Rep. Jake Auchincloss, a Democrat from Massachusetts, criticized what he deemed the “overly online left” for attacking Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro based on his Jewish identity and support for Israel.
Shapiro, seen as a leading candidate for Kamala Harris’ running mate, found himself defending his views on Israel when an op-ed he wrote over 30 years ago reemerged this past weekend.
His backing for Israel has sparked controversy within the Democratic Party, particularly from its far-left faction known for strong anti-Israel sentiments. Critics of his candidacy initiated the “No Genocide Josh” campaign and are urging Harris to select a different running mate.
During a CNN appearance on Monday, Auchincloss condemned the far-left members of his party for holding Shapiro to a different standard compared to other vice presidential candidates, claiming that there exists a “strong undercurrent of antisemitism” in their criticisms.
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Vice President Kamala Harris and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (L) address the media during a visit to the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. (RYAN COLLERD/AFP via Getty Images)
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“Those on the overly online left targeting Josh Shapiro’s pro-Israel views while applying a different approach to non-Jewish vice presidential candidates are exposing themselves,” Auchincloss, who is Jewish, stated on “CNN This Morning.”
“There’s a noticeable undercurrent of antisemitism in that,” he added. “It’s unacceptable. Every candidate’s views on policy issues and their records in office should be scrutinized. This is absolutely fair game for inquiry from the Harris team and the public, but holding him to a distinct standard due to his faith is simply not reflective of our values in the Democratic Party.”
Auchincloss is not the only Jewish Democrat in Congress voicing that criticism of Shapiro is unjust and implies that Jewish politicians can’t be impartial on Israel.
Rep. Greg Landsman, a Democrat from Ohio, told Axios, “There is a perception that we can’t be unbiased [on Israel] because we’re Jewish, which is simply inaccurate and unfair. Many members who support Israel have faced protests — as Jews, it feels especially personal and intense.”
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. (Mark Makela/Getty Images)
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The op-ed, authored by Shapiro when he was a 20-year-old college student, recounted his experiences volunteering on an IDF base during high school and expressed his view that “Palestinians will not peacefully coexist,” asserting that “they lack the ability to establish their own prosperous homelands even with support from Israel and the United States.”
Shapiro’s spokesperson, Manuel Bonder, stated to Fox News Digital, “Since writing that piece as a college student, Governor Shapiro has established meaningful, constructive relationships with various Muslim-American, Arab-American, Palestinian Christian, and Jewish leaders throughout Pennsylvania.
“The Governor deeply values their insights and the lessons he has drawn from these experiences over the years – consequently, like many issues, his views on the Middle East have evolved into his current stance,” Bonder elaborated.
Bonder rejected the notion that the op-ed, written decades ago, accurately reflects the governor’s present views on Israel.
“As the Governor has consistently reaffirmed, he endorses a two-state solution that allows Israelis and Palestinians to coexist peacefully – he believes it’s essential for leaders from both sides to take meaningful, necessary steps toward enduring peace,” Bonder emphasized.
Josh Shapiro delivers remarks during his swearing-in as Governor of Pennsylvania at the State Capitol on January 17, 2023, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, after winning against Republican candidate Doug Mastriano by nearly 15 percent in the November election. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images) (Mark Makela/Getty Images)
“Governor Shapiro has made significant efforts to unite people, listen actively, and ensure that our communities are safe and heard – he will always represent all Pennsylvanians,” Bonder concluded.
Following the massacre on October 7, which led to nationwide campus protests, Shapiro took a strong position against antisemitism. When members of the Philly Palestine Coalition protested outside Israeli-owned businesses in December, he criticized their actions as a “blatant act of antisemitism – not a peaceful protest.”
“This hate and prejudice recalls a dark period in history,” he stated on X at that time.
He also affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself while acknowledging the rising death toll in Gaza.
“We cannot overlook the origin of this, but we also cannot ignore the fatalities and devastation that have happened in Gaza,” he told the Washington Post in March.
Additionally, he demanded the dismantling of a student encampment at the University of Pennsylvania and backed legislation aimed at penalizing colleges for boycotting or divesting from Israel, as reported by WHYY.
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Harris is anticipated to announce her choice for vice president at a rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
