The Young Democrats of Albany County issued a statement on September 3 accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and violating international law. The statement was met with criticism from State Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs and other local Democrats, who called it a "wrong-headed smear" that ignores Hamas' initial attack on Israel that killed over 1,200 people. According to the statement, the Young Democrats support the Palestinian cause and oppose giving military aid to Israel, echoing growing anti-Israel sentiment in the party. The controversy has sparked a civil war within the NY Democratic Party, with some accusing the Young Democrats of siding with Hamas and promoting Jew hatred.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-11,
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Leaning score withheld for article 7675: no verified evidence · logged 2026-09-11
A Democratic civil war erupted over the Israel-Gaza war after the Young Democrats of Albany County issued a statement accusing the Jewish state of committing genocide in Gaza.
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Democrats → erupt → Gaza
State Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs and other Democrats in the Capital District slammed the Albany Young Democrats’ stand as a wrong-headed smear.
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Jacobs → slam → smear
The offshoot Dem group ignited the intraparty fight with a Sept. 3 statement by its executive board.
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group → ignite → board
“Let us make this crystal clear: Benjamin Netanyahu’s Israeli government has committed a genocide in Gaza and gross violations of international law against the Palestinian people,” the statement said.
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statement → let → people
It made no mention that Hamas started the war by launching a sneak attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 that killed about 1,200 people, including more than 800 civilians and many young people attending a music festival.
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that → make → festival
In sum, Albany Young Democrats side with the Palestinians over Israelis.
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Democrats → side → Israelis
“We recognize the importance of making our position clear, and stand firmly in solidarity with young Democrats across America in fighting for the Palestinian people,” the statement said.
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statement → recognize → people
“Young Democrats oppose the genocide in Gaza, the occupation of the West Bank and the Israeli government’s denial of civil and political rights on an equal basis in the territories its military occupies.”
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military → oppose → territories
The Young Dems also said giving a “blank check” of billions of dollars in military aid to Israel “has to stop.”
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giving → say → Israel
The statement parrots growing anti-Israel sentiment in the party, reflected by New York City democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani, congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier and “The Squad” in the House of Representatives that includes Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar.
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that → parrot → Cortez
But Gary Greenberg, who served on the Albany County Democratic Committee for 25 years, accused the Young Democrats of siding with Hamas and fomenting Jew hatred.
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who → serve → hatred
“They’re basically supporting the policies of Hamas.
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They → support → Hamas
That’s who the Palestinians are,” Greenberg fumed to The Post Wednesday.
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Palestinians → ’ → Post
“They’re basically siding with the Palestinians who crossed the border and invaded Israel [on Oct. 7, 2023.
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who → side → Oct.
“It’s a vile rant against the Jewish community.
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It → ’ → community
It’s a Jew hatred statement.
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It → ’ → ?
The head of the Albany County Democrats Jake Crawford and County Executive Dan McCoy must rescind this vile rant against the Jewish community.”
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head → rescind → community
State party Chairman Jacobs criticized the statement as a smear and false accusation against Israel, and insisted the statement is an “outlier” within the party committee.
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statement → criticize → committee
Jacobs, who is Jewish and the descendant of Holocaust survivors, said Israel is engaged in a war following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack against the Jewish state.
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Israel → say → state
“I disagree with their categorization.
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I → disagree → categorization
Genocide it is not,” Jacobs told The Post.
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Jacobs → tell → Post
“In war, reprehensible things happen.
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things → happen → war
The Young Democrats’ statement, Jacobs said, “does not take into account the reality, the existential threat to Israel.”
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Jacobs → say → Israel
He said there is legitimate criticism of the actions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, such as allowing Jewish settlers in the West Bank.
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He → say → Bank
But Israel is not intentionally trying to wipe out the civilian population of Gaza, Jacobs.
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Israel → try → Gaza
“Look up the definition of genocide,” he said.
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he → look → genocide
The New York State Young Democrats, which does not mention the Israel-Gaza conflict in its platform, had no immediate comment.
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which → mention → comment
State Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs and other Democrats in the Capital District slammed the Albany Young Democrats' stand as a wrong-headed smear.
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Jacobs → slam → smear
Obtained by NY Post
Jake Crawford is seen in a Facebook photo on Sept. 4, 2023.
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Crawford → obtain → Sept.
Facebook/Jake Crawford for Guilderland
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (left) celebrates with Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier during an election night watch party on June 23, 2026, in New York.
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Mamdani → celebrate → York
Gary Greenberg, who served on the Albany County Democratic Committee for 25 years, accused the Young Democrats of siding with Hamas and fomenting Jew hatred.
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who → serve → hatred
Instagram/greenbergforny
Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez listen during a news conference at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on July 15, 2019.
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Tlaib → listen → July
