Andrew Cuomo - lost his job, so his new gig is demanding Democrats love Israhell

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Disgraced New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announces new pro-Israel group
https://www.jta.org/2023/03/14/ny/disgraced-new-york-governor-andrew-cuomo-announces-new-pro-israel-group

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has a new project, a year and a half after resigning amid a flurry of sexual harassment allegations: a pro-Israel organization targeting Democrats.   

Cuomo delivered the message via video on Monday evening at an event at Carnegie Hall hosted by the World Values Network, the organization led by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach — an author, television personality and onetime Republican congressional candidate. Boteach organized the event in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and in memory of his recently deceased mother.

The launch of the organization, to be called "Progressives For Israel," was first reported by Matthew Kassel at Jewish Insider.

While Cuomo provided few details about the organization, he said that it would call on Democrats to stand with Israel, "because silence is not an option."

"Never again is not a prayer, it is a call to action," Cuomo said, referring to the Holocaust remembrance maxim. "It is not passive. It is active. It will never happen again because we will never allow it to happen again, and we will do it together."

Cuomo also called on officials to condemn antisemitism, not just with words "but with their actions."

"You can't denounce antisemitism, but waver on Israel's right to exist and defend itself," Cuomo said. "And it shouldn't be just our Jewish officials who speak, but it should be non-Jewish officials who speak first and loudest."

https://twitter.com/matthewkassel/status/1635648581007712256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1635648581007712256%7Ctwgr%5Ea55668acbbfb126ffa4ef11324bd915b898c69ea%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jta.org%2F2023%2F03%2F14%2Fny%2Fdisgraced-new-york-governor-andrew-cuomo-announces-new-pro-israel-group

The former governor also claimed his deceased father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo, told him from the grave: "It is time for the Shabbos goy," a term for a non-Jew who performs actions that are prohibited for Jews on Shabbat.

"The Shabbos goy can do the work that benefits both the Jewish community and the non-Jewish community," Cuomo said. "The Shabbos goy can turn on the lights on the Sabbath, because it benefits everyone. It is time to turn on the lights."

Cuomo, a centrist Democrat who served as New York's governor for a decade, was an ally of pro-Israel advocates while in office, similar to his predecessors. He traveled to Israel multiple times, and in 2016, signed an executive order directing state agencies to stop doing business with any entity that supported the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel. "If you boycott against Israel, New York will boycott you," he said at the time.

His announcement comes at a time of crisis in Israel, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government seeks to pass legislation that would sap the country's Supreme Court of much of its power and influence. A growing group of Democratic elected officials, including President Joe Biden, have called on Netanyahu to halt the legislation, which they have depicted as a danger to Israeli democracy. Among the critics of the court reform are a number of Democrats seen as pro-Israel stalwarts.

The court legislation has sparked massive protests across Israel that have brought hundreds of thousands of people to the streets. American Jewish groups have also held protests in New York and beyond.

The name of Cuomo's purported group teeters on familiar territory: Other established organizations in the same space bear names such as Partners For Progressive Israel and the Progressive Israel Network. The New York Jewish Agenda, a progressive group that has protested against the Israeli government, called out Cuomo's new pro-Israel group on Twitter.

"The chutzpah," the tweet read. "One of the last things the Jewish people, progressives, or Israeli democracy needs is a disgraced, not-actually-progressive, former Governor inserting himself into this critical moment for Israel in a dangerously misguided attempt to stay relevant."

In August 2021, Cuomo resigned after a report from New York Attorney General Letitia James found that he had sexually harassed at least 11 women while in office. 

Cuomo has denied those allegations. Cuomo's spokesman, Rich Azzopardi, told the New York Jewish Week that there would be more information about the initiative soon.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=429jIkaJIkk

FORMER KENNEDY SON IN LAW ANDREW CUOMO SAYS ITS TIME FOR THE SHABBOS GOY
https://nwobroadcastcorp.wordpress.com/2023/04/26/former-kennedy-son-in-law-andrew-cuomo-says-its-time-for-the-shabbos-goy/

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced plans to establish a group named Progressives for Israel to push for his fellow Democrats to stand behind the Jewish state.

Cuomo paired the battle against antisemitism with the importance of recognizing "Israel's right to exist and defend itself" during remarks announcing the new advocacy group. He stepped down as governor of the Empire State back in 2021 amid sexual misconduct allegations he denied and is rumored to be mulling a run for Senate in 2024 ( ) .

Boteach said in an interview he first met Cuomo in 2020 in Poland as the two attended an event commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. They have since become close friends, he said. "I told him I will never forget what he did for the 6 million Jews by honoring their sacred memory," Boteach said.

He said that he also invited Cuomo to Monday's event, which marked the 30th day of the passing of Boteach's mother Eleanor Paul, to honor him for his "inspiring" statement during the COVID-19 lockdowns when the then-governor explained his harsh orders were intended to protect the elderly. "He told me, my mother's life 'is not expendable,'" Boteach said.

"And on his own volition, he said to me, 'You know what? I'm going to launch Progressives for Israel,'" Boteach said about the announcement.

"You cannot denounce antisemitism but waver on Israel's right to exist and defend itself. And it shouldn't just be our Jewish officials but it should be non-Jewish officials who speak first and loudest," Cuomo declared. "I am going to call the question for Democrats, 'Do you stand with Israel or do you stand against Israel,' because silence is not an option."

