Talking To Jamaal Bowman About Antisemitism

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY16) plans on hosting a “Healing Breakfast: Fighting Antisemitism and Hate” on Monday November 6 at 11:00am. Some Jews are inclined to not attend, having seen the congressman contribute to antisemitism in the United States and his district. Others want to confront Bowman, and ask him pointed questions.

There are many reasons for Jews to dislike Bowman.

While dozens of New York’s elected officials came to address 1,500 people at Temple Israel Center in White Plains on October 10, 2023, right after the brutal slaughter of 1,400 people in Israel, Bowman stayed away, despite the event being located in the center of his district. Among the various elected officials was Westchester County Executive George Latimer, who gave an incredible speech before the crowd. Thousands of Jews are asking Latimer to challenge Bowman in the Democratic primary for the Westchester congressional seat.

It may be a good idea to join Bowman’s virtual discussion to confront him on his positions about antisemitism and the Jewish State. Some questions to direct to Bowman about his track record include:

You have shown a contempt for moderate voters such as slamming Biden’s moves to attract independent voters on May 17, 2023. Your voting record places you among the least partisan Democrats in congress according to the independent Lugar center. You were the number one recipient of money from far left-wing group Justice Democrats in 2022. Your voting record is nearly identical to Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN). Why should moderate Jews in Westchester feel comfortable with an extremist congressman?
On May 17, 2022, you co-authored a resolution condemning the founding of Israel a “Nakba”, a catastrophe. You offered no language that Jews should have sovereignty and self-determination in their homeland at the same time, which often happens with “balanced” resolutions condemning both antisemitism and Islamophobia. Instead, you adopted a solely Palestinian narrative. Do you believe that Jews are indigenous to the land of Israel and should have sovereignty and self-determination there?
Many people in Israel and supporters of Israel believe in the principle of making peace with those who want peace, and going to war with those who wage war. On April 25, 2023, you voted against supporting the Abraham Accords. Do you believe in peace for Israel or do you only believe in peace for Israel when there is peace for Palestinian Arabs?
On July 19, 2023, you boycotted the liberal President of the State of Israel in his address to a joint session of Congress. Such walkout was against the wishes of Democratic President Biden and highly insulting to American Jews. Do you want to hear what liberal Israelis have to say?
On July 18, 2023, you voted against a resolution condemning antisemitism and xenophobia and affirming that Israel isn’t racist. Why?
On April 23, 2023, you co-authored a letter to condition aid to Israel. Do you think Israel has an obligation and right to defend itself?
You have cozied to far left-wing Jewish groups like IfNotNow, praising your partnership with them on September 20, 2021. The group calls Israel an “apartheid state.” Do you think Israel is an apartheid regime?
On February 4, 2022, thirty-nine members of Congress signed a bipartisan letter to the Department of Education to combat the horrible situation of antisemitism on campuses. Why did you refuse to sign the letter when you represent one of the most Jewish districts in the country?
On November 2, 2023, you voted against House resolution 798 condemning support for Hamas and Hezbollah on college campuses. Do you support Hamas? Do you simply support free speech and would you therefore support the KKK forming chapters on college campuses and professors who say that Black slavery in America never happened?
Jews are much more likely to suffer antisemitism in the United States than any other group including Black people and Muslims. You’ve spoken up for Blacks and Muslims but have done nothing until today to show an iota of concern for Jews. Why should the Jewish community trust you?
On May 3, 2021, you said that Critical Race Theory is important to teach in schools. Do you think CRT should be limited to Black experience in America? Do you think international laws which are supported by the US government, that ban Jews from living in parts of their holy land and ban Jews from praying at their holiest location on the Temple Mount should be taught as being deeply antisemitic?
You called conservative political commentator Michael Knowles a ‘Nazi’, on March 7, 2023, a term which is highly charged for Jews who suffered a genocide at their hands. Do you really believe he is a Nazi or should Jews assume that you use the term for people whose views you dislike?
Israel is often lambasted at the United Nations by every Arab and Muslim nation as well as key members of the UN Security Council. A “balanced” approach at the UN would therefore require the US to stand firmly behind Israel in all resolutions as other nations are siding against Israel. Do you agree, or should Israel be left without any backer at the UN?
The majority of Gazans have always supported killing Jewish Israelis inside of Israel in every poll for the past twenty years, including before Hamas taking control of the Strip and Israel and Egypt enforcing a blockade. Gazans killed 1,400 Israelis WITH the security barrier and blockade, so how do you call for Israel to remove both and leave themselves completely vulnerable to jihadists?
Do you support Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s call for a ceasefire to only be in place once the hostages are freed, or do you support the ceasefire which Hamas wants without Hamas taking any actions at all as you tweeted on October 16, 2023?
Do you support the IHRA definition of antisemitism? Westchester County Executive George Latimer had the county adopt it on January 17, 2023.