UPDATE 1/24/24: Dr. Jirair Ratevosian, a candidate for CA-30 who did not participate in the Jewish Democratic Council of America forum, has called for a ceasefire in the war between Hamas and Israel. “Just like the ethnic cleansing that took place this past September in my homeland, Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), the international community should never stand for the killing of innocent people — just because of who they are — or just because they happen to be in the line of fire,” Ratevosian said in a statement. “I am proud to be the first major candidate for Congress in the Los Angeles CA-30 race to call for a ceasefire. I’m also proud to have been endorsed by Peace Action and to receive the support of Democrats for Israel Los Angeles. I call on the Biden Administration to stop supporting an indiscriminate military campaign and seriously consider putting conditions on any future military aid related to this war. To be clear, I support continued targeted military operations to defeat Hamas, aligned with international humanitarian law to minimize civilian deaths. I also call for Hamas to release all the remaining hostages and for all parties to return to negotiating a diplomatic solution to bring enduring peace — and that starts with a two-state solution.”
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Six of the candidates running to be West Hollywood’s representative in Congress in March took part in a forum this week held by the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) and its Southern California chapter. Former L.A. Councilmember and City Attorney Mike Feuer, Assemblymember Laura Friedman, LAUSD Board Member Nick Melvoin, State Sen. Anthony Portantino, Ben Savage and WeHo Councilmember Sepi Shyne answered a wide range of questions intended to gauge their support of values important to Jewish Democrats. All six candidates expressed support for a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians, and all denounced the boycott divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.Â
What is your view of rising anti-Semitism in the United States and if elected to congress what measures would you take to combat anti-Semitism?
This is an issue that I have been discussing with my colleagues in the Jewish caucus literally every day. The amount of anti-Semitism that we are seeing across California and across the nation is reaching levels that I wouldn’t have dreamed we would have seen. This is something that has existed for a long time, obviously, it’s historic, but it’s been on the rise for a number of years. Certainly, during the Trump years, we saw that kind of open anti-Semitism from the far right normalized, and in some cases, openly espoused by Republican leaders. And now we’re seeing anti-Semitism really coming at us from all sides. But I’d say at the core, there are a couple of things. There’s extremism, which is something in any direction it’s coming from, we have to be very guarded and careful about. But clearly, the old anti-Semitic underpinnings are still alive. Anti-Semitism of the type that makes people believe that the media is controlled by the Jews, that it’s Jewish money that causes politicians to support Israel, that kind of classic anti-Semitism. We have got to do so much to combat it.
I have actively opposed anti-Semitism and taken action throughout my career, and I want to bring that experience to Congress. I mentioned at the outset that our office won the Anti-Defamation League’s award when we shut down violent white supremacists. I brought Jewish community leaders together with law enforcement and others to assure religious institutions are protected here in Los Angeles. I’ve taken a range of steps to ensure anti-Semitism isn’t an issue anywhere, not just on campuses but anywhere. As a member of Congress, not only do we have to speak out aggressively and actively every time there’s an anti-Semitic incident, but we need to ensure there are resources to protect religious institutions from anti-Semitic actions. We need to be sure that the Justice Department has resources to prosecute anti-Semitic hate crimes. We need to be sure there’s Holocaust education in our schools so that our kids are brought up to understand the history that lies behind the virulent anti-Semitism pervading our country today. And we need to be encouraging universities to take strong action.
 I want to appreciate this group of candidates too who, even before October 7th, have been explicit in their intolerance for anti-Semitism, which, as the late Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sachs often said, was the world’s oldest social disease. So, the anti-Semites and bigots have a couple of thousand years’ head start. But the question, Haley, was around what can you do in Congress, and I think there are a few things. One is, like my colleagues have said, use the bully pulpit to talk about this and show no tolerance. Two is to look at security for Jewish communities, security for Jewish groups, for synagogues. Three is to look at federal anti-Semitism and hate crime legislation, expand penalties. You know, we see that despite some folks saying anti-Semitism is not a form of bigotry, like in California, it’s the most supported hate crime nationally, religious hate crime in the country. We need to look at partnerships with other community groups, and most importantly, when it comes to education, like Mike was saying, Holocaust education, anti-Semitism education, starting as we do in elementary school grades and going all the way through college and universities, as we’ve seen.
This is a critical issue facing our country, our state, our society. The rise in anti-Semitism is not new, but it’s never been this horrific. Listening last week, I was hearing a Hal student leader talk about how he’s been getting emails from prospective students considering that institution, wondering if they’d be safe on campus. No student should wonder whether they’re going to be safe on campus, and so we need to condemn anti-Semitism in all forms as vigorously as we can. I was proud that when legislation passed the State Assembly on ethnic studies, it came over to the state senate, and the Jewish Community reached out to me and said, “Hey, we’re concerned that this ethnic studies curriculum doesn’t have safeguards in it, that there’s an effort to subtly put anti-Semitism into the curriculum.” I put those amendments into the bill to safeguard against anti-Semitism in the curriculum, which was a political risk, but I took it because it was the right thing to do. We need leaders who are not afraid to look at other causes and stand firm against anti-Semitism, and I’ve done that.Â
Three U.S. Service Members Killed in Drone Strike in JordanTwenty-five other soldiers were injured in what the Biden administration said was an attack by an Iran-backed militia. The deaths were the first American military fatalities from hostile fire in the aftermath of Israel’s war in Gaza.
