Liberal Rep.-elect Ritchie Torres said he will not join the “Squad” or fraternize with democratic socialists because of his strong support for Israel.
“I came to observe that there are activists who have a visceral hatred for Israel as though it were the root of all evil,” Torres told the New York Post. “The act of singling out Israel as BDS [the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement] has done is the definition of discrimination.”
“I remember meeting a family in Sderot. And I had no concept of what it was like to live in a city that lives under the fear of rocket fire,” Torres added of his visits to Israel. “I’m going to make the case that the progressive position is a two-state solution and promoting dignity for both the Israelis and the Palestinians.”
Torres will represent the South Bronx in Congress after serving as a city council member in New York City for seven years.
His comments come after two members of the “Squad,” Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, have been accused of making anti-Semitic statements, and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez denounced Israel’s “occupation” of Palestine.
Torres also slammed the Democratic Socialists of America, which supports Ocasio-Cortez, for its “defund the police” stance, calling the view “arbitrary and irresponsible.”
He added that though he won’t be joining the “Squad,” he did receive a congratulatory phone call from Ocasio-Cortez when he won his congressional campaign.
“I received a congratulatory call from Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez and she is unfailingly gracious,” Torres said.
