Story by Donald H. Harrison; Photos by Fred Kropveld
SAN DIEGO – Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-San Diego) and her Republican opponent, El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, clashed over U.S. Middle Eastern policy, how to respond to antisemitism in America, and U.S immigration policy, among other topics in a lively, sometimes acerbic debate, Tuesday night at Temple Emanu-El.
Asked by moderator Heather Myers of CBS affiliate Channel 8 whether the U.S. should supply money and weapons to Israel, Wells responded, “I absolutely, 100 percent, believe that we have an obligation to support Israel in every possible way we can.” He said a two-state solution, with Israel living side by side with a new State of Palestine, is a non-starter “because the only solution that Israel’s enemies will accept is the total annihilation of the Jews.” Israel can’t live side by side with terrorists who “burn children in microwaves, rape girls until they are cut in half,” Wells continued. “Israel has an obligation to us and to themselves to eradicate Hamas, eradicate Hezbollah, and perhaps eradicate Iran.”
Jacobs, who sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Armed Services Committee and who has relatives in Israel, responded that “the only way to make sure that they are safe and secure … is to make sure that there is a Palestinian state where Palestinians are safe and have dignity.” She added that she has consistently voted for Israeli anti-missile defense systems, such as the Iron Dome, Arrow, and David’s Sling.
“But, also, to be clear,” the two-term congresswoman went on to say, “many people, including thousands of people who protested in the streets in Israel yesterday, do not believe that the policies of the [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu government are actually making Israel safer.” She said negotiations in connection with a ceasefire last November resulted in some of the hostages being returned by Hamas from captivity in Gaza. “So, I will never apologize for saying that we need to try diplomacy. Diplomacy is the way that we try to address issues, and it is the way we make sure that we don’t end up in a catastrophic regional war that we will put my family in Tel Aviv more at risk.”
In response to a follow-up question about the necessity of Middle Eastern ceasefires, Jacobs said she has been told by military leaders of the United States and Israel that cessation of hostilities would be the “best way to get our hostages back, to get humanitarian aid into Gaza, and to deescalate regional tensions.”
Wells, in rebuttal, commented, “I am all for a ceasefire and I am looking forward to it once Hamas is eradicated and Hezbollah is eradicated. … Iran is not just coming after Israel, they want to destroy [the U.S.]… I’m all for Israel going in and destroying their ability to have nuclear weapons.”
Then, in reference to Jacobs being among members of Congress who boycotted Netanyahu’s speech to a joint session of Congress in July, Wells said, “Like his policies, don’t like his policies, when he shows up in the United States of America and comes to Congress, and he’s in a wartime situation, you show up and listen to what he has to say.”
Jacobs answered that criticism as follows: “One of the things that I hear from my colleagues and friends in Israel is that Bibi Netanyahu believes, and he tells people, that he can do whatever he wants in the West Bank and wherever and he will still get U.S. support. In fact, we were asked by Israeli leaders to not dignify his address by attending. They believed that would hurt their efforts within Israel.” She did not identify those Israeli leaders, but presumably they are members of opposition parties.
Moving onto antisemitism in the United States and particularly on university campuses, Jacobs said she felt the impact of antisemitism specifically during the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. “I was cowering, hiding, in the House Chamber, worried for my life when people with shirts with ‘Camp Auschwitz’ and ‘Six Million Weren’t Enough’ were coming to try to kill me because of my role as a United States representative.”
About students, she said Congress should fund programs envisioned in the National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism such as the Office of Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education. “We need to be sure that we are investing in education for our young people, so they understand the Holocaust and they understand what caused it and they understand what it means for our population.” Jacobs also called for federal grants to investigate and prosecute hate crimes.
Wells commented, “the U.S. government should use every ounce of strength it has to protect all of its citizens, and that includes Jewish citizens, Jewish students and Jewish people.” He advocated cutting off federal aid to universities and schools that engage in antisemitic conduct or “turn a blind eye to this.” He added that universities which would not tolerate discrimination against African-Americans are being lax toward antisemitic discrimination.
Myers asked Jacobs why she voted in May against the Antisemitism Awareness Act, “which passed the House on a bipartisan basis.” The measure adopted the definition of antisemitism by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which reads “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/ or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” IHRA appended to its definition a controversial guide for its interpretation.
Jacobs responded that she believes the unintended consequence of that bill, which was intended to expand civil rights protections, would be a legal challenge that would end up before the U.S. Supreme Court. “There would be a real risk of the Supreme Court overturning all of the Civil Rights Act, all of our Civil Rights protection.” She added that the measure could prove counter-productive for the Jewish community.
