After declining to say whether he believed “Israel is committing genocide in Gaza” during a debate last week, California congressional candidate Scott Wiener announced on Sunday that he does, in fact, believe Israel’s actions in Gaza constituted a genocide.

Wiener’s demurral at the Wednesday debate, during which his two Democratic opponents endorsed the genocide charge without hesitation, elicited jeers from the audience. The candidates were asked to hold up a sign reading “yes” on one side and “no” on the other.

Wiener, 55, a longtime state senator representing San Francisco, flipped his placard over in his hands a few times, showing neither answer. Afterward, he said he thought the lightning-round format was inappropriate for such a complex question but that he believed Israel’s actions in Gaza represented “an absolute moral stain.”

Facing ongoing criticism over his stance, Wiener — a leader of the Jewish Caucus in California’s legislature — issued a video statement on Sunday saying that he had come to a clear conclusion.

“I want to clarify that I do believe Israel has committed genocide in Gaza,” he said at the beginning of a 90-second video posted to social media.

Wiener is running for the seat being vacated by Nancy Pelosi, a former Democratic speaker of the US House and pro-Israel stalwart. His comments mean that all three Democratic candidates for the seat in the deep-blue district have firmly taken the position that Israel is committing genocide.

The United States rejects the........

© The Times of Israel