Israel resolution prompts praise and condemnation of U.S. ally

Democratic representative calls resolution divisive

PIERRE – A resolution affirming the South Dakota Legislature’s commitment to Israel sparked a rare foreign policy debate Tuesday in the House of Representatives.

Sponsored by Rep. Fred Deutsch, the resolution expresses support for Israel’s fight to eliminate Hamas, the terrorist organization that launched attacks on Israeli residents from Gaza on Oct. 7. And it calls for law enforcement to “remain vigilant in protecting South Dakota Jewish citizens, and all supporters of the state of Israel from acts of crime and unlawful discrimination that tend to manifest at certain times. . .”

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Deutsch addressed the Israeli people directly, saying that South Dakotans were praying for Israelis, as well as the hundreds of hostages that were taken on Oct. 7.

“Among them babies, women, children, elderly and entire families,” said Deutsch, a Florence Republican who was raised in a Jewish family and converted to the Catholic Church.

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