Quigley, challengers differ sharply on U.S. relations with Israel

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley and two of his challengers in the Democratic primary for the 5th Congressional District nomination offered widely different stances on the United States’ relationship with Israel during a weekend candidates’ forum in the suburbs.

Quigley, who is seeking his 10th term in Congress while also planning to run for Chicago mayor next year, was joined by opponents Matthew Conroy and Ellen Corley at the League of Women Voters forum Saturday in Barrington.

Fellow Democrat Anthony Michael Tamez did not appear.

Quigley said Israel is a critical ally in the Middle East, but also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“I equate Netanyahu with (President Donald) Trump in most matters,” said Quigley, noting that he has been to Israel five times and also walked through the streets of Gaza.

“I've called for a two-state solution, and what’s funny is I get campaign donations from people on all sides of that issue, so either I'm doing something very right or very wrong with all of them,” he added. “It's a fluid situation, but one that requires experience to move forward.”

Corley, of Chicago, called for the U.S. to have a complete break with Israel.

“I think we need to declare war on Israel. Israel is the enemy,” she said, accusing pro-Israel lobbying groups of having undue influence on American politics.

Conroy said the U.S. should stop sending military aid to Israel, arguing that the war in Gaza is a genocide, an assessment he said is shared by organizations including Doctors Without Borders and genocide scholars.

“We should not be complicit in war crimes and a genocide,” he said. “If we consider someone to be an ally, then we have to hold them to the standards that we would hold our own leaders to.”