Josh Shapiro’s Careful Words on Israel—and What They Avoid |
Support with conditions may sound like nuance. In wartime, it risks becoming something else.
On the eve of Israel’s 78th Independence Day, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro struck a familiar tone: he spoke of his love for Israel, affirmed support for lifesaving systems like Iron Dome, and emphasized America’s interest in protecting civilians under missile fire. So far, so good.
But then came the pivot—one that is becoming increasingly common among ambitious Democrats positioning themselves for national office. Shapiro argued that the United States should use its military aid as “leverage” to ensure Israel acts in accordance with “American values,” and criticized Donald Trump for being a “rubber stamp” for the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.
This is not quite a contradiction. But it is something close: a carefully constructed ambiguity designed to satisfy two very different audiences at once.
On one hand, Shapiro wants to reassure mainstream voters—and many in the Jewish community—that he........