By Ben Solis
Staff Writer
Posted: October 9, 2023 9:46 PM

Democratic officials across Michigan appear divided on the outbreak of war between Israeli and Hamas-controlled forces, as evidenced by statements that flooded social media over the weekend.

But the international crisis wasn't one that would prevent Michigan's lawmakers with the strongest opinions on the war from working well together, several told Gongwer News Service in interviews on Monday.

Some of Michigan's lawmakers quickly defended Israel and its right to self-defense against Hamas, the elected ruling party within Palestinian politics in Gaza and a U.S.-declared terrorist organization, which on Saturday launched coordinated, surprise attacks on several sites within Israeli territory.

Statements in support of Israel included two of the state's most prominent Jewish lawmakers, Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) and Rep. Samantha Steckloff (D-Farmington Hills).

Others spoke out about the conflict from the Palestinian lens, saying they were mourning the loss of life on both sides, but cited what they saw as decades of oppression at the hands of the Israeli government and the expansion of settlements that have left its people without basic needs and resources.

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) and Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, a former Democratic legislator, were among those who voiced the strongest shows of support for the Palestinian people. They also warned what a war with Hamas in Gaza might mean for innocents on the ground.

Tlaib was the only member of the state's Democratic congressional delegation to not issue a statement in support of Israel or condemning the attacks.

The reaction to Hamas's attack, generally seen as the deadliest strike on Israel since the nation's founding, blew into the open increasing tensions nationally among Democrats on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For many years, the Democratic Party was overwhelmingly in support of Israel. But in the past decade, that support has softened in some segments of the party.

Democrats in the party's progressive wing have recognized the Palestinian state and have called for the U.S. to halt its assistance to Israel based on allegations of human rights violations. There has also been a rise of more liberal Jewish leaders or organizations who have renewed calls for a two-state solution with the Palestinians having full autonomy over Gaza and the West Bank.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued two responses on social media, but the first was viewed by Republicans and many Michigan residents as not being strong enough in support of Israel – the statement made no mention of Israel at all – leading the executive to issue a second statement.

Republicans were universally supportive of Israel in statements published over the weekend and on Monday and mocked Whitmer's response.

Attacks on Saturday included killings at a music festival near the Israel-Gaza border, rocket deployments on populated areas and the taking of hostages. The Israeli security forces were at first overrun but swiftly retaliated in a posture of defense, marking the beginning of what the bloodiest conflict between the two in 50 years.

The subject of security against Islamic terrorism for Israel and the plight of the Palestinian people living in Gaza and the West Bank, Israeli territories with Palestinian-elected governments, has divided nations and their stances as fighting continued. The Palestinians have said for years the Israelis have run Gaza, in particular, like an open air prison.

Michigan has one of the largest Arab American populations in the nation, and that demographic has only grown, giving rise to Arab leaders within the state's Democratic Party who have used their platforms to highlight the Arab perspective in the conflict. The mayors of Dearborn and Hamtramck are Arab-American. Tlaib is a Palestinian-American. Michigan also has a large Jewish population, both of which tend to vote heavily Democratic, making this a particularly sensitive matter for officials and activists who link arms on nearly all other issues.

Whitmer on Saturday issued a statement on social media noting that she had "been in touch with communities impacted by what's happening in the region."

"It is abhorrent," she wrote. "My heart is with all those impacted. We need peace in the region."

Not good enough, several said, with criticism mostly coming from Republicans that her statement was vague and not tough enough against Hamas.

Hours later, Whitmer issued a second statement.

"The images that continue to come out of Israel on the anniversary of the Yom Kippur War are devastating," Whitmer wrote. "The loss of lives in Israel – children and families – is absolutely heartbreaking and appalling. There is no justification for violence against Israel. My support is steadfast."

Whitmer was asked about her statements following a roundtable discussion in Grand Rapids about the Democrats' Reproductive Health Act package. The governor said it was an evolving situation that she is watching closely.

"I'm grateful that I've got so many wonderful friends and counsel in the Jewish community who keep me apprised, and I am unequivocally supportive of Israel, and they have a right to defend themselves," Whitmer said.

When asked if she regretted the first statement on social media, she said, "I don't regret, you know, this is evolving, as I said, and I was very serious about the massive loss of life."

Moss on Saturday evening noted that the attacks were "why we affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself and protect its people – the nightmares we fear can suddenly became a reality."

Steckloff issued a similar statement, calling news of the attack unbearable.

"Hamas has launched its coordinated attack upon the people of Israel. I'm horrified by what I am seeing and hearing," she wrote. "Trying to get a hold of friends who are huddled together in bomb shelters scared for their lives. Praying for Israel."

