Two-siderism of DSA is unacceptable after 10/7

The rally held Sunday, Oct. 8 by the Democratic Socialists of America, right after the abominable attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, is inexcusable.

I call upon all community leaders and elected officials who have not already done so to renounce their support of or from the DSA immediately.  And do it by name.  The “two-siderism” expressed by the DSA and their allies following Hamas’ unprovoked and sadistic terrorist attack on Israeli civilians is unacceptable. Not only because those blaming Israel are feeding the anti-Semitism that is on the rise both in the United States and globally.

And not only because it undermines our strategic partnership with Israel, and therefore our own safety. But also because it is abhorrent to blame a country and its people for being the victim of brutal terrorist attacks. Full stop. Those who immediately cited the long history of Palestine and Israel instead of just “outrightly” condemning the perpetrator in this heinous attack fell short.

Hamas’ attack was not a military action aimed at military targets. It was aimed at civilians, including women and children. And it was successful in its murderous aims.

It is the height of hypocrisy to condemn Hamas while at the same time praising their “resistance” on behalf of Palestinians. Please explain to me how murdering babies and young children, while at the same time kidnapping and doing God knows what to men, women and children is a justifiable form of “resistance”?

And how can one in good conscience celebrate so-called “resistance” the next day in NYC, the city that is home to the second largest population of Jewish people in the world? Further, how could the DSA, its members, its allies, and those who restated their rhetoric, have ever thought this was the appropriate time to have a rally in support of this “resistance?”

DSA’s  apology days later addressed only the timing of the rally and again blamed the Israeli government for the violence. 

There is only one time that is appropriate for a rally celebrating the murder of innocent people: never again.

As someone who was right outside the World Trade Center on 9/11, watching people jump out of windows to escape what must have been unbearable heat and fire, and who then had to run along with many others on the ground to avoid falling debris, I can tell you unequivocally that no one — no matter what their ethnicity or background — deserves to be a victim of terrorist violence.

Think about what is still happening now in Israel, and then imagine it happening on the streets of New York. Then imagine citizens of our closest allies — the United Kingdom, Canada, Israel, and others — gathering in the streets the day after those attacks and cheering on the perpetrators and justifying their actions. It is a thought too difficult to bear.

The author is vice chair, Bronx Democratic County Committee, and president of Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club