COMMENTARY: One Way Gillum Can Show He Is Pro-Israel

Andrew Gillum, the Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate, say he is pro-Israel and against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

A good way Gillum can show that would be denouncing former Democratic State Sen. Dwight Bullard, who chairs the New Florida Vision PAC that supports Gillum.

Gillum can follow the lead of his statewide Jewish outreach consultant, Hava Holzhauer, who criticized then- State Sen. Bullard when she was the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Florida Regional Director. In her words:

The Senator’s decision to take part in this tour led by a person apparently affiliated with a U.S.-designated terrorist organization that advocates for the violent destruction of Israel is deeply troubling and offensive. And his assertion of ignorance about this affiliation is grossly deficient. The Senator should unconditionally condemn the PFLP [Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine] and apologize to his constituents.

We are also troubled and concerned that during the trip the Senator met with Omar Barghouti, founder of the ‘Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement’, which too often employs anti-Semitic rhetoric and narratives to isolate and demonize Israel, but failed to meet with Israelis and hear their viewpoints. By engaging with persons who wish to void the very right of Israelis to exist, the senator’s efforts were not only misguided, but harmful to those on both sides of the conflict seeking a peaceful two-state solution.

Gillum’s opponent, former Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), came under fire recently after a donor of his tweeted a racial slur toward former President Obama. Gillum’s campaign told the Associated Press at the time, “It is up to Congressman DeSantis to explain to Floridians why he has chosen to associate himself with right wing extremist groups and divisive individuals who want to pit us against one another.”

Gillum’s campaign should follow their own standards and denounce Bullard for going on a tour that was guided by a PFLP member and voicing support for the BDS movement.