New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) apologized after making comments supporting Israel’s right to self-defense. The governor’s about-face came as many conservatives criticized the Biden administration’s changing comments about the ongoing conflict between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas.
The governor made a comment last week stating that if “Canada someday ever attacked Buffalo, I’m sorry my friends, there would be no Canada the next day.” The governor said that she was from Buffalo, precipitating the comments.
“That’s a natural reaction. You have a right to defend yourself and to make sure it never happens again,” she said.
The governor’s comments came before an event of the United Jewish Appeal-Federation. During the event, Hochil said that Hamas was a “terrorist organization that must be stopped. No one should live with that threat, that specter, over them.”
The governor said that she apologized for using an “inappropriate analogy that I now realize could be hurtful to members of our community.”
She said that this was never her “intention” and apologized for her “poor choice of words.”
The governor received considerable criticism from a number of left-wing activists following her initial comments.
“While I have been clear in my support of Israel’s right to self-defense I have also repeatedly said and continue to believe that Palestinian civilian casualties should be avoided and that more humanitarian aid must go to the people of Gaza.”
Hochul apologizes for her "poor choice of words" in the video below, in which she seemed to imply that Israel has a right to wipe out Gaza. "I regret using an inappropriate analogy that I now realize could be hurtful to members of our community" https://t.co/80nFBU8t58 pic.twitter.com/K6WHHG57Kw
— Rebecca C. Lewis (@_rebeccaclewis) February 17, 2024
The New York governor visited Israel last year following the start of the conflict there to show support for Jerusalem.
The Biden administration has changed its tone regarding the ongoing conflict. Following the Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7 that killed more than 1,200 civilians, Biden sharply defended the ability for Israel to defend itself.
However, the Biden administration has made a number of comments that appear to be backtracking on this initial support. The White House is reportedly pushing for a two-state solution in the Middle East, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said would be a reward for the Palestinians.
