.
He said there is legitimate criticism of the actions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, such as allowing Jewish settlers in the West Bank.
But Israel is not intentionally trying to wipe out the civilian population of Gaza, Jacobs.
“Look up the definition of genocide,” he said.
The New York State Young Democrats, which does not mention the Israel-Gaza conflict in its platform, had no immediate comment.
