The news continuing to emerge from Israel of growing counts of killed and kidnapped civilians is tragic and horrific. The videos of families and young people slaughtered and taken hostage are personal and heartbreaking.  Nearly 300 people in their early twenties were massacred at a music festival, coming home in body bags.  A family friend was killed, fighting to defend and rescue civilians in the south. We are watching Israel-Palestine spiral towards a level of violent conflict unseen in a generation. Israel has a right to exist, and the Jewish people, like all people subjected to persecution and genocide for generations, have the right to a safe homeland.  The people of Israel have my full support in the face of this unprecedented and appalling assault by Hamas terrorists.

Terra Lawson-Remer
Vice Chair, Board of Supervisors
County of San Diego