Senator John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) has maintained a solid reputation among his colleagues on the Left since before he came into office. But in a series of posts about the state of Israel, he has stepped out of line from Rep. Rashida Tlab (D-Michigan) and other fellow Democrats who blame Israel for the war against Hamas.
On X this week, he has struck down calls for a ceasefire, questioned those who blame the deadly hospital blast in Gaza on Israel, called it "truly disturbing" that members of Congress have been so quick to take the word of Hamas over Israel, "our key ally."
The lawmaker also condemned Hamas' ruthless assault on Israeli communities surrounding the Gaza border on October 7, saying he stands with Israel and supports her effort to eradicate Hamas.
"He's definitely not toeing the Democrat line," American Family Association of Pennsylvania President Diane Gramley responds. "Sen. Fetterman is still remaining strongly in support of Israel. That is unusual for him to do that, but in this case, he's right on the money."
Gramley does not recall any prior indication that Fetterman either opposed or supported Israel, but she is encouraged by his sudden outspokenness.
"I think possibly the atrocities that Hamas committed upon the Israeli people, with the massacres and the beheading of babies, the killing of children and entire families, I think that may well have impacted him," she suspects.
So considering that "family is important to Fetterman," Gramley submits that the combination of Hamas' actions -- and the terrorists' pride about those actions -- may have contributed to Fetterman's strong support for Israel.
Regarding Israel's supposed bombing of Gaza City's Al-Ahli Hospital, which left hundreds of civilians dead, she says, "There's proof positive that it was a Hamas rocket that went astray."
On Wednesday, President Biden visited Israel and said U.S. intelligence suggested the attack was the fault of terrorists and not Israel.
