Republican incumbent spars with Democrat challenger over antisemitism in strongly Jewish NY distict
More than one in five voters in the district, which includes all of Rockland and Putnam counties, as well as parts of Westchester and Dutchess, are Jewish, according to Rosenblum.
In a contentious debate on Monday, Republican incumbent Mike Lawler and Democrat challenger Cait Conley clashed over the issue of antisemitism in New York's 17th Congressional District, one of the most Jewish districts in the nation. The candidates sparred over a variety of topics, including military aid to Israel, the effectiveness of combating religious hatred, and their stance on supporting Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member Zohran Mamdani, who is a Democrat and an opponent of Israel.
Lawler defended Israel as a beacon of hope and democracy in the Middle East, while Conley condemned the rise of antisemitism within both parties and stressed her opposition to Mamdani's positions. When pressed on whether she denounced Mamdani specifically, Conley deflected the question, but Lawler continued to question her stance.
Both candidates reiterated their support for Israel and its right to exist, but disagreed on the expansion of West Bank settlements. Conley, an Army veteran, emphasized the importance of military aid to Israel, while Lawler stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of American personnel in the region.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
