Congresswoman Haley Stevens Calls Anti-Zionism a Hate Movement in the US — Jerusalem Post

In a recent interview with the Jerusalem Post, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens expressed her view that anti-Zionism is a hate movement that has gained traction in the United States and some Western countries. Stevens, a traditional liberal Democrat with a long-standing support for US-Israel relations, has encountered hostility due to her stance. She recounted being booed off the stage at a convention and leaving a union event in Detroit due to hostility, along with receiving threats. Despite these challenges, she does not consider herself a victim or a hero.

Stevens, who recently lost the Democratic primary for the US Senate in Michigan to Abdul El-Sayed, described his approach to Israel as “poisonous.” She highlighted that support for Israel has become a divisive issue within the Democratic Party. During the campaign, El-Sayed questioned whether American funds should support Israel, which he accused of genocide and apartheid, suggesting that these funds could instead be invested in children in the United States. Stevens noted that her opponent effectively mobilized young voters through the internet, a platform where anti-Israel views are prevalent.

The congresswoman also addressed the March attack on Temple Israel synagogue, involving a vehicle and gunfire. She criticized any attempts to link this incident to the war in the Middle East, emphasizing that the conflict should not be used as an excuse for attacks on Jewish religious institutions in Michigan. Stevens acknowledged issues within the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but warned against equating the policies of the current government with all of Israeli society or delegitimizing Israel as a whole.

During her visit to Israel, Stevens visited Hadassah Hospital and met with technology entrepreneurs, underscoring the strategic partnership between the United States and Israel. In her view, fostering understanding and cooperation aligns with the biblical principle of seeking peace and justice, as reflected in Micah 6:8, which calls for doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God.

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