Opinion editor's note: Editorials represent the opinions of the Star Tribune Editorial Board, which operates independently from the newsroom.
•••
Despite profound political and social fractures, unity regarding Hamas terrorism has mostly coalesced in Israel, the U.S. and Minnesota.
In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz formed a national emergency government as Israel reels from an attack that killed about 1,200 people — including at least 14 Americans — with about 150 taken hostage (again, including U.S. citizens) by Hamas.
In Washington, President Joe Biden didn't equivocate in calling the attacks what they were: "pure, unadulterated evil." Reflecting 50 years of having Israel's back, Biden promised "urgent action" to help America's enduring ally in the Mideast. On the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, even amid bitter divisions, Congress has rallied on a bipartisan basis to politically and likely economically aid Israel.
And leaders from St. Paul joined mourners in St. Louis Park on Tuesday night at Beth El Synagogue in remembering the victims at an event billed as "Solidarity for Israel." Describing the scale and scope of the attacks, Steve Hunegs, the executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, said, "It's sobering, it's somber, but it's the truth: Saturday was the single largest loss of life for Jewish people since the Holocaust."
Speaking at the event, Gov. Tim Walz said there was not "an inch of space" between the assembled elected leaders about what Israel should do to defend its people, and that "If you do not find moral clarity about what was seen Saturday morning, you need to re-evaluate where you're at."
Walz wasn't speaking directly to the Twin Cities chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. But Ken Martin, the chairman of Walz's DFL Party, was doing just that when he described their "statement of solidarity with Palestine" as "appalling."