Richmond Leader

With the election still three months away, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe is highlighting an endorsement from Emgage Action, a Muslim-American civic advocacy organization that has denounced Israel as an “apartheid” state.  

The endorsement from Emgage Action, which favors the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, could signal a shift in McAuliffe’s Israeli policy, as four years ago he was part of the Governors United Against BDS initiative. In June, he expressed his gratitude for the group's endorsement in a Tweet.

“Honored to have the support and endorsement of @EmgageActionVA, the Virginia chapter of the country's largest Muslim-American political action committee,” McAuliffe tweeted after receiving the endorsement. “Tremendously grateful.”

McAuliffe acknowledging the group has drawn the ire of some pro-Israel groups, including the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), which noted on its website that it speaks out for Israel. ZOA's Mort Klein took aim at the former Virginia governor and current gubernatorial candidate in The Washington Free Beacon. 

“At a time of a frightening increase in anti-Semitism and attacks on Jews, to accept the endorsement of and praise a group that promotes hatred and boycotts against the Jewish state is to legitimize hatred against (Israel),” Klein told the publication. “Every Jewish leader must condemn McAuliffe for taking this stance.”

Meanwhile, Republicans have taken aim at McAuliffe after he embraced the group and lauded the endorsement. Neil Strauss, communications director for the Republican Jewish Coalition, told the Free Beacon the endorsement may signal an overall shift among Democrats when it comes to Israel. 

“When even McAuliffe is touting the endorsement of a pro-BDS group, can there really be any doubt that the Democratic Party is the party of the BDS movement?” he queried. 

Despite these claims, the vast majority of 37 Jewish members of Congress (10 Senators and 25 Representatives) are members of or caucus with the Democratic party, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Only two Republican U.S. Senators – David Kustoff of Tennessee and Lee Zeldin of New York – identify as Jewish.

In 2017, as governor of Virginia, McAuliffe signed the Governors Against BDS initiative, rejecting efforts to delegitimize Israel through the BDS movement. The initiative also reaffirmed the importance of Israel as a key U.S. ally in the Middle East. 

Earlier this year, McAuliffe told Jewish Insider that during his first term as governor, he tried to develop strong ties with Israel, pursuing several economic projects with the country. He also cited a trade mission he participated in while governor.  

Seeking to prove his pro-Israel credentials, McAuliffe told the publication that during his trip he met with then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He also noted that he’s met several other former prime ministers. Moreover, in 2016 Virginia adopted legislation critical of the BDS movement.