\n EDITOR\u2019S NOTE:\u00a0 This story contains offensive language.\n<\/p>\n
\n Brad Lander, a Democratic congressional nominee in New York City, faced heckling Saturday over his stance on Israel as he protested a Hindu nationalist politician speaking at Madison Square Garden.\n <\/p>\n
\n Lander, a critic of the Israeli government who identifies as a liberal Zionist<\/a>, was welcomed by some protesting Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat\u2019s Saturday remarks in New York City. But others demanded that he leave.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cWe don\u2019t want no Zionists here. Get the f**k out!\u201d one man said in a video circulating online<\/a> as he played a drum. \u201cYou say you\u2019re a liberal but we know how you act.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cThis guy supports Israel,\u201d another shouted at Lander. \u201cNo Zionists, no Zionists,\u201d a third person said, holding a keffiyeh and pointing at Lander.\n <\/p>\n \n The issue of US support for Israel has inflamed Democratic primary races<\/a> amid growing anti-Israel sentiment within the party base over the country\u2019s military campaign in Gaza following Hamas\u2019 October 7, 2023, attacks. About 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 others taken hostage by Hamas. More than 70,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began.\n <\/p>\n \n Lander, a former New York City comptroller and ally of the city\u2019s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, bested incumbent Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman in a June primary race that broke along ideological lines around Israel. While both candidates are Jewish and identify as Zionists, Lander argued that Goldman should have gone further in his criticism of Israel.\n <\/p>\n \n He has referred to Israel\u2019s offensive in Gaza as a genocide \u2014 a claim the Israeli government denies \u2014 and called to restrict US military aid to Israel. Lander also accused Goldman of being beholden to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, during the primary. But the progressive has also firmly defended Israel\u2019s existence as a Jewish state and dropped his Democratic Socialists of America membership<\/a> earlier this year after the organization promoted a controversial pro-Palestinian rally the day after the Hamas attacks.\n <\/p>\n \n Lander appeared undeterred by the heated exchanges during the Saturday protest, and several attendees pushed back against the heckling.\n <\/p>\n \n When one man wearing sunglasses and a face mask shouted that he was a \u201cZionist ball sack,\u201d Lander responded, \u201cBring it on,\u201d before going to shake the hand of another attendee who thanked him for being there.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cYesterday\u2019s event was dedicated to standing up against the persecution of religious minorities. I was honored to be invited and glad to participate,\u201d Lander said in a statement Sunday evening. \u201cI won\u2019t stop joining rallies against hate \u2014 in India, in Israel and Palestine, or in New York City \u2014 because of a couple of loud numbskulls.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Hindu and Muslim groups condemned the heckling, noting that Lander had been invited to speak at the protest by multiple organizations.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cThe individuals responsible were not part of IAMC or our coalition and did not speak for us,\u201d the Indian American Muslim Council said on X<\/a>. \u201cWe offer Brad Lander our sincere apologies for the treatment he received.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cBrad Lander is a Jewish leader who has vocally disavowed the genocide in Palestine and is a rare progressive voice against the RSS,\u201d Hindus for Human Rights said on X<\/a> as it also denounced the disruptions to his remarks. \u201cMultiple organizations invited Brad to the protest as a longtime ally who understands the majority\u2019s role in combating hate in their communities.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Hindus for Human Rights said representatives sought to deescalate the situation and noted that Lander remained at the protest and was able to speak with reporters.\n <\/p>\n \n The debate surrounding Israel has percolated beyond policy disagreements for several Democratic House candidates, spilling into vitriol.\n <\/p>\n \n During Lander\u2019s heated primary, a Brooklyn coffee shop appeared to ban<\/a> Goldman, who has also been critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to screenshots of a now-deleted social media post.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cHey Congressman Dan Goldman, we see that you stopped by our shop today for a coffee,\u201d the deleted post read. \u201cDo you see how it doesn\u2019t taste like genocide juice? Or are you still having a hard time telling the difference?\u201d\n <\/p>\n