New “South Carolina-Israel Legislative Caucus” sparks support and backlash at Statehouse

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Members of the Jewish community were joined by Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and local lawmakers to announce the formation of the new South Carolina-Israel Legislative Caucus.

The Consul General of Israel to the Southeast U.S., Anat Sultan-Dadon spoke to the crowd, saying, “South Carolina and Israel have long enjoyed a strong and mutually beneficial relationship. Through this caucus we will strive to further strengthen these ties, foster greater cooperation, explore new opportunities for growth and trade, culture, technology, education and beyond.”

Representative Beth Bernstein believes the caucus is needed now more than ever with 5452 cases of anti-Semitism happening across the U.S. last year, most of them she says, occurring on college campuses.

“Anti-Semitic incidents linked to Israel or Zionism accounted for the majority of all incidents reported,” says Bernstein.

One person in the crowd who is against the formation of the caucus was removed, as Senator Larry Grooms spoke.

“South Carolina doesn’t need Zionist money! This is blood money!!” the man shouted, as he was taken out of the Statehouse by law enforcement.

ABC Columbia’s Lee Williams asked the Consul General to respond to the protestor’s words.

“They are only prolonging the suffering of the Palestinian people. Because the Palestinian people deserve to be rid of an oppressive terror regime that is not only attacking Israel, it is also sacrificing intentionally its own people,” says Sultan-Dadon.

Williams also spoke with Leslie Minerd, a member of the Carolina Peace Resource Center, who says the group is deeply troubled that local legislators would form a caucus that would serve the interests of a foreign government under investigation for genocide in Gaza.

“By speaking against the war, I am not anti-Semitic. My mother’s family is from Lebanon and I am Semitic. And I want to find a way for peace but by not addressing the money, SC sends $30 million a year. Most of that goes to weapons. We need to look at what’s going on. The United States sends billions every year. We can’t keep doing this it’s not safe for the United States. We are making the world less safe for these non-ending wars at the behest of Israel,” says Minerd.

Sultan-Dadon responded separately to Williams, saying, “We did not choose this war. War is a horrible reality which is why it has never been Israel’s choice but Israel like any other sovereign nation in the world, has a responsibility to defend our country and our people against those who attack us.”