The intifada has found its way into the Castro.
While a candidate’s position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict doesn’t usually come up in municipal politics, the issue has emerged in the weeks preceding the Dec. 10 runoff election in San Francisco’s District 8 Board of Supervisors race.
Candidates Eileen Hansen and Bevan Dufty are gay Jews who favor a two-state solution in the Mideast. But opponents of Hansen say her two-state solution ideas would come at the expense of Israel, while Dufty is seen as more moderate.
Pro-Israel activists have labeled Hansen as a Palestinian supporter who associates with left-wing fringe Jewish groups. Hansen supporters, meanwhile, are saying the Mideast debate is a red herring intended to steer Jewish voters away from the more progressive Hansen.
“It shouldn’t matter what her position is on [the Mideast], but members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors have engaged in foreign policy. And because of that, it’s become an issue,” said Sam Lauter, a San Francisco political consultant and pro-Israel activist who opposes Hansen.
“I’ve said this before: I don’t begrudge her opinion, but she shouldn’t begrudge me and others with like minds the right to try and beat her because of it.”
In addition to the entire Castro District and Noe Valley, the oddly shaped and eclectic District 8 is comprised of parts of Glen Park, the Mission and areas near Haight-Ashbury. Its current supervisor, Mark Leno, was elected to the state Assembly earlier this month.
Lauter added that Hansen participated in a May 15 Jews for a Free Palestine protest during an S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation dinner, and was “clearly” caught on television footage carrying a sign reading “Another Jew Against Zionism.”
Hansen countered that she was a National Lawyers’ Guild legal observer at that protest, as she has been at dozens of other protests, and she has never participated in the activities. She added that Lauter and others are not accurately portraying her position on the Mideast.
“Do I support the right of Israel to exist? Of course. