Los Angeles Mayoral Candidates Address Israel Genocide Charges and Antisemitism at Jewish Forum

On September 29, 2026, Los Angeles mayoral candidates Nithya Raman and Karen Bass addressed the Jewish community at the Skirball Cultural Center during a forum organized by the Jewish Federation Los Angeles. The event, which drew approximately 1,000 attendees and was livestreamed, featured 45-minute conversations between each candidate and local journalist Alex Cohen. The discussions centered on the Gaza war, antisemitism, and the intersection of foreign policy with domestic issues, occurring just before mail-in ballots were distributed and ahead of the November 3 runoff election.

City Council member and mayoral candidate Nithya Raman, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, described the use of the term “genocide” to characterize the Gaza war as a response to compelling evidence. She stated that she understood the historical weight of the word for Jewish people and the broader world. Raman explained that she used the term because other experts, including Israeli scholars, had applied it to describe the conflict, citing images of hospital targeting and the deaths of children. Israel denies deliberately targeting hospitals and rejects the charge of genocide.

Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat who has led the city since 2022, rejected the characterization of the war as a genocide. The forum provided a platform for Jewish voters to hear directly from the candidates as they navigate a “jungle primary” system, where the top two candidates regardless of party advance to the general election. This structure means Democrats frequently face each other in the final contest, with a recent poll indicating Raman leading Bass by 11 points, though roughly a third of voters remain undecided.

Beyond the geopolitical debate, the candidates discussed local priorities including Jewish safety, antisemitism, homelessness, disaster preparedness, and the city’s strained social safety net. The exchange highlighted the complexity of representing a diverse electorate where views on Israel and domestic policy intersect. As noted in the context of public discourse, the pursuit of peace and the careful weighing of testimony are essential, reflecting principles found in Micah 6:8 and the call to pursue peace with neighbors in Romans 12:18.

The forum served as a significant moment for the Jewish community in Los Angeles to engage with candidates on issues of identity and safety. Raman acknowledged she was not an expert on genocide but relied on the work of scholars who used the term. The event underscored the ongoing tension between different perspectives on the conflict and the responsibility of public officials to address the concerns of their constituents with clarity and accountability.

In navigating these complex issues, the candidates’ responses illustrate the broader challenge of balancing international moral arguments with local governance. The discussion reflects a need for justice and mercy in public life, themes echoed in Proverbs 18:17 regarding the importance of listening to both sides in a dispute. As the election approaches, the focus remains on how candidates articulate their stances on both the humanitarian dimensions of the Gaza war and the practical needs of the city.

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