A coalition of 34 local Jewish organizations and leaders issued a statement Wednesday that excoriates U.S. Rep. Cori Bush for her stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
鈥淣umerous times over the last 23 days, we have felt her words to be insensitive, incorrect, and fanning the flames of antisemitism,鈥 the statement says.
The coalition includes several major local Jewish organizations, including the Jewish Federation, the Jewish Community Relations Council, the Rabbinical and Cantorial Association, and Vaad Hoeir, the United Orthodox Jewish community.
The statement specifically takes Bush to task for using the term 鈥渆thnic cleansing鈥 to describe Israel鈥檚 military response to Hamas鈥 attack. The coalition calls her statement 鈥渟ickening.鈥
鈥淚n the last century, the Jewish people were the victims of the worst ethnic cleansing campaign in history, and the scars from the Holocaust are still fresh in our collective memory,鈥 the statement says.
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The statement also charges that Bush has been hypocritical in her communications with local Jewish leaders.
鈥淚n private discussions, she has stated repeatedly that she supports the Jewish community, is listening to our fears and concerns, and stands against antisemitism. She then issues public statements that directly contradict what she told us in private,鈥 the statement said.
In conclusion, the coalition asks Bush 鈥渢o stop this incendiary language about Israel, apologize to the Jewish community in 狐狸视频 and engage in honest and accountable dialogue about the issues related to Israel and the Palestinian people.鈥
Bush鈥檚 office released a statement later Wednesday that said Bush 鈥渃ontinues to mourn the immense loss of life as a result of the ongoing violence in Israel and Palestine.鈥
The response statement says Bush 鈥渉as repeatedly denounced the horrific attacks and hostage-taking by Hamas and continues to condemn any and all forms of bigotry and hate, including antisemitism and Islamophobia.鈥
Saying some of the coalition鈥檚 allegations 鈥渁re unfair and simply untrue,鈥 the statement goes on to say Bush recognizes 鈥渢hat our Jewish neighbors are justifiably feeling frightened amid the horrific global rise of antisemitism.鈥
Bush鈥檚 office also noted that Bush will continue to serve as an advocate 鈥渇or all people, regardless of faith, nationality, or ethnicity.鈥