Massachusetts Democrats divided on Israel

Monday’s rally, organized by Jewish groups and attended by respective salient politicians, enactment connected afloat show the divides among apical Massachusetts Democrats — and the enactment writ ample — astir however to attack the escalating situation successful the Middle East that’s taken the lives of at slightest 11 U.S. citizens and hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians.

On 1 extremity of the spectrum are Markey and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, 2 of the astir progressive members of the state’s all-Democratic legislature delegation. Both person called for de-escalation, and Pressley for an “immediate ceasefire.”

On the different extremity is Rep. Jake Auchincloss, a Jewish subject seasoned who called connected President Joe Biden to nonstop Israel “all subject and diplomatic enactment necessary” successful its combat against the Palestinian militant group. He whipped the Boston Common assemblage into frenzied cheers arsenic helium declared that “de-escalation is not imaginable erstwhile [Hamas is] taking hostages” — a nonstop and unmistakable rebuke of what Markey had said minutes before.

Then determination was Gov. Maura Healey, who said that “Massachusetts stands with Israel present and always.” There was Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who described the U.S. arsenic a “strong and faithful ally” to Israel and said she’s “committed to Israel’s information and security.” There was Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who said “Boston stands with Israel.” And determination was Treasurer Deb Goldberg, who called for a “two-state solution.”

Massachusetts Democrats’ disparate views service arsenic a microcosm of sentiments wrong the enactment that are poised to intensify should the warring betwixt Israel and Hamas resistance on. And their divisions could go a headache for Biden, who is already facing wide Republican disapproval of his administration’s policies successful the Middle East arsenic helium navigates another trial of his leadership overseas and astatine home.