TLAIB TAKES HEAT FROM FELLOW DEMS: Tlaib, who represents parts of western Detroit and Dearborn and is of Palestinian descent, issued a statement on Sunday that condemned the loss of life but was heavy in its support for Palestine's part in the conflict. It was largely panned by Republicans and Democrats alike but found support among other sharp Israel critics.

"I grieve the Palestinian and Israeli lives lost yesterday, today, and every day. I am determined as ever to fight for a just future where everyone can live in peace, without fear and with true freedom, equal rights, and human dignity," Talib said. "The path to that future must include lifting the blockade, ending the occupation, and dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance. The failure to recognize the violent reality living under siege, occupation, and apartheid makes no one safer."

Tlaib added: "No person, no child anywhere should have to suffer or live in fear of violence. We cannot ignore the humanity in each other. As long as our country provides billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government, this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue."

Michael Herzog, Israel's ambassador to the U.S., flamed Tlaib's statement on social media.

"How much more blood needs to be spilled for you to overcome your prejudice and unequivocally condemn Hamas, a U.S.-designated terror organization?" Herzog wrote. "Hundreds of innocent Israeli civilians massacred in cold blood on a holy day. Babies kidnapped from their mother's arms and taken to Gaza. An 85-year-old woman in a wheelchair and a Holocaust survivor taken hostage. Is that not enough, Rashida Tlaib?"

Following Tlaib's statement, Moss responded on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating that Tlaib's commentary "refuses to acknowledge (October 7) for what it was: a shocking act of terrorism."

"Hamas violence is not some mere effect of resistance; it is a primary cause of instability in the region that prevents both Israelis and Palestinians from living in peace without fear," Moss wrote. "Many in our district are unspeakably shaken by this attack on Israel: brutal targeting of innocent children, elderly & families – kidnapped &/or murdered. Current death toll: 700+. We need our federal officials, at minimum, to condemn terrorism in a free & democratic nation."

Moss added: "Anything less feels like the many shameful episodes in our history when targeted violence against Jews has been callously dismissed with, 'Well, they brought it upon themselves.'"

Steckloff issued a similar statement response on X but the post has since been deleted.

"The Congresswoman and I share a district that is very heavily Jewish. Our residents (are) shaken in fear and don't know where to turn," she said. "But let's get one thing straight, Hamas is a terrorist organization! There is no 'two sides' to this. Hamas has murdered just as many Palestinians as they have Israelis. This response praises a terrorist organization only and has no business coming from a member of Congress. Hamas will continue to terrorize all and this response gives the green light."

Hammoud's comment was also viewed by some as inflammatory, but spot on for others who were sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.

"Israel's decades of illegal military occupation and imprisonment of Gaza make peace impossible and tragic violence inevitable. Israel has trapped millions of Palestinians in Gaza in what is recognized by the international community as the world's largest open-air prison," he wrote across various platforms. "Failure to recognize this context is the inability to comprehend what is unfolding overseas. It is outrageous that our elected leaders from both parties continue to support this brutal occupation and in the same breath call for peace. This is not leadership, it is hypocrisy."

In an interview with Gongwer, Moss said Tlaib's statement was particularly disheartening because, by and large, he has received nothing but well wishes and overwhelming support and saw some of those in his party who have been the most critical of Israel come out and condemn the attacks.

"I'm talking about people like Bernie Sanders and AOC and even Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Presley, were able to put together the words to define this as a terrorist attack perpetuated by Hamas and condemn it unequivocally," he said. "That's why it was so surprising to me that my own congresswoman was not able to find those words and to kind of chalk up this really stand out event as just another part of the cycle of ongoing violence. This is far and above a normal occurrence. And certainly, the kidnapping of children and the elderly and the mass slaughter of people who are at a piece of it is worthy of this universal condemnation."

That condemnation was important, he added, because what unfolded this weekend was what many Israelis considered the nightmare scenario against the nation's existence for nearly a century.

Steckloff said that it was difficult to see Tlaib's commentary because she too has been critical of Israeli domestic policy and has supported a two-state solution, but what happened on Saturday was a terrorist attack that deserved scorn.

She also said that her post criticizing Tlaib's was met with antisemitic remarks that shook her as she reeled from the events of the weekend.

"Hamas is a terrorist organization that has murdered just as many Palestinians as it has Israelis. And to see people come out and attack me, number one, for being Jewish, and number two, coming out against a terrorist organization has been one of the most painful and hurtful things that I've been through," she said. "I've tried having this conversation with Congresswoman Tlaib. I've tried having these conversations with former representatives. It falls on deaf ears. It's not that I don't understand the pain that they're going through. I've been very open about my criticism of Israel's domestic policy, but this is a terrorist organization. There are no two sides here."

