On March 28, 2025, Newsweek published an opinion piece by Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12th District) reiterating her statements made during a press conference earlier that week, seemingly intended to assert thought leadership regarding the Israel-Hamas war, but grounded in many inaccuracies and mischaracterizations that not only make her stance counterproductive, but sow division between her own constituents.
We share the Congresswoman’s grief for the innocent lives affected and lost in this war. However, her assertion that an arms embargo on Israel is “the only moral option” is not only misguided but would prolong that suffering and loss of life among innocent people.
In fact the Senate voted this week overwhelmingly rejecting the dangerous resolutions that sought to block critical arms sales to Israel. While we thank them, we were disappointed to learn that Senator Andy Kim was among those who voted for the embargo. We look forward to keeping lines of communication open with Senator Kim, at which point we may share some of the thoughts we had on Rep. Watson Coleman's stance.
We join Congresswoman Watson Coleman in her desire to uphold morality and recognize her dedication to champion her constituents’ expressed concerns.
To be successful, her stance and efforts must acknowledge truth and her views on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas must be based on verified evidence and historical accuracy.
For example, Hamas has previously claimed that 70% of casualties have been women and children. That claim is no longer reflected in a Hamas March 2025 casualty update report showing their recently updated lists according to the research. The new report says approximately 72% of fatalities between the ages of 13-55 are men - the demographic category that aligns with Hamas combatants.
In addition, the March Hamas fatality list drops thousands of deaths listed in its August and October 2024 reports – including 1,080 children. "These ‘deaths’ never happened. The numbers were falsified – again,” according to Salo Aizenberg from the US-based non-profit organization Honest Reporting.
The war stops the second Hamas turns over the hostages and relinquishes control. The moral stand is to demand that Hamas release the hostages, full stop. The moral stand is that Hamas must end its brutal rule over Gaza, including using civilians as human shields, using civilian infrastructure like schools and hospitals for military/terror purposes, stealing humanitarian aid to fuel their war machine, executing those who express dissent, and raping and torturing hostages. Hamas has promised to commit further October 7 style attacks and even had one in the works in recent weeks, according to Israeli intelligence.
The only way for Gazans to have a future is for Hamas to leave. A 38-year-old from Gaza City Said Lulu, stated in protest last week: “Hamas out! Hamas is terrorism!” and we want to live freely.”
Rabbi Larry Brandspiegel of East Brunswick Jewish Center this week sent Rep. Watson Coleman a message on behalf of many of the rabbis leading congregations in NJ Congressional District 12.
Its message conveyed:
As our elected leader, Representative Watson Coleman has a fundamental responsibility to base her viewpoints, suggested policies and actions on facts, not misinformation or politically motivated narratives.
- Hamas instigated this war, endangering civilians and perpetuating violence. Hamas is the primary source of suffering in Gaza.
- Hamas embeds military operations within civilian infrastructure, using schools, hospitals, and residential buildings as shields, confirmed by videos and intelligence reports—tactics that blatantly violate international law.
- Beyond its military aggression, Hamas’ rule in Gaza is marked by oppression and brutality.
- Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian leaders have criticized Hamas for its reckless endangerment of Palestinian lives and its undermining of Palestinian self-determination.
- Reports of Hamas executing dissenters reveal the authoritarian grip it maintains over Gaza, suppressing any opposition to its rule.
- Hamas is not just a threat to Israel—it is a direct threat to the United States and Western values.
- The United States designated Hamas as a terrorist organization, underscoring the need to treat it as a global security threat rather than just an Israeli problem.
- Israel is conducting a defensive war against Hamas and has undertaken extraordinary measures to minimize civilian casualties. No other military worldwide implements such comprehensive precautions in urban warfare.
- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) employ precision-guided munitions, intelligence-driven targeting, and a range of precautions—including evacuation warnings via phone calls, text messages, leaflets, and the use of non-lethal “roof-knocking” strikes—to protect non-combatants.
- Israel has designated humanitarian safe zones within Gaza to protect civilians, yet Hamas actively embeds itself in these safe zones, discourages or prevents civilian evacuation, increasing civilian casualties for political leverage. Additionally, reports citing 50,000 Palestinian deaths fail to distinguish between combatants and civilians, omitting crucial context.
- Israel is not engaged in a campaign of extermination or forced population displacement.
- Demographic data consistently show population growth in both Gaza and the West Bank. Since October 7, 2023, there have been 67,000 births in Gaza alone, according to Hamas’ own statements.
- Genocide, by definition, entails the deliberate annihilation of a people—a claim entirely inconsistent with these population trends.
- Israel facilitates significant humanitarian aid to Gaza, despite Hamas’ consistent efforts to exploit or obstruct these efforts.
- The Israeli Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) has enabled delivery of over 1,775,000 tons of essential supplies, including medical aid, food, and other necessities, via land, sea, and air.
- Since the conflict began, over 6,100 humanitarian operations have been carried out, including maintaining water access through multiple pipelines and pumping facilities in Israel and Egypt.
On March 1, the day the first phase of the ceasefire was scheduled to end, Hamas rejected an Israeli proposal to extend it in return for the release of more hostages. Israel, in a further effort to reach a resolution, unilaterally extended the ceasefire deadline to allow more time for negotiations. However, with Hamas refusing to comply, Israel was left with no choice but to resume military operations.
The international community and members of Congress must recognize that this war is not about Israeli expansionism or ethnic persecution—it is a defensive struggle against a terrorist entity that endangers both Israeli and Palestinian lives alike.
Rather than spreading misinformation that fuels inflammatory rhetoric against Israel and Jews in the United States and around the world, congressional leaders like Representative Watson Coleman should demand that Hamas immediately release the remaining hostages, both dead and alive, to end this war now. If members of Congress focus on that instead of demonizing Israel, the war will end—and with it, Palestinian suffering.
The letter was signed:
Rabbinical Leadership of Heart of NJ (District 12 only)
Rabbi Larry Brandspiegel – East Brunswick Jewish Center
Rabbi Eric Eisenkramer – Temple B’nai Shalom
Rabbi Mayer Freedman – Torah Links of East Brunswick
Rabbi Dovid Gross – Torah Links of East Brunswick
Rabbi Eli Garfinkel – Temple Beth El of Somerset
Rabbi Joshua Hess – Young Israel of East Brunswick
Rabbi Joel Mishkin – Congregation Beth Ohr
Rabbi Shmuel Polin – Etz Chaim
Rabbi Robert Wolkoff – Congregation B’nai Tikvah
Board of Rabbis of Princeton-Mercer-Bucks
Rabbi Ben Adler – Adath Israel Synagogue
Rabbi Adena Blum – Congregation Beth Chaim
Rabbi Jordan Goldson – Har Sinai Temple
Rabbi Jay Kornsgold – Beth El Synagogue
Rabbi Andrea Merow – The Jewish Center
Rabbi Matt Nover – Beth El Synagogue
Rabbi Eli Perlman – Temple Micah
Rabbinical Leadership of West-Central NJ (District 12 only)
Rabbi Cecelia Beyer – Temple Sholom Bridgewater
Rabbi Dan Selsberg - Temple Sholom Bridgewater