‘Overly simplistic’: NYC mayoral candidate Andrew Yang goes on defensive over pro-Israel statement
Mayoral candidate Andrew Yang went on the defensive Wednesday following harsh criticism from New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Muslim community leaders over his support for Israel’s airstrikes on Palestinians.
“I mourn for every Palestinian life taken before its time as I do for every Israeli,” he said in a statement posted on Twitter. “All people want to be able to live in peace. We all want that for ourselves and our children.”
Yang, a businessman who’s been leading in the polls, tweeted support of Israel on Monday amid a new round of violence rooted in a violent dispute over Palestinian homes in Jerusalem. Hamas militants in Gaza fired rockets at the city, prompting a massive airstrike from Israel that killed dozens, including at least 10 children.
The conflict was reportedly escalating Wednesday.
Yang’s Monday assertion that he was “standing with the people of Israel” prompted a Muslim group in Queens to disinvite him from a Ramadan event — and stinging words from AOC.
“Utterly shameful for Yang to try to show up to an Eid event after sending out a chest-thumping statement of support for a strike killing 9 children,” tweeted the progressive lawmaker, who represents Queens and the Bronx in Congress.
The founder of the group that took back the invite, the Astoria Welfare Society, said Yang’s initial tweet made his organization “really angry.”
“He should be the middleman. He cannot just take one side. People are dying, children are dying in Palestine ... and he is only supporting the Israelis,” Sohel Ahmed told the Daily News.
A Palestinian supporter reportedly heckled Yang during a Tuesday campaign stop in Astoria Park, Queens.
Yang stated Wednesday he was prompted to revisit the issue by a conversation he had with a group of campaign volunteers “upset” with his initial pro-Israel tweet.
— Andrew Yang🧢🗽🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) May 12, 2021
“They felt that my tweet was overly simplistic in my treatment of a conflict that has a long and complex history full of tragedies,” he wrote. “And they felt it failed to acknowledge the pain and suffering on both sides.
“They were, of course, correct,” continued Yang, who has gotten support from numerous leaders in the city’s Orthodox Jewish communities.
“I join with millions around the world in praying that the current situation be resolved as quickly as possible, peacefully and with minimal suffering,” he added.
Asked about Yang’s pro-Israel comment, Mayor de Blasio on Wednesday shied away from criticizing the candidate by name.
But he took issue with politicians who use “throwaway lines.”
“Anyone who’s speaking about issues this complex and difficult should speak from the heart and ideally speak from some experience and not do it, you know, as a throwaway line or for expediency, but really think about the meaning here,” Hizzoner said.
With Michael Gartland
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