(SNews) – Far-left Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) has outraged his leftist base by declaring his support for Israel following the recent Hamas terror attacks against the Jewish state.
Sen. Fetterman’s position has provoked a backlash from the progressive Left as many of his supporters pressumedly assumed the radical lawmaker would stand with the Hamas terrorist group.
According to NBC News, many of Fetterman’s supporters are accusing the controversial senator of betraying his base and being “silent on genocide.”
Fetterman has publicly stated that he supports Israel’s military retaliation against Hamas for the October 7 terrorist attacks that killed over 1,400 people in the Jewish state.
After the surprise Hamas terror attack, Fetterman, known as a progressive champion, declared:
“I unequivocally support any necessary military, intelligence, and humanitarian aid to Israel.
“The United States has a moral obligation to be in lockstep with our ally as they confront this threat.
“I also fully support Israel neutralizing the terrorists responsible for this barbarism.”
The NBC report noted that although this statement was in line with his party’s position on the issue, “he has perhaps faced more open opposition than any of his colleagues.”
This opposition has come “from people who have been his supporters and, in some cases, his former staffers,” the report notes.
An anonymous former Fetterman campaign staffer explained the spat between Fetterman and his supporters, stating:
“When you represent a large, diverse state and have pockets of really progressive, lefty people — and really conservative people on the other spectrum — you’re going to run afoul of somebody sometimes.
“Sometimes it’s going to be people who are in your base.”
Far-left figures across the United States, such as members of the Democratic Socialists of America and particularly those on U.S. college campuses, have been vocal in denouncing Israel since the country suffered the brutal attacks.
Many have claimed that Hamas targeted Israel in retaliation for alleged oppression and “genocide” of the Palestinian people.
Citing the Philadelphia Inquirer, the NBC News report added that about 200 pro-Hamas demonstrators shut down a street in front of Fetterman’s Philadelphia office.
The report added that some “paraded a large puppet depicting him wearing a shirt that read ‘silent on genocide.’”
The outlet noted that this was “the second protest in front of that office in as many weeks, and it was in addition to smaller protests the same day at Fetterman’s other Pennsylvania branches.”
Additionally, labor attorney and Russia Today contributor Dan Kovalik confronted Fetterman in person at an event in Pittsburgh over the weekend.
Kovalik pressed the lawmaker “about backing a cease-fire.”
The report added that the attorney “was later physically removed from the venue.”
He was thrown out of the venue by a man dressed in a Fetterman costume for Halloween.
Meanwhile, former members of Fetterman’s staff also published a letter condemning the senator’s support for Israel last month, claiming it “has felt like a gutting betrayal.”
The NBC report noted that despite these efforts among his progressive base to get him to change his tune, he “hasn’t buckled.”
It mentioned a recent Twitter/X post in which Fetterman claimed there could be a ceasefire only “after Hamas is neutralized.”
The outlet also reported that after meeting with family members of hostages taken in the Oct. 7 attack last week, Fetterman hung photos of hostages outside his Senate office.
Fetterman’s people have dismissed criticism of his approach.
They told NBC News they believe it “doesn’t represent widespread dismay with his handling of the outbreak of violence in the Middle East.”
“Rather, they said, it is the result of a few loud voices who have dominated the discussion on social media,” the outlet added.
On the other hand, center-left Jewish groups have “been encouraged by his unwavering commitment in light of the increased violence.”
Still, his detractors say that Fetterman doesn’t have sincere views on Israel, “rather, they say he’s playing politics,” NBC News added.
Far-left strategist Waleed Shahid told the outlet, “I don’t think this is a sincerely held belief by the senator or his staff,” suggesting he was afraid of pro-Israel lobbying groups.
“And I don’t even think Fetterman is alone in that … I think a majority of Democrats in Congress fear the electoral and political consequences from groups like (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee) and (Democratic Majority for Israel) if they were to offer even a little bit of criticism of the Israeli government,” Shahid said.
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