It’s entirely comical to read Ratevosian take all sides of the issue without committing to anything and simultaneously refer to himself as a “major” candidate for this office.
At least he has enough humanity to call for a cease fire. That is taking a clear position, and a brave one considering the politics involved. If anything, it’s the rest of the candidates that seem to be laughably but also sadly, talking out off all sides of their mouths. And Sepi Shyne has now resorted to attacking her own religion in an obvious attempt to pander to her donors. Pathetic. Neither Ratevosian not Shyne will go to Congress, but at least Ratevosian has a spine.
delete my last comment all you want! genocide is occuring on the hands of YOUR tax dollars and our only options for congressional representation proudly endorse this slaughter. disgusting
I agree with you 100%
How about substantive questions on vital subjects? How did we miss this and why was it not available to view?
Further Mike Feuer seems off and away the most capable candidate with a well proven track record
I’d like to know their plans for getting the state back on its feet.
Sepi Shyne is an Arab Muslim who has made many anti-Israel comments and statements. I understand why she needs to lie now, but I am so deeply offended by her.
Why have you excluded former State Department advisor Jirair Ratevosian who has a pro- ceasefire position? I believe there are others too.
I would have liked to watch the debate.
And – OMG – the establishment party platform lives on rather well with these people.
I cannot support any of them.
Antony Blinken has been uncleverly disingenuous, and rather pitiful.
How utterly disheartening,
Bunch of pussies. Afraid of DMFI/AIPAC.
At least Leader Jeffries supports Summer Lee.
You seem disheartened that there isn’t a Hamas Jihadist running, I’m sorry.
The Los Angeles Times just endorsed Laura Friedman for Congress and took a couple of swings at her rival, Anthony Portantino. After the LAT’s endorsement of George Gascon, I guess I will voting for State Senator Portantino.
An endorsement by The El Segundo Times is usually a good predictor of who not to vote for as I make my choices.
Strange, Sepis mentor is the repulsive demented Tlaib, so not quite sure that she can trusted here, sorry, silly me, not like she can be trusted anywhere.
Lets see where the progressives here stand, when they see their left of the horse shoe support dwindle.
“All six candidates expressed support for a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians”
Okay, but Netanyahu does not. So what now?
What a weak response. Netanyahu? For the last 75 years we have seen constant rejection from Palestine on all deals. Israel wants to live in peace side by side with Palestine, it’s Palestine that does not want the same. So what now Greeneyes?
Have you not noticed that Arab nations, one after another are accepting Israel, but Palestine leadership, wants to execute this river to the sea idea. There can be peace and coexistence, when Palestine choose this route. Don’t deflect with non sense bringing up someone whose days at the helm are numbered.
Netanyahu said this yesterday:
“in any future arrangement, or in the absence of an arrangement,” he said, Israel must maintain “security control” of all territory west of the Jordan River — meaning, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. “That is a vital condition.”
The leader of Israel LITERALLY said there is no chance of a Palestinian state and said “the river to the sea”. How am I deflecting anything?
Cause his days are numbered and as it stands today, there is nothing to suggest that Palestine will be able to operate peacefully and co exist. The atrocities that day speak for themselves, so guess security is an issue that Israel has to hold paramount. Oct 7th was a huge set back for peace, a huge set back for a two state solution. What happens next I don know, but you can bet your last dollar, Israel wants the hostages back and wont stop until they get them all back, wants to live in peace and with the exception of… Read more »
I am proudly anti-zionist and proudly Jewish. How dare you even suggest the anti-zionism is anti-semitism. Shame on you.
October 7th was indeed horrible, but to ignore the decades of previous atrocities committed by Israel is either being willfully ignorant or just immoral.
How dare I? Shane on me? Sorry mate, you’re a full fledged anti semite or a very sadly uneducated Jew.
Shame on you.
This is what they do, attack & shame to control and shut us down. They call you an anti semite to shut down any reasonable conversation. Shame on you.
Bravo! Well said.
No one actually asks the question about precisely why is Israel always claiming security as their top priority?
“Although some people describe Israel’s Camp David proposal as practically a return to the 1967 borders, it was far from that. Under the plan, Israel would have withdrawn completely from the small Gaza Strip. But it would annex strategically important and highly valuable sections of the West Bank—while retaining “security control” over other parts—that would have made it impossible for the Palestinians to travel or trade freely within their own state without the permission of the Israeli government (Political Science Quarterly, 6/22/01; New York Times, 7/26/01; Report on Israeli Settlement in the Occupied Territories, 9–10/00; Robert Malley, New York Review… Read more »
You really need to educate yourself. Israel is already making plants for the land in Gaza. It’s what Netanyahu has always wanted. This is genocide!
The Palestinians have rejected offers for land 6 or 7 times in the past 70 years. They’ve made themselves into a militarized society whose sole reason for being is to kill Jewlsh people. They are not acceptable as neighbors to anyone until they stop their hateful ways.
Maybe if the Israeli government and their state-approved settlers didn’t colonize, oppress, terrorize, continuously steal land, and murder their “neighbors,” they’d have more loving neighbors. I’m not an Arab or a Muslim, but seeing the unfettered bombing by Israel that has taken the lives of 25,000+ Palestinians, mostly defenseless women and children, has absolutely convinced me Israel is in the wrong and has been in the wrong for decades. Netanyahu is guilty of genocide, and I’m sickened that my American taxes are used to support his fascist agenda.