WATCH: Newsom says condemnation of Israel’s Netanyahu within Democratic Party is ‘almost universal’
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential 2028 election hopeful, says there’s overwhelming opposition among Democrats to the current regime in Israel.
Newsom, who once called Israel an “apartheid state” and later walked back those comments, said “it’s not even controversial anymore” within the Democratic Party when it comes to taking a critical stance on Israel.
“The condemnation of what [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is doing is almost universal,” he told PBS News’ Amna Nawaz. “There’s not controversy within the party on that.”
Newsom cited the ongoing Israeli settler violence against Palestinians on the occupied West Bank and Netanyahu’s rejection of a two-state solution.
“We want a democratic and secure Israel, and we want a secure democratic Palestinian state as well, right next door,” he added, “and I don’t think that’s a really divisive thing.”
Newsom added that the “vast majority of us” also agree about the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas militants in southern Israel “and how horrific and unacceptable it was and the terrorism that was perpetrated by Hamas.”
Listen to the complete interview on our podcast, “Settle In.” Available beginning Sept. 8.
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