Cuomo's announcement was made in a prerecorded video to honor the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, a major act of rebellion in German-occupied Poland against Nazi oppression during World War II.

The event was hosted by Rabbi Shmuely Boteach, head of the World Values Network, a pro-Israel nonprofit, at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan.

Cuomo said the group will be called "Progressives for Israel." A Cuomo spokesperson shared Cuomo's remarks with the Forward, but he didn't provide additional details about the group.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has told donors that she expects to face fierce competition from Cuomo in her reelection bid next year New York state is home to more Jews than any place outside of Israel. Gillibrand recently visited the country and told the Forward that the Jewish community expects her to be "a leader on issues related to Israel."

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U.S. Jews who are angry at Israel are 'endangering its existence' — Cuomo
"Americans more and more are opposing the state of Israel. Democrats primarily are moving to a negative place visavis Israel, most related to the Palestinian conflict" --Former NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
https://mondoweiss.net/2023/06/u-s-jews-who-are-angry-at-israel-are-endangering-its-existence-cuomo/?

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says he is very worried by the fact that the American people, Democrats especially, are turning against Israel over its policies toward Palestinians– though not the American government. "Americans more and more are opposing the state of Israel."

And Cuomo says Jewish people who are angry at Israel are green-lighting this shift in attitude and are not aware that they are putting Israel's existence in "peril" by doing so.

They are legitimately angry, I believe that. But I believe they are inadvertently fanning the flames of negativity in this country, possibly antisemitism, and endangering the existence of the state of Israel.

Here are Cuomo's extended comments of June 1, published today on Cuomo's Youtube channel.

I am very worried about the situation that Israel is in visavis the American people. Not necessarily visavis the American government. But visavis the American people. Americans more and more are opposing the state of Israel. Democrats primarily are moving to a negative place visavis Israel, most related to the Palestinian conflict.

I'm a Democrat in New York. At one time 80 percent of the Democrats, 90 percent of the Democrats supported Israel, right? You're a New Yorker you grow up with the Jewish community. Two of my brothers in law are Jewish. There was just total connection with the community...

But it's gotten to a point where the majority of the Democrats probably will side with Palestine not Israel now and you read stories about apartheid government of Israel, the human rights violations, etc. and I believe that negativity and even antisemitism is being fanned by a concerted effort of groups that are legitimately anti Israel or pro Palestinian, but I think they are strategically and purposefully increasing the negativity toward Israel.

The polling shows a stark shift in attitudes among Democrats, from overwhelming sympathy to Israel a few years ago to mostly sympathizing with Palestinians.

Cuomo went on to speak of Jews. Answering a supposed question from a viewer, he said he opposes a bill that would block New York charities from giving funds to illegal Israeli settlements. Because he said groups pushing that bill have a hidden agenda of destroying Israel.

This bill– Don't fund charities that help Israeli settlements because they are really prosecuting [sic] Palestinians. Yeah, I think these are efforts that in whole or in part are designed to just foment the negativity towards Israel. And I think many bona fide groups don't understand the peril that Israel is in.

For example, you have a lot of groups in New York, a lot of Jewish people in New York– Jewish people– who are angry at Israel. They are angry at Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, they are angry at the judicial reforms he tried to pass, they are angry at the coalition government he has put together. They are angry that he is too hostile toward the Palestinian issue. They are legitimately angry, I believe that. But I believe they are inadvertently fanning the flames of negativity in this country, possibly antisemitism, and endangering the existence of the state of Israel.

The state of Israel literally is fighting for its survival as a state.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uxyMh1A9yg

Cuomo's comments are somewhat similar to Donald Trump's often-expressed view that American Jews are not supportive enough of Israel. (At least Trump doesn't call himself a progressive.)

Cuomo gave advice to Jewish critics of Israel. Be careful how you criticize Israel because it gives Americans permission to be critical.

These groups that have legitimate concerns with Bibi — and I agree with them, I'm against the judicial reforms that were proposed. But start with an opening sentence that says, I support the state of Israel's existence, I oppose antisemitism. And now let me talk about the judicial reform. I support the state of Israel's existence. I oppose antisemitism. And now I want to talk about the coalition government that Bib Netanyahu put together because I'm opposed to it.

Fine, but don't erode the support for the existence of the state Israel, and that's what they are doing. Because all people hear is the criticism– 'Even the Jewish people are upset with Israel. Oh well then I shouldn't support Israel either.' Distinguish support for the state of Israel versus the complaints about the Israeli government, judicial reform etc.

Cuomo is echoing a core principle of the Jewish pro-Israel lobby: We must stand together because we are a small community, and if we divide, then other Americans will be given permission to be critical of Israel.

He concluded that Israel's existence was vital to the U.S.

Be anti judicial reform. Be anti prime minister. Be anti coalition government. But don't be anti-Israel and don't be antisemitic. And recognize the existence of the state of Israel, both for the state of Israel's sake and our own. Israel is our best ally in the Middle East period. Israel is a democracy. 'Well it's not a perfect democracy.' Look in the mirror....

Back in March, Cuomo said he was starting a new group called Progressives for Israel, and it didn't go over well among liberal Zionists. They didn't want the company of a disgraced politician; Cuomo resigned in 2021 over sexual harassment allegations.

He said in March, "I'm going to call the question for Democrats: Do you stand with Israel or do you stand against Israel? Because silence is not an option."

It is rumored that Cuomo plans to take on Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in the Democratic primary next year.