Fulop Reiterates on X Twitter Opposition to IHRA Bill – Touches off Smearing Accusations of anti-Semitism
Steven Fulop was questioned at a Meet and Greet in Cherry Hill, NJ on February 13 by LD-7 Green Party candidate for Assembly Lisa Ryan and he disclosed his opposition to the IHRA bills currently being advanced in the NJ legislature with his own Democratic Party in the lead role of promoting the bills. About 3/4 of the NJ Assembly are either sponsors or co-sponsors of the bill – it is supported by both parties with near unanimity. Fulop’s opposition throws a ripple across the pond of Democratic Party acquiescence toward the IHRA bills.
What’s more is the perspective he offers. He is not saying that he agrees one iota with any of the speech of the pro-Palestine community. He is only saying that it is wrong to create penalty or sanction for such speech. He opposes IHRA from his own Jewish, pro-Israel perspective that also includes many disagreements with how this editor and many in pro-Palestine circles see things. Fulop has doubled down on his positions on opposition to BDS, support for NJ Israel Commission and has stated that he does not believe that Israel has committed genocide. Nonetheless – he does not want laws that force people to agree with him on those matters.
Interestingly in the comments under Fulop’s reiteration of his position on twitter, several have actually made postings suggesting that he, Fulop is anti-Semitic. While this editor will not elevate those smearing and vile accusations it is a tell as to exactly how the IHRA narrative works. Adherents of the narrative are so sure they are right about all of their views that any deviation – even by a candidate for NJ Governor who is solidly pro-Israel – but since he disagrees with IHRA narrative regarding the right to dissent from his and other pro-Israel views – then he too must be antisemitic! Those making the accusation do not realize they are actually proving what is wrong with the whole IHRA construct.
I respectfully disagree with Fulop’s views on related matters yet this editor congratulates and encourages him to continue his attempts to bring a more balanced approach to the whole attempt of his own party to force loyalty to Israel. I guess his point is – people should not need to be forced into loyalty and it is harmful even from his own pro-Israel perspective to even give the appearance of trying to force such support. It is a unique perspective that I had not heard in the spectrum of opposition to IHRA in NJ so far but it makes perfect sense. Hopefully other candidates – Gubernatorial and Assembly – as well as those Assembly and Senators who have made the mistake of supporting these efforts – can carefully consider Fulop’s clearly stated position and become better informed on the harm the IHRA laws would do to NJ.
