JTA: Raphael Warnock, under fire for past criticism of Israel, rejects BDS and backs US defense assistance

By Ron Kampeas

Warnock also unequivocally condemned the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement targeting Israel, and said he supported U.S. defense assistance to Israel and the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In condemning BDS, he noted Israeli solar panel companies operating in Georgia, and their contributions to the Georgia economy.

The JDCA call also included Jon Ossoff, who is running in the Jan. 5 runoff election against the other Republican incumbent, David Perdue. Should Warnock and Ossoff win, the Democrats would gain control of the Senate.

Throughout much of the call, the two Democrats invoked the Black-Jewish alliance and how it persisted in Georgia beyond its heyday of the 1960s.

“You’ve got Jon, an awesome young Jewish man, and an African-American pastor running together with shared values, shared commitment,” he said.