Jerusalem Post: Ahead of Georgia Senate runoff, Rev. Warnock defends his record on Israel

By Omri Nahmias

Rev. Raphael Warnock, a Democratic candidate to the US Senate in Georgia, participated in a webinar hosted by the Jewish Democratic Council of America on Tuesday and defended his record on Israel.

“I am a staunch ally and supporter of Israel, and I echo without reservation Dr. King’s perspective that Israel’s right to exist as a state in security is incontestable,” he added. “That will be reflected in my work in the Senate. I am a supporter and an advocate for the two-state solution. I see that as the viable way to a democratic Jewish state, and I’m committed to that work. And I think it deserves attention and focus and engagement.”

Warnock also said he opposes the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. “I will always affirm the right of people to protest nonviolently, but at the same time, I condemn BDS, its refusal to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist, and I support president Obama’s memorandum of understanding.”

He called Israel “the most important ally in that part of the world” and said that “our aid and support of Israel is something that I would advance as a member of the Senate.”

Jon Ossoff, another Democrat running for Senate, said in the webinar that he has a family living in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and is committed to Israel’s security.
“I’m committed to Israel’s security as a secure homeland for the Jewish people,” he said. What I ultimately want is for everybody living in the region to have those basics that everyone everywhere in the world requires, which is to be able to live in security with the freedom to practice their faiths and participate politically without fear of terrorism, without fear of violence, without fear of persecution.”

“I want the United States to play a strong role in ensuring Israel’s security as a homeland for the Jewish people and in leading diplomatic efforts to resolve this grinding 70-year-old conflict,” he continued. “I look forward to working in the US Senate as a Jewish leader to promote strong American diplomacy, to bring about a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.”