Black New Yorkers should stand steadfast in their support of Israel

Author's note: There has been ongoing debate within the Black community regarding support for Israel and the Jewish people, especially in the context of the conflict with Hamas in Gaza. It is important to emphasize that the Black community, like any other, is diverse in its perspectives. While there is no singular voice, there are certain key arguments in favor of Black support for Israel's actions against Hamas. This article aims to explore these arguments, acknowledging the complexities involved.

It’s essential to address the nuanced perspectives within the Black community concerning support for Israel and its ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza. First, let’s be clear: there is no monolithic voice regarding issues of any magnitude from the Black community, but there is some consensus on specific topics. Black support for Israel’s actions against Hamas should be fully encouraged and justified based upon policies and principles of self-defense and the elimination of threats against their land and existence. It’s undeniable that the Palestinian people have faced humanitarian and oppression at the hands of Israel that must be addressed. However, the current leadership of Hamas, characterized by its core ideology advocating the expulsion of Jewish people, should be seen as terrorist and inexcusable. In any nation’s interest, including America, the right to self-defense against such threats and violence is unquestionable.

Many Black Americans find common ground in the pursuit of eradicating hate and violence against a people consistent with the policies America has tried to pursue with extirpating racism and bigotry on its territory. The historical and contemporary support of the Jewish community for causes like the Civil Rights Movement and justice for George Floyd aligns with these principles. So why should Black people support Israel? Because the threat that Israel faces from Hamas, is the same threat that Black people face in America from white supremacists.

Violence against Black lives, from slavery to the present day, is met with lynching, beatings and shootings. Domestic terrorists driven by hateful ideologies of white supremacy and replacement theories have perpetrated countless murders: from the killing of nine Black people in a church in Charleston, South Carolina to the killing of 11 Black people in a store in Buffalo, New York.

If we support Israel, why can't we better address domestic terror?

Despite these heinous acts, the United States has not consistently pursued these domestic racist terrorists with the same determination and support it has extended Israel in its fight against Hamas.

The House last year passed the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act, H.R. 350, after the incident in Buffalo, New York. The bill would establish domestic terrorism offices within the Justice and Homeland Security departments and the FBI. It calls for leaders of the FBI, DOJ and DHS to submit a joint report twice a year, with a particular focus on the threat posed by white supremacists and neo-Nazis. The bill would also require training and resources for state and local governments to detect and deter acts of domestic terrorism.

However, only one House Republican voted with the Democrats to pass the bill. Senate Republicans blocked the bill, which needed sixty votes to pass and advance to the president. Sen. Dick Durbin, D- Illinois, reintroduced the bill again in 2023, but still no vote has been taken by the full Senate.

This dissonance is particularly surprising given the strong support for Israel among Republicans. The Republican Party has consistently advocated for aid to Israel and affirmed its solidarity with the nation.

Are Black lives less valuable?

Such hypocrisy by the Republican Party cannot be understood. It’s essential to question why rooting out hate abroad is more critical than rooting out hate at home. Are Black lives perceived as less valuable? Violent white supremacists not only hurt and kill based on race, but also on religion and sexual orientation.

The Tree of Life synagogue shooting, which killed 11 people in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was one of the deadliest attacks on the Jewish community in America. The Colorado shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub killed five people and injured many — the recent attack on three Palestinians in Vermont.

Antisemitism, homophobia, Islamophobia and racially motivated threats are on the rise, impacting various communities including White people like the attack in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017 when James Alex Fields Jr., a white supremacist, deliberately drove his car into a crowd and killed a young woman.

The reluctance of some elected officials, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, and former PresidentDonald Trump, who have been known to have questionable associations with white supremacists like Nick Fuentes, may be the reason why Republicans won’t support the legislation. If enacted it’s sure to ruffle some feathers and expose some unhealthy alliances.

To protect against these threats, we must not only acknowledge them but also take decisive legislative action to eliminate them. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has recognized white supremacist violence as the most lethal overall threat facing the United States.

Taking inspiration from other nations, like Brazil, which cracked down on neo-Nazi groups after a series of racist and antisemitic attacks, the United States can employ surveillance and monitoring to deter extremists and recruitments. Resources are available to monitor and combat terrorists both domestically and abroad, and initiatives like H.R. 350 can play a crucial role in preventing future terrorist attacks on Black lives and all lives.

The Rev. Edward Mulraine is a civil rights activist and religious leader based in Mount Vernon. He is the author of The Ten Step M.A.N. @edmulraine

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Black New Yorkers should support Israel's self-defense