Gavin Newsom
The political consultant Jared Sclar told JNS that the campaign in favor of the measure capitalized on U.S. President Donald Trump’s “deep unpopularity.”
Rep. Brad Sherman, a Democrat, told JNS that “I think we’re going to elect pro-Israel Democrats in the new seats.”
The California governor made the statement as the Trump administration prepares to investigate the state university system for Jew-hatred.
The law responds to a case in which a major Spanish museum was allowed to retain a work it knows was stolen by the Nazis.
“An attack against any community is an attack against our entire state and our values,” said the state’s Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Antisemitism roundup, Dec. 6-7
Some fear the tendency of younger Democratic leaders to be more critical of Israel, while others predict that the U.S.-Israel relationship will remain strong.
Anti-Jewish and anti-Israel materials are “part and parcel of ethnic studies,” said Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, director of AMCHA Initiative.
“The former president gave a platform to extremists spewing hate speech and we continue to see the dangerous consequences—from the insurrection on January 6th to Nazi salutes and anti-Jewish signs over the 405 freeway here in California,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.
Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, who also chairs the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, spearheaded the legislation.
“While language about teaching the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was removed from the original version, district policy still requires such topics to be covered in an unbiased way,” stated StandWithUs CEO Roz Rothstein.
Senate Bill 693 was favorably received in the state legislature and is supported by the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California.
