This story was updated at 8 a.m. with new comments from Del. Rasoul.
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger commented on the situation taking place in Israel and Palestine after Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, faced criticism for his comments.
Rasoul, who is Palestinian, has been a vocal advocate for the people of Gaza. “Zionism has proven how evil our society can be,” he said on Instagram in July. “Zionists yearn to be the only victim and deflect from the evils perpetuated in its name. Instead of calling for an end to genocide, Zionists have bastardized antisemitism making the world less safe for my Jewish friends.”
In a follow-up statement Thursday to Semafor’s Dave Weigel, Rasoul doubled down: “While there are many who aspire for Zionism to be a safe place for a homeland for Jewish people, the reality is the manifestation of that has produced apartheid – and now, as human rights orgs in Israel have claimed, a genocide in Gaza,” he said.
Democrats across the country are facing mounting pressure to stake out a position on the Israel-Gaza conflict, navigating a deepening divide within their own party. While Republicans have largely locked arms in unwavering support of Israel, Democratic voices have fractured — with some lawmakers defending Israel’s right to respond to Hamas, and others aligning with calls to protect Palestinian civilians as the death toll in Gaza climbs.
“Those who have lost family members, friends, or their own sense of safety — because of the October 7, 2023 attacks and resulting war in Gaza — feel the pain of the ongoing conflict viscerally,” Spanberger said Thursday in a statement to Virginia Scope. “I know that this is the reality for many American Jews with a connection to Israel and many Palestinian Americans.”
Spanberger addressed the deaths taking place in Palestine, expressing support for individuals who are advocating for aid to Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages, and a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, while also drawing a line.
“One can and must denounce these tragedies without using antisemitic language, whether intentional or not,” Spanberger said.
She cited a recent antisemitic attack in Colorado and the killing of two Israeli embassy staffers as stark reminders of why many Jewish people are living in fear.
“We must recognize our shared commitment to peace and work to rebuild trust in our communities,” Spanberger said.
Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears’ campaign attacked Spanberger in a statement Thursday, and also named her ticketmate for lieutenant governor, Ghazala Hashmi, who is Muslim.
“It is increasingly clear that Abigail Spanberger cares more about appeasing the radical, hate-filled fringe in her party than doing the right thing,” said Peyton Vogel, an Earle-Sears campaign spokesperson. “The Spanberger-Hashmi ticket will do nothing to protect Jewish Virginians from a growing, hate-filled virus.”
Hashmi released a statement Thursday on social media.
“The rise in antisemitism has created real fear in communities across Virginia — and it cannot be ignored or dismissed; instead it must be condemned clearly, consistently and without caveat,” Hashmi wrote. “As a Muslim, I know what it feels like when an entire community is scapegoated for the actions of a few. No group should be vilified, targeted, or dehumanized. Antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, and all forms of hate have no place in our communities — they are an affront to our shared values.”
Rasoul provided additional comment to Virginia Scope Thursday night.
“The reality is that for 22 months, we’ve been pushing back against this genocide, and the reality that we’ve seen on the ground is that even before the genocide, we had apartheid – we had an occupation – that unfortunately our tax dollars are funding,” Rasoul said.
As for the timing, for what he said is a coordinated campaign against him after his stance has remained constant on this issue since 2023, he blames the upcoming elections in November.
“It’s clear it’s election season and [they are] desperate for something to stick,” Rasoul said. “And the court of public opinion has shifted that this is clearly a genocide, so the default is anyone critical of the genocide must be anti-Semitic.”
“I will continue working hand-in-hand with our Jewish Brothers and sisters who are fundamentally less safe because they have taken antisemitism and unfortunately used it so loosely that when there’s true antisemitism that we must counter, it’s difficult for the public to determine what’s really going on, and so we need to be better stewards and try to defend against all hate,” he concluded.