Author Marianne Williamson is President Joe Biden‘s main challenger in the Democratic primary. She has been a favorite of the progressive left since her first run for president in 2020.
However, she shocked many progressives with her defense of Israel during an Instagram live chat with Lauren Jauregui on Wednesday.
Unlike many on the left, Williamson is not siding with supporters of Palestine at 100 percent. She believes that Hamas is to blame for a lot of the deterioration in the region.
The conversation took an interesting turn when the 27-year-old former Fifth Harmony singer used the word “apartheid” to describe the situation in Gaza.
Wow… the evil is seeping out of Marianne. Disturbing. She absolutely cannot be president. pic.twitter.com/gvnFed8mXB
— asherwilde.bsky 🇵🇸 #stopcopcity (@ashertwilde) December 14, 2023
Williamson felt that the debate needed more clarity. She said: “I hope someday that you’ll go to Israel. Some of the things that you just described are simply not the case.” She argued that Israel is not an occupying force in Gaza, and Israelis can’t go there at all. Not all the misery of the Gazans is due to Israel, and Hamas is an extremely dictatorial force.”
Jauregui listened, but showed that she was not in agreement with the self-help guru. The artist insisted that she was not calling for the eradication of Israel and added: “I am absolutely 0% calling for the genocide of Jews.”
The politician replied: “But the things that you said would lead to the eradication of Israel. Where are they to go?” The pop music sensation held her ground and hit back with: “I believe we’re taking words and we’re talking about the intent of words and we’re comparing it to actions and the actual actions that are being carried out as we speak.”
Sensing that the interaction could put some distance between herself and her base, Williamson put out a statement on Twitter afterward.
She wrote: “I’ve always understood that Israel’s siege on Gaza is morally indefensible and has caused immense suffering to Palestinians living there, but I had mistakenly assumed that Israel’s withdrawal of settlements from Gaza in 2005 meant the term ‘occupation’ no longer applied to Israel’s control of the strip. I’m now learning that the UN and many leading international bodies and human rights organizations continue to regard Gaza as part of the occupied territories, so I stand corrected on my earlier remarks suggesting otherwise. But more importantly, as President, I will fight for a future free of siege and occupation; one where every Israeli and every Palestinian can live in safety, dignity, and freedom.”
Jauregui also made clear that she is still a supporter. She also said: “Marianne is the only candidate calling for a CEASEFIRE in either the democratic or republican parties. Aka the other two options we’re talking about rn believe in wholeheartedly backing & supporting the occupation and current genocide…I believe Marianne is a better option than [Joe] Biden PERIOD when we’re speaking specifically to the Democratic Party and the reality of the candidates we have as options.”
The little snafu confirms the complexity of the Israel-Palestine conflict in light of the October 7 attack from Hamas.
