Republican Congressional Candidate Calls on Democratic Opponent to Denounce Anti-Israel Video
Republican congressional hopeful Mazi Pilip is urging her Democratic opponent, Tom Suozzi, to denounce a fundraiser and boycott an upcoming event. This comes after a man raising money for Suozzi shared an anti-Israel video on social media shortly after the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack against Israel.
The video, originally posted on Facebook on Oct. 16 by Ahnaf Alam, features a spokesperson for a fringe Orthodox Jewish group called Neturei Karta. The group rejects the existence of Israel and advocates for its “peaceful dismantling.”
Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss, featured in the video, states that the establishment of the state of Israel before the coming of the Messiah is sinful and an act of rebellion against God.
Pilip, a veteran of the Israel Defense Forces, criticized Alam for promoting the video and called on Suozzi to disavow him. She stated, “There is no place in Congress for people who associate with unapologetic antisemites.”
Alam, listed as the executive director of the New American Democratic Club on his Facebook page, is one of 12 hosts for a Suozzi fundraiser scheduled for Feb. 3 in Jamaica, Queens. Pilip called on Suozzi to boycott the event and donate any proceeds to a non-profit organization that supports Israel.
In response, Suozzi’s camp clarified that Alam is not a campaign staffer and accused Pilip of attempting to distract from her own campaign. They emphasized Suozzi’s condemnation of anti-Semitism and his pro-Israel stance.
While Suozzi did not directly address whether he would skip the fundraiser, he stated that he condemns all anti-Semitism and is unequivocally pro-Israel.
Alam has not yet responded to requests for comment.
This controversy arises amidst a heated campaign between Pilip and Suozzi, with both candidates recently holding press conferences to address the surging migrant crisis in New York City and rally support for their campaigns.
