Disagreement Between Two Democratic Candidates in New York Primary Over Gaza War

According to the English section of Voice of America, rival Democratic candidates in New York's 16th congressional district, despite agreeing on the formation of two independent states as a solution to end the Israel-Palestine conflict, have differing views on the Gaza war. The Democratic primary election in the 16th district, taking place on June 26, will reflect the impact of the Gaza war on voters. The outcome of this election could be beneficial for Democrats who are looking to regain control of the House of Representatives in November. While current Democratic representative Jamal Bowman calls for a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians, his Democratic rival, George Latimer, is considered a supporter of Israel's military approach. Jamal Bowman, a progressive Democrat, condemned the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians, stating, 'We cannot condemn that attack and ignore the events that followed in Gaza. We must express our protest publicly. Collective punishment and targeting civilians do not fall within the framework of conditional defense.' In contrast, George Latimer has defended Israel's military approach, labeling Hamas as a terrorist organization. This moderate Democrat stated, 'Although most people want the hostilities to end, as long as Hamas holds the hostages, people do not want this enmity to cease because Hamas is a terrorist organization, and we have witnessed terrorism.' Chris Coffey, a Democratic advisor, noted the suburban voters' preference for moderates and indicated the likelihood of George Latimer's victory in this primary election. According to this Democratic advisor, pro-Israel supporters and business advocates have provided financial support for George Latimer's campaign.