Wells dismissed Jacobs’ response, saying “When people don’t want to talk about an issue, they give you a lot of esoteric, overly emotional answers.” He went on to say, “I condemn antisemitism. I am not Jewish, I am an evangelical. I want to tell you that evangelicals all over this country are praying for you. … It is not difficult for me. We protect people. We protect gays on campus, we protect Jews on campus, we protect Blacks. We protect Christians on campus. We treat each other with respect, and we love each other, and we stop people from doing bad things.”
On immigration, Wells said 20 million people have entered this country illegally, with adverse impacts on the economy and on crime, “and on the way we do democracy.”
“Most of these 20 million people, for the most part, are going to go to deep blue states and even if they don’t go … it is going to change the congressional appointments, the allotments,” Wells said. “Places like Chicago, Los Angeles—big blue Democrat cities—I think by design, are going to get so many impoverished people which is going to change the balance of power in Congress forever. … This is by design and if we don’t step up and stop it right now, you are going to lose the country.”
Jacobs called that rhetoric “incredibly dangerous,” comparing it to the “Great Replacement Theory” which allegedly motivated convicted gunman Robert Bowers to fatally shoot 11 people at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018. That theory blames Jews for “masterminding the idea of bringing people over to replace the votes of White people,” Jacobs said. She added–to a chorus of disagreement from Wells supporters–that Donald Trump said if he loses this election, it will be the fault of the Jews.
“That is why every Jewish member of Congress wrote a letter calling out this dangerous, dangerous rhetoric,” Jacobs continued. “That is why it is so disheartening to hear this rhetoric today, the day after October 7th, in a synagogue.”
Both Wells and Jacobs were cheered by their supporters during their debate, which was closely monitored by security guards. Host Rabbi Devorah Marcus told the crowd that filled the sanctuary and extended into the social hall of the Reform congregation that she would not hesitate to ask the guards to remove people if they disrupted the proceedings.
Security guards also wanded everyone entering the synagogue – even Rabbi Martin S. Lawson, Temple Emanu-El’s rabbi emeritus, who happened to arrive at the same time I did.
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Donald H. Harrison is publisher and editor of San Diego Jewish World.
Sara Jacobs stands against Israel: her vote records show, she doesn’t condemn antisemitism – it’s free speech for her. She is a radical leftist and dangerous to our democracy. She is a betrayal of her people. Bill Wells is good for America, good for Jews, good for Israel!
We Christians always support Israel. When you see the anti Israel members of the left in Congress. It is quite amazing to watch the democrat Party shoot itself in the feet, not just one foot. I have to wonder why so many members of the Jewish community still support the democrat Party with the left on campuses are supporting Hamas and, Historically the party is the home of the KKK. Just some comments from a Kiwi down under.
I have read the whole article in this e-mail and I support Blll Wells even more. I don’t live in the district and am not a Jew but my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was a Jew and he died for all of us. Please vote for Bill Wells in my stead and do your district 51 a big favor and turn it red.
The hypocrisy in what Sara Jacobs had to say yesterday regarding antisemitism in this country is glaring. She kept bringing up antisemitism on the far right with her comments regarding the t-shirt logo with ‘Camp Auschwitz’ and ‘Six Million Weren’t Enough’ she saw during Jan 6th and the right-wing ideology of the Tree of Life synagogue shooter. At the same time, not during yesterday’s debate not at any other time during this past year, she has ever called out on antisemitism on the left of the Democratic party. Where is her outrage of pro Hamas protesters caring signs right now on our streets saying, ‘Six Million Weren’t Enough’ and much worse than that? She has never pushed back on the out-of-control antisemitism exhibited by her Squad buddies.
In her press release on why she voted against antisemitism bill, she wrote: “I do not believe that anti-Zionism is inherently antisemitic”. Anti-Zionism is opposition to Jews having a Jewish state in their ancestral homeland and denies the Jewish people’s right to self-determination. Anti-Zionism is inherently bigoted. As majority of Jews identify as Zionists, Sara Jacobs views do not represent the views of her Jewish constituents she supposed to represent. How can she be trusted to fight for our interests in congress? Her explanation of why she voted against the bill was truly pathetic. In the same press release she also called college protesters “non-violent”. What alternative reality is she living in? How can she be trusted to ensure that Jewish students are safe on college campuses? She had a year to do something, but she could not even vote yes on antisemitism bill.
Sadly, I voted for her when she first got elected in congress. That was a mistake I am not going to make again. Her voting record does not align with Jewish interests and values. The fact that she is Jewish, only makes her positions worse.
