In her first public address to the state’s Jewish community, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on Wednesday that she opposed measures taken by her party members against Israel.
“As a congressman ten years ago, I strongly supported Israel when it was attacked, and more recently, as a Democrat, I reject people in my party who make it a problem and challenge question our commitment to Israel, ”Hochul said at a virtual meeting of the Council on Jewish Community Relations in New York.
She called for boosting trade and technology ties between New York and Israel, especially in healthcare, and said she was planning to lead a trade mission to Israel.
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Ms Hochul said she had planned a family trip to Israel for the Thanksgiving holiday at the end of the month, but postponed that visit when she became governor.
She pledged to support and secure New York’s Jewish community during her speech on Wednesday, amid rising anti-Semitism.
“For so long this community has been under attack. We are talking about the increase in hate crimes against people who should never have this fear in their hearts, ”she said.
“I am aware of what is going on, very aware, and I work very hard to make sure that the state government has the resources to fund the security programs,” she added.
Ms Hochul mentioned the anniversary of the German Crystal Night pogrom of 1938 this week, and recounted a recent visit to a Jewish religious school, where a boy told her of his fear of wearing a kippah, or Jewish skullcap. , in public.
“I said to him, ‘Young man, you wear this proudly. It’s a sign of the strength and resilience that is part of your DNA, ”she said. “You have always defended yourself, the Jewish people have always had to defend themselves but that makes them stronger. “
She called for more vaccinations during her speech, asking “faith communities” and “voices of confidence” to speak out in favor of vaccines, without pointing fingers at Jewish leaders.
Ms Hochul became New York state’s first female governor in August, when Andrew Cuomo preferred to step down rather than face an impeachment battle after a report concluded he had sexually harassed 11 women.
Progressive members of the Democratic Party, including Congressman Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez from New York, have opposed or questioned some US support for Israel, including US funding for the Iron Dome missile defense system. However, Congress still overwhelmingly supports aid to the Jewish state.
Jews are the most targeted religious group for hate crimes in New York City, where most of the state’s Jewish population resides. As of last month, New York City Police previously reported 371 hate-related incidents in New York City, Jewish, Asian, Black and LGBTQ communities.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2020 Hate Crime Statistics Report showed that overall hate crimes were on the rise, and anti-Semitic hate crimes accounted for 57% of all religious crimes. The New York City Police Hate Crimes Dashboard reported that nearly 35% of hate crimes committed this year were anti-Semitic, the highest proportion of any group. Anti-Semitic hate crimes in New York City have increased by 50% compared to the same period in 2020.
Earlier this month, Hochul signed a law banning the sale or display of hate symbols on public property and taxpayer-funded amenities. Speaking at a Jewish museum in New York last month, she announced $ 25 million in grants to bolster the security of nonprofits threatened by hate crime.
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