Talarico Echoes Hamas Talking Points When Pressed By Concerned Jewish Voter

Texas Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico parroted Hamas talking points when asked by a Jewish voter about Israel’s war against Hamas during a CNN town hall Wednesday night.

Talarico was set up by a question from a Reform movement “rabbi” named Holly Cohn. The Reform movement, which does not regard Jewish law as binding, is generally leftist as opposed to Orthodox religious Jews, who are typically conservative politically and do not have female rabbis.

“I’m concerned with some of the things that I’ve been hearing lately about your stance on Israel and also on your support of the Jewish people,” Cohn began. “With the rise of antisemitism and perception being reality, I’m very concerned and want to know where you stand on this issue.”

Talarico began by insisting that he respects the Jewish people.

“I have deep love and respect for the Jewish people, for the Jewish scriptures. … As a state lawmaker, I have stood by Jewish leaders in Central Texas against antisemitism. … I’m called to love all of my neighbors, not just my Presbyterian or Christian neighbors.”

“I’m curious then also then where you stand on Israel in relation to all of this,” Cohn pressed. “Big issue that can impact antisemitism as well.”

Talarico then criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and slammed Israel’s war on Hamas.

“While I’m always very careful when I talk about this to make sure that my criticisms are directed toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and not the Israeli people — I have as you know, have been very critical of Prime Minister Netanyahu — as a former teacher seeing the death and the destruction in Gaza, seeing what’s happening to children in particular makes me sick to my stomach,” he said.

He made no mention of Hamas’ responsibility for endangering its own citizens by using them as shields and said nothing of Israel’s effort to prevent civilian casualties in Gaza. John Spencer, chair of urban warfare studies at West Point’s Modern War Institute, has called Israel’s effort the greatest lengths any known army in history has gone to save civilians.

“I know that October 7 was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust,” Talarico said. “And I believe that Israel, like any nation, has a right to defend its people. But I don’t believe that Benjamin Netanyahu has a right to wage war against civilians or use collective punishment, or restrict aid to civilians.”

While agreeing that she did not like Netanyahu, Cohn pressed Talarico on his comments on aid to Gaza.

“I want to address the restricting aid. Because there has been humanitarian efforts and food brought in and things like that on behalf of the Israelis,” she said. “But Hamas takes those resources. And so what looks like Israel is not doing that. I mean, the border that’s closed is with Egypt. And so when there’s medical help that’s needed, the Israelis step up. … But I think there’s a lot more further that is going on in Israel and how it’s projected in the media that, as a senator, I think you’d be able to address some of the things that might be. Again, perception is reality.”

Talarico then invoked the timeworn “two-state” solution.

“I think regardless of how we feel about the current situation, hopefully we can all come together to fight for a two-state solution where we have security for Israel and we have freedom and self-determination for Palestinians,” he added.

Talarico ignored the fact that Palestinians have always rejected the idea of a Jewish state and that Palestinians live with rights in Israel denied them in other countries, even serving in the Israeli Knesset. He also made no mention of the fact that there are Palestinian areas in Israel that have enormous signs warning Jews not to enter and that the terrorist group Hamas was elected by Gazans and would be likely to win an election in other Palestinian areas if such an election were held.

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