If you are a Democratic voter, do not be afraid to vote for Bill Wells! His support for Israel and Jewish community is pretty evident. Nothing wrong with being a single-issue voter this election. Our future as Jews depends on it.
It was something to see she is not part of my tribe! I honestly have woken up this year the night before at the JCC she was with the only person with a keffiyeh on and didn’t take the stage probably because she’d receive a slew of boos just shameful! I was interested in seeing last night if it was just me but the crowd spoke for itself- go Bill Wells!
It’s astounding to hear Sara Jacobs talking to a mostly Jewish audience, knowing that her voting record on all issues affecting the Jewish Community, Israel and antisemitism Contradicts all her spoken words. Actions speak louder than hollow words and the pretense of Sara’s support. She betrays the Jewish Community at every opportunity. It is comforting to know that we have a friend in Bill Wells.
Maya Angelou once said, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” We’ve seen enough to know where Sara Jacobs stands. With antisemitic incidents surging 200%, it’s clear that Jacobs isn’t aligned with our needs. Her voting record speaks for itself. Just because she shares Jewish heritage doesn’t mean she’s an advocate for us.
When my own family faces restrictions on gathering due to growing threats, I expect my elected officials to stand strong with Israel—our lone ally in the Middle East. I care about the displaced people in the north. What about the daily threat from Iran and its proxies? Nope, no mention of this last night.
If Jacobs truly cared about Israel, her votes would reflect that urgency and her past does not. History has shown us this.
If we want change in this district, we need a leader of integrity and experience. Bill Wells is that person—someone who has proven to be a staunch ally of the Jewish community. Encourage your network to vote for change. Vote Bill Wells.
It is astounding for anyone to interpret from this interchange that Jacobs – whose parents created JITLI, which my child attended – and has relatives in Israel is less supportive of Israel than Wells. Netanyahu is Israel’s Trump, more intent on staying out of jail and clinging to power than anything else. What is happening in the West Bank is antithetical to peace or Israel’s safety. I stand with the 71% of American Jews who will vote for big and little d Democracy this November. Anyone who thinks that Trump or the Republicans (with their incessant antisemitic slurs, justified by their Evangelical support of Israel) is dangerously deluded. Just keep in mind that they continue to spout that we control the weather (including this week’s devastation in the Southeast) and the Big Replacement Theory (which saw our people murdered in our shuls) and look forward to the day when we’ll all be in Israel, either to die in flames of hell or convert.
Please, let’s not dictate what Israel needs to do to survive. You and the opposers of Binyamin Netanyahu haven’t learned anything form October 7.
Are you advocating for a “two state solution”? It’s a delusion and a very dangerous one to cling on. Never forget? Apparently, you have.
I am looking forward to the day that we can all live in Israel in peace and safety, strength and sovereignty.
So how many more October 7th’s do you need to comprehend the reality of real evil and the impossibility of creating and “living side-by-side in peace” with a genocidal state??????
PS. I think many of your 71% have now developed the wisdom to understand the essentiality of Israel, and will change their vote. Am Yisrael Chai!
Its inconceivable that someone who claims to be Jewish would advocate against Antisemitism awareness act and justify her vote by some technicalities. All democrats in our region voted for it. Why Jacobs would oppose it?
Interesting fact that one of her campaign volunteers and president of east county democrats club, actually works for CAIR an antisemitic organization.
He was openly working to delegitimize Israel.
It was just despicable not just that Jacobs associated with him but he came to synagogue to sit on front row to support her.
At first, I couldn’t understand why a Synagogue would invite Jacobs in. She clearly doesn’t stand with the Jews. Then I realized how right it was to have her at the Synagogue as many people in the community are simply unaware of her stance and last night they had a chance to learn.
I also saw a photo from an attendee that Jacobs brought a supporter of hers that manned a CAIR tent at Balboa Park. CAIR is an organization that holds antisemitic events that call for the eradication of the state of Israel.
Additionally, anyone who thinks she comes from a good family and wants to support her simply because of that, it should be known her parents were there and they were supporting her and her stances. What was once a family to look up to, has now strayed so far away. My heart aches for them all.
I hope there is no question where she stands come voting time, I hope our entire community remembers this and gets her out from a position she has no business being in.
I agree with you Miriam. It is an embarrassment that a silly, spoilt and ignorant girl like Sara Jacobs is in a position to make decisions that endanger the lives of Israelis and Jews in America. She has to go!! Vote for Bill Wells!!!
Amazing juxtaposition between a jewish and an evangelical politician.
The real supporter of the survival of Israel in this instance was not jewish.
How sad…