Israel, Local South Florida Leaders Push Back Against Antisemitism

Aventura— Nine months after the horrific Hamas terror attack against Israel that led to a string of violent antisemitic riots and protests around the U.S., the movement to stop antisemitism is growing as leaders like Miami’s Israeli Consulate General Maor Elbaz-Starlinsky continue to press forward to bring awareness to the rise of hatred against the Jewish community.

General Elbaz-Starlinsky recently hosted a meeting with local leaders to bring awareness to the issue, and to allow Sunny Isles Mayor Larisa Svechin to brief attendees about her recent trip to Israel, where the Russian-born lawmaker toured the sites of the terror attack.

Mayor Svechin displayed several graphic images of the aftermath of the attack and conveyed the message that because Hamas and its sympathizers were spinning the attack to try to benefit their cause, the antisemitism story must continue to be told.

 

“They've been so successful in tricking everybody, that the best that we can do is keep telling our story,” said Mayor Svechin before questioning why radical Islamists and supporters continue to be allowed to vocalize their hate-filled message.

“At this point, it's like, at what point is it that we're going to allow people that are radical and that are preaching that preaching to destroy not just Israel, but the west?” she added.

According to Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) spokeswoman’s chief government affairs officer Lisa Katz, the key to defeating the hate against Jews is to work alongside non-Jews to educate others about the evils of antisemitism.

“We need to work not just with Jews but to partner with those who aren't Jewish and can really believe that across the world, to educate and to combat antisemitism, “ said. Adding that “through advocacy with different groups that may not be Jewish, because we are all one people.”

State Senator Jason Pizzo (D), who represents Sunny Isle, Hallandale Beach, as well as a handful of other cities in the area, took a very stern position against local lawmakers who could refuse to support Israel and the antisemitism movement.

"It's time now to either say you're with and on the right side of history, or you're not," said Pizzo, warning that if there is no "authentic, hearts-and-minds, one-group of commissioners" by the next council meeting on July 18th, "They will suffer the consequences of not having my support at the state level. And that's the way it's got to work."

The Floridian spoke to Elbaz-Starlinsky shortly after the event ended where he emphasized that it was important to “keep the message alive.”

“And the idea is to keep the message alive. You know, we can’t trivialize you can trivialize anti-Semitism we can trivialize the fact that  Israel been hit with rockets from the north from the south 350 results for Iran. And the war just continues,” said Elbaz-Starlinksky.

But while emotions on both sides of the issue continue to simmer, it is evident that most Americans appear to support Israel and condemn antisemitism.

Cooper City Mayor Greg Ross, North Miami Mayor Alix Desulme, North Bay Village Mayor Brent Latham, and State Rep. Fabian Basabe (R), were also in attendance.