The governor of New York State apologized for an analogy in defense of Israel comparing Hamas to Canada.
Speaking to New Yorkers opposing Israel’s Gaza offensive last Thursday, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul compared the October 7 attack by Hamas to a hypothetical attack by Canada on the United States.
“If one day Canada attacked Buffalo, I’m sorry my friends, there would be no Canada the next day,” she said in a speech during a UJA Federations event in New York on Thursday, which was shared on X.
NY Gov Hochul last night on local opposition to Israel’s war in Gaza:
“If Canada someday ever attacked Buffalo, I’m sorry my friends, there would be no Canada the next day.
“That’s a natural reaction. You have a right to defend yourself and to make sure it never happens again.” pic.twitter.com/UCHUBmU6ka
— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) February 16, 2024
In her speech she called for stopping Hamas at all costs, citing Israel’s right to defend itself and to ensure that such an attack “never happens again.”
She apologized in a statement sent to CNN on Saturday, where she acknowledged having chosen her words poorly and that her analogy was “inappropriate” realizing afterwards that her comments could have been “hurtful” to members of her community.
New York State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani lamented on social media that she was “justifying genocide, laughing,” calling her comments “disgusting.”
The Jewish Voice for Peace Buffalo chapter expressed its displeasure on X. “We, your Jewish constituents in Buffalo, NY, are beyond outraged, @GovKathyHochul.”
Despite her apology, several Jewish organizations and politicians maintain their stance on the governor’s comments, CNN reported Saturday.
2024-02-18 11:58:38
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