Pro-Israel Democrats Recalculate Their Support

Rep. Jamaal Bowman, an outspoken Israel critic, has made calls to end the war in Gaza a central theme of his House primary near New York City. His opponent, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, is backed by pro-Israel groups and has largely sided with the country through the conflict.

But the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza, and events like the killing of World Central Kitchen relief workers, are changing the dynamics of the race — testing the limits of Democratic support from even a stalwart backer of the Israeli government.

Latimer called the bombing deaths of seven aid workers a “horrific incident” in an interview with POLITICO, stopping just short of outright criticism of Israel.

“It’s a horrible thing that happened, and it shouldn’t have happened,” he said last week. “But whether or not there was a purposeful element to it has to be seen.”

It was the latest incident in the war to draw international condemnation and came after the recent disapproval of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Latimer’s broad support for Israel has shown no signs of shifting since he launched his campaign in New York’s 16th Congressional District, which is made up of a mix of affluent white-collar enclaves and working-class urban neighborhoods in Westchester and the Bronx.

But like many prominent Democrats, Latimer is adjusting his rhetoric as the war continues, calling into question the durability of holding a pro-Israel stance in the…   closely watched June 25 primary.

Latimer’s allies say the primary has always been about more than just Israel policy, citing Bowman’s vote against an infrastructure spending package and his pulling of a Capitol office building’s fire alarm. They believe voters have already made up their minds about Israel and few can be persuaded.

David Weprin, a Queens state assemblymember and Latimer supporter, said Latimer’s staunch backing for the country is the reason why he’s getting “so much support from the pro-Israel community.”

“I think he’s been consistent,” Weprin said. “We’re all concerned about innocent lives. But that doesn’t change the facts. Israel was attacked and is defending themselves. They’re doing everything they can to eradicate Hamas.”

But for Bowman and his allies, the changing views of the war within the party is a signal his left-leaning views of Israel are closer to the mainstream, he and his campaign said. And Bowman is trying to turn the support Latimer has received from pro-Israel organizations into a negative by accusing him of being aligned more with Republicans than key Democrats.