OTHER DEARBORN REPS WEIGH IN: Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) also commented on the situation, citing the conditions of Gaza as being horrendous while also condemning "senseless violence."

"For decades, human rights leaders, Palestinian activists, and global watch groups have sounded the alarm about the conditions to which the Palestinian people have been subjected to," Farhat wrote. "Gaza, a place with over 2 million inhabitants, has been transformed into the largest open-air prison in the world – a place where the port is constantly under blockade, access to electricity and running water is scarce, and years of apartheid have stolen hope from generations for a better life."

Farhat added that, "this situation did not happen overnight."

"To try to depict it as such would be disrespectful to the countless lives lost in the raids during Friday prayers, the 5,000+ individuals held in prison complexes, and the mothers grieving for their children who have been executed in broad daylight," he wrote. "Yet, for years, the cries of the Palestinian people have been overlooked."

Speaking to Gongwer on Monday, Farhat said that view comes from his own lived experiences, with roots in South Lebanon and family that left due to the occupation.

It's something that holds true to me. I represent a district where I have constituents who have lost loved ones to the conflict and violence. I've had constituents who had loved ones held as prisoners for years," Farhat said. "Sometimes, in some cases still being held. And I have loved ones who had been evicted from their homes with little to no explanation or recourse. I wouldn't say it's disheartening, but I think having a conversation is healthy."

What he did find disheartening, however, was the propensity for those on either side to find facts to bolster a one-sided narrative "because that is disingenuous to any peacemaking process."

"That is disingenuous to the people who lost their lives and this conflict," he said.

Rep. Erin Byrnes (D-Dearborn), who was elected last year, also said that as white woman representing a wide swath of Arab residents, she's taken the time to understand the plight of her constituents. That has opened her to understanding that despite the horrendous loss of life seen Saturday, there was more to the conflict than the events that occurred over the weekend.

"I will say it has been heart wrenching to see the escalating violence that has occurred over the past several days. And I monitor what takes place in this part of the world because I'm a human being and because I care," she said. "What I think we really need is dialogue that recognizes our shared humanity and that recognizes the suffering of Palestinian people over the course of decades. The apartheid, the occupation that they have suffered through and are struggling to live through. I also would condemn very strongly against any and all attacks on civilians. All human life is precious, and civilians deserve to be protected, period."

DEMS SAY THIS WON'T DIVIDE THEM ON LEGISLATIVE WORK: Despite the fractious feelings on the conflict and its new trajectory, Moss, Steckloff, Farhat and Byrnes all said that this wasn't an issue that would prevent them from continuing forward with the work ahead in the Legislature.

Despite a few examples over the course of the term, the Democrats have been linked arm-in-arm to further their initiatives and policy bucket list after attaining a majority in both chambers in more than a few decades.

That was not lost on the group when they spoke to Gongwer on Monday.

"I do think that there is tremendous respect among colleagues. And I think part of the reason that, as Democrats, we are as strong as we are because we come from diverse backgrounds and a variety of lived experiences," Byrnes said. "When we talk about division or unity, I think that having people that come from all walks of life makes us strong and makes us a good team. A lot of what we focused on this year has been about people. It's been about caring for people, uplifting people's humanity, basic human rights; advancing people's dignity and ability to live lives of their own choosing in this state."

Byrnes added that the Democratic policy model, in her view, is a model for governance across the country and ideally in other parts of the world.

Farhat also said that he has a great deal of respect for his colleagues, and that although they may agree to disagree on this issue, the deep relationships they've forged will sustain them.

"Our job here is to make life easier in Michigan, to make Michigan a competitive place for business to open, to make the quality of life better for residents across the board," he said. "Those are areas that my colleagues all share very high level of respect for, and I respect and love each and every one of them. So, I don't think it'll make it any easier or harder. I think it gives us one more thing for us to talk about, to work through and find out how we can be better leaders in those spaces."

Moss added that nothing he saw from legislative colleagues was as inflammatory as Tlaib's comments.

"They feel like they are representing a segment of their constituency, as well, and I think that there are many of us in the Jewish community that want to uphold and uplift and respect dignity and human rights for the Palestinian people," Moss said. "I think that Hamas terror hurts Palestinians and Israelis alike, and if we can dismantle – I'm a state senator, I know the limits of my role here – but if we can dismantle these systems of terror, that have afflicted all peoples in the region, let's try and work towards those common solutions."