Democratic hopefuls in 9th Congressional District divided on Gaza
Many — but not all — of the Democratic candidates for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District seat on Monday criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza, with some going so far as to accuse the nation of committing genocide.
Others defended Israel’s treatment of Palestinian civilians.
All but two of the 16 Democratic hopefuls for the largely suburban seat participated in video interviews with the Daily Herald on Monday. The discussions covered Israel, U.S. immigration policy and other issues.
Video recordings of the interviews will be available at dailyherald.com.
Israel’s relationship with the U.S. and the war in Gaza have been especially contentious issues in the race. The 9th District has a relatively large Jewish population.
A United Nations commission, independent experts and critics have accused Israel of perpetrating genocide in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks coordinated by Hamas. Israel has rejected that description.
More than 71,000 people reportedly have died in Gaza since Israeli military operations began, including hundreds since a ceasefire agreement was reached last year.
An international convention adopted after World War II and the Holocaust uses five criteria to determine if genocide has occurred or is occurring: killing members of a group; causing its members serious bodily or mental harm; imposing measures aimed to prevent births in the group; deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to bring about the physical destruction of the group; and forcibly transferring its children to another group.
Chicagoans Justin Ford, Mike Simmons and Kat Abughazaleh, and Skokie resident Bushra Amiwala insisted it’s happening in Gaza.
“For us to recognize it as anything else is unconscionable,” said Abughazaleh, who is Palestinian American and has been outspoken on the issue.
While acknowledging Israel has been a U.S. ally, Ford believes the U.S. should end all arms sales to Israel “for the foreseeable future.” That includes ending support of Israel’s Iron Dome defense system, which is designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells.
“I don’t want them to have the Iron Dome,” Ford said.
Evanston’s Nick Pyati acknowledged some of the actions undertaken in Gaza would meet the accepted academic definition of genocide but not what he called a “broader” moral definition.
Three other candidates — Daniel Biss, Patricia A. Brown and Bethany Johnson, all of Evanston — criticized Israel over what’s happening in Gaza without labeling it “genocide.”
Glenview’s Laura Fine called the situation in Gaza a humanitarian crisis but said Israel has a right to defend itself. Fine’s campaign has been supported but not officially endorsed by a pro-Israel lobbying group called the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Evanston’s Jeff Cohen, Chicago’s Hoan Huynh and Wilmette’s Phil Andrew each said the U.S. needs to support Israel.
Chicagoan Sam Polan called the situation in Gaza “a human tragedy” but doesn’t think it’s genocide.
Chicagoan Mark Fredrickson said he would give Israel “every possible weapon” to fight its enemies.
“I admire and applaud their efforts to resist the encroachment of militant and jihadist Muslims in that part of the world,” he said.
Candidates Natalie Angelo of Park Ridge and Howard Rosenblum of Skokie didn’t participate in the interviews.
Four Republicans are running in the March 17 primary election and will be interviewed Tuesday.
The 9th District includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties. Democratic U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston isn’t seeking reelection.