The days of demanding that elected officials "pick a side" and show loyalty to "one team" are over. I am an Israeli-American. I am an IDF veteran, and I want peace. I want peace for Israel. I want peace for Palestine. And I want peace for America. Just like
@ChrisVanHollen
.

As American Jews who care about Israel we should want all of our elected officials do what Senator Van Hollen is doing, speak the difficult truths that need to be told and support a better future for Israelis and Palestinians.

Doing so does not mean they "don't care about Israel". Doing so means that they in fact stand with the majority of the people of Israel who oppose many of the actions of their corrupt government. And with the majority of American Jews.

The fact that there are some people who want him to recite "I stand with Israel" and leave it at that, is their problem, not his. The realities on the ground have changed. The government of Israel has changed. Our elected officials should be critical of them.

But you know what, like the majority of Marylanders, including Jewish Marylanders, he disagrees with many of the policies and actions of the Netanyahu government. And he is 100% right to do so and to say so.

And it's the same thing he said when he was one of the very first Senators to meet with hostage families. Chris has always been there for his Jewish constituents and in support of the people of Israel.

On October 7th Chris was the first elected official to call me to express his sorrow and outrage and ask how he could help. It's the same question he's asked me in the past when there were antisemitic incidents in Maryland.

Congratulations to Salam Al-Marayati, @haristarin.bsky.social, and the whole team at MPAC for a wonderful event.

There were 800 people gathered to celebrate their community, their contributions to America, and their partnerships. Every person I met, I was introduced as the CEO of @newjewishnarrative.bsky.social, and every one of them was welcoming and thanked me for being there.