How The Jewish Group That Helped Elect Jamaal Bowman Is Disrupting The Establishment
▻https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/jewish-group-helped-elect-jamaal-214815398.html
When it came time for TJV [The Jewish Vote] to endorse a candidate, they sat down with both Engel and Bowman for a private interview.
During the conversation, McCullough says Engel repeatedly brought up Israel, despite never being asked about it, stressing the importance for Jews to stand with Israel. According to McCullough, he did not prioritize other platforms like healthcare, affordable housing, and climate justice.
“We would ask about something else, and he would bring it back to Israel,” she said. “His closing remarks were about Israel and reactionary, right-wing talking points about ‘Palestinian terrorists’ and ‘the Arabs’.” McCullough said that ultimately, Engel’s interests were not aligned with the group and felt too out of touch for younger, progressive Jews to connect with.
Bowman, on the other hand, showed the opposite. Given Engel’s position with the Democratic establishment and as a staunch supporter of Israel, Bowman’s point of view became a topic of immediate interest for voters. In a June interview with the Jewish Insider, Bowman shared how he would navigate a relationship with Israel if elected. “We need to maintain a quality relationship with Israel,” he said. “Israel has the right to exist. I think Israel has a right to be safe and secure. And I think Israel has a right to self-determination. I also think the people of Palestine have a right to exist, have a right to be safe and secure, and have a right to self-determination as well.”