In the US, Congressman Lawler and Kate Conley argued over antisemitism — Jerusalem Post
In New York State, incumbent Republican Congressman Mike Lawler and his Democratic Party challenger Kate Conley argued during a debate on Monday over combating antisemitism and supporting Israel. The candidates are competing for the seat in New York’s 17th District, which includes Rockland and Putnam counties as well as parts of Westchester and Dutchess, The Jerusalem Post reports.
Lawler called Israel the United States’ most important ally in the Middle East and said the country is a beacon of hope, opportunity, freedom and democracy. He also said Israel’s actions do not constitute genocide and accused some Democrats of wavering in their support for the country.
Dispute over Mamdani and Trump
The Republican raised the issue of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s positions on Israel and insisted that Conley condemn him. In response, the Democrat said she had strong disagreements with members of the Democratic Socialists of America caucus, which Mamdani belongs to, but did not directly condemn him.
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Conley said she was outraged by the rise of antisemitism in both US political parties, calling the phenomenon fundamentally un-American. She also supported the bipartisan Jewish American Security Act, a bill on the security of American Jews that Lawler co-sponsored in the House of Representatives. After repeated questions about Mamdani, Conley reproached her opponent for not condemning US President Donald Trump and claimed that Lawler voted with him 100% of the time. The congressman called this claim demonstrably false.
Support for Israel
Both candidates voiced support for Israel and agreed that US recognition of a Palestinian state should depend on Hamas being disarmed. Conley, a US Army veteran, stressed Israel’s right to exist and the need to guarantee the security of its population. At the same time, she said she criticizes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when she believes his actions are wrong for Israel and the United States.
Conley noted that, like Lawler, she would vote against an amendment to cut annual aid to Israel by $3.3 billion. The candidates differed over the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank: Conley opposed it, while Lawler said Israel is acting within its legal authority. According to debate moderator Tara Rosenblum, more than 20% of the district’s voters are Jewish; at the same time, Muslim communities are growing in the region.
