As more and more groups react to the latest escalations between Israel and Palestinians, Orange County’s representatives in the North Carolina General Assembly took different tactics to sharing their support and concerns to those affected.
After a deadly attack in Israel by Hamas fighters over the weekend, Israel has retaliated by declaring war and launching a significant military response toward the Gaza Strip. The violence by the Palestinian organization has been widely condemned in recent days and U.S. leaders have shared strong statements of support for its ally Israel — including by President Joe Biden and Orange County’s congressional representative Valerie Foushee.
Among those offering support is the North Carolina General Assembly, whose House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution and whose Senate shared a signed statement by lawmakers denouncing Hamas’ attacks.
Two of Orange County’s three state legislators chose not to participate. District 50 Rep. Renée Price was one of 12 Democratic lawmakers who stepped out during the vote on HB 897, while District 23 Sen. Graig Meyer joined three other Democratic lawmakers in not signing the Senate’s letter.
Republican lawmakers in both chambers pointed to their actions as a sign that the Democratic representatives support Hamas’ attacks. Many of the 16 legislators, though, responded in the following hours about their decisions.
Price shared a statement, saying she is against the terrorism Hamas conducted in Israel but believes the approved resolution did not do enough to support innocent civilians in the besieged Gaza Strip. She wrote:
“Certainly, the situation in the Middle East is a travesty. Please know that I absolutely condemn the terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel, and the taking of innocent civilian hostages, and the slaughter of innocent people.
I declined to vote on the resolution because it falls short of considering all aspects or dimensions of the situation. The resolution urges Congress to support the Nation of Israel, yet nothing is mentioned concerning the safety and well-being of innocent Palestinian and Israeli civilians, including children, who live in Gaza and had nothing to do with the attacks.
My concern is for the Israelis, the Palestinians as well as the foreign visitors or immigrants who are suffering the consequences and sacrificing their lives because of extremism. My prayer is for the cessation of violence, humanitarian aid to all innocent people, and a resolution of peace throughout the land.”
Meyer, meanwhile, shared a statement on his X — the social media platform formerly called Twitter — account on Wednesday. He said he too denounces the attacks on Israel but also all forms of violence.
“I pray for peace,” wrote Meyer. “What it will take to find peace in this situation is beyond me, but I will not put my energy or my very limited influence into encouraging war.”
I am a state legislator, and we are elected to govern on state and local issues, not weigh in on foreign affairs, which are not our expertise nor our jurisdiction.
But as a human, what I see is the toll of hatred and war on real people, and it's horrible. 🧵#ncpol
— Sen. Graig Meyer (@GraigMeyer) October 11, 2023
Meyer also co-signed a statement shared by three other Senate Democrats — Julie Mayfield, Mujtaba Mohammed, and Natalie Murdock — who chose not to sign the Senate’s declaration of support for Israel. The group reiterated their decision was made not because they “support terrorist attacks.”
A statement on the horrific and violent conflict between Israel and Hamas: @GraigMeyer @MayfieldforNC @NatalieforNC @MMohammedNC #ncpol #ncga pic.twitter.com/Kxx2mjLtQO
— NC Senate Democrats (@NCSenateDems) October 12, 2023
District 54 Rep. Allen Buansi was one of the 104 lawmakers who voted to approve the House’s measure in support of Israel. He shared a statement with Chapelboro saying his “prayers and heart” go out to the people of Israel.
“I stand with them and the families of those who have suffered,” said the Chapel Hill-Carrboro representative. “The violence perpetrated by Hamas on thousands of civilians, which included children, is wholly unacceptable and reprehensible. Violence against any civilians cannot be condoned. I also grieve for families in Gaza, who have lost innocent, loved ones. It is critical to continue working for just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians.”
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