Pritzker calls Illinois’ support for Israel ‘unequivocal’ after
weekend’s Hamas attacks
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[October 11, 2023]
By HANNAH MEISEL
Capitol News Illinois
hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com
Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday condemned the deadly attacks on Israel over
the weekend by the militant group Hamas, telling those gathered outside
a synagogue in Chicago’s north suburb of Glencoe that Illinois
“unequivocally stands” with the people of Israel.
The governor, who himself is Jewish, was one of a handful of elected
officials and faith leaders who spoke at the gathering. Pritzker
acknowledged the militant group isn’t representative of all Palestinians
– including those who live in Gaza under the de facto rule of Hamas.
“There are many peace-loving Palestinians, and we must honor them,”
Pritzker said. “But Hamas – Hamas is a terrorist organization. An army
of murderers backed by Iran.”
More than 900 people were killed by Hamas’ coordinated attacks on
Saturday as many in Israel celebrated a Jewish holiday, with thousands
more injured and some taken hostage. Among them may be a mother-daughter
pair of Evanston residents, according to reporting from the Lake County
News-Sun.
Israel’s consul general to the Midwest, Yinam Cohen, told the crowd
gathered outside of North Shore Congregation Israel that many in the
Chicago area are still “waiting for news regarding their loved ones in
Israel.”
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Israel quickly declared war and launched counterattacks on Gaza, which
has been under Hamas’ control since 2007. Israeli airstrikes have killed
at least 800 and wounded more than 4,000 Palestinians in the days
following the initial attack.
Pritzker’s address included a message of support for the Israeli
military.
“We pray today for the strength and safety of the men and women of the
Israeli Defense Forces as they embark on this most difficult and
important mission,” the governor said. “Each step of the way they should
know, and the people of Israel should know, that America and Illinois
unequivocally stands with them in their battle to end the ongoing Hamas
attacks. We stand with Israel.”
Pritzker also said he’d directed the Illinois State Police to be on
alert for any security threats to synagogues and other Jewish gathering
places, but he assured the crowd “there is no immediate threat.”
Also at Tuesday morning’s gathering was Democratic U.S. Rep. Brad
Schneider, who told the crowd he was scheduled to be in Israel this week
for a conference on relations between Israel and surrounding Arab
nations.
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![](../images/101123PIX/news_e10.jpg)
Gov. JB Pritzker speaks in suburban Glencoe Tuesday at a solidarity
gathering on behalf of Israel. The Jewish United Fund coordinated
the Israel solidarity event days after a series of coordinated
attacks by the militant group Hamas killed more than 900 people over
the weekend. (Credit: Illinois.gov)
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“We were supposed to be celebrating the idea…that Jews and Arabs belong
to the land, and the idea that by embracing each other, Jews and Arabs
can live together in peace,” Schneider said. “That is not the vision of
Hamas. That is the vision of people who believe in peace. Hamas believes
Israel should be eliminated and Jews should be murdered.”
Schneider, who is a member of the Congressional Jewish Caucus, called on
the federal government to provide Israel with military support, and he
said a bipartisan coalition of House members had already introduced a
resolution to condemn Hamas.
“It is on us to make sure Israel has everything she needs to win this
war, to protect her citizens and to make sure Jews in Israel can live in
peace,” Schneider said, equivocating the weekend’s attacks to Sept. 11,
2001.
Meanwhile, other Illinois elected officials have weighed in on the
conflict, including Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a bipartisan group
of a dozen other attorneys general. In a statement Tuesday, the
coalition said it was “aghast and outraged at the wanton, calculated
attacks on civilians going about their daily lives.”
Over the weekend, Illinois’ Legislative Jewish Caucus issued a statement
condemning the “deprivation of innocent life.”
“We stand with the State of Israel just as she stood with the United
States during our most horrific moments,” the group said.
A small group of progressive state lawmakers issued their own statement
on Sunday, calling for “de-escalation and peace” in the conflict and
urging people to consider the toll on Palestinians, including those
who’ve been killed in counterstrikes.
“We will not be able to achieve peace when millions of Palestinians are
denied basic human rights,” the statement said.
Capitol News Illinois is
a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is
distributed to hundreds of print and broadcast outlets statewide. It is
funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R.
McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois
Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.
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