John Fetterman Faces Revolt in Pennsylvania

John Fetterman is facing a backlash in his home state Pennsylvania over his stance on the Israel-Hamas War.

A newspaper in the state, Penn Live, published an op-ed Wednesday criticizing the Democratic senator over his support for Israel, calling his position "disturbing."

Fetterman, the junior senator for key swing state Pennsylvania, has received criticism as well as support having for consistently voicing his support for Israel state since Hamas launched the deadliest in the country's history on October 7.

Israel has since launched hundreds of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and extensive ground operations. At least 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, with more than 200 taken hostage, while more than 11,000 Palestinians have been killed, with many more injured and huge numbers displaced, according to the Associated Press.

In a statement shared two days after the initial attack, Fetterman said: "I unequivocally support any necessary military, intelligence, and humanitarian aid to Israel. The United States has a moral obligation to be in lockstep with our ally as they confront this threat. I also fully support Israel neutralizing the terrorists responsible for this barbarism."

Last week, a photo of Fetterman draped in an Israeli flag at a Washington march of 300,000 people in support of Israel went viral online.

The op-ed, written by Mireille Rebeiz, Chair of Middle East Studies and Associate Professor at Dickinson College, Pennsylvania, responded to that image and said that while the politician had the right to freedom of expression and the right to protest his position was "disturbing."

She wrote: "Here is why Sen. Fetterman's position is disturbing: as an elected official and representative of the American people, Sen. Fetterman is supporting the practices of a foreign government, a far right-government that Israelis themselves spent this last summer protesting for its abuses of human rights, and these protests have not stopped after the Oct. 7 attacks."

She added that he was going against those calling for a ceasefire and accused Israel of "atrocities"

"Furthermore, many voices are calling for a ceasefire and expressing deep concerns over the atrocities committed in Gaza," she wrote.

She also pointed out that Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib was censored over her support for Palestine earlier this month and implied this was a double standard. Tlaib sparked a backlash after defending the controversial slogan "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free", which some say advocates for the dismantling of the Jewish state, and urging lawmakers to join her in calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.

"While Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan is censored over her Israel – Hamas rhetoric, Sen. Fetterman has no problem carrying the flag of a foreign state, and it is disheartening," Rebeiz said.

She added: "I am ashamed I ever voted for you, Sir. You are unworthy of my trust."

Newsweek has contacted Penn Live and Rebeiz by email to comment on this story.

The op-ed follows a wave of criticism directed at the Democrat. On November 9, he was booed by veterans protesting outside the U.S. Capitol in favor of a ceasefire.

He was also challenged on social media after he made a post on X, formerly Twitter, saying that now is not the time for a ceasefire in the conflict.

However Fetterman has also been supported for his stance, which is largely in line with the Democratic Party in general. An op-ed published in the Washington Examiner last week called his support for Israel "courageous."

It also said: "When it comes to standing against antisemitism, he has been a breath of fresh air."

Pennsylvania is home to a large Jewish population. Philadelphia, the state's largest city, has the fifth largest Jewish population in the country, according to the Center for Israel.

Newsweek has contacted Fetterman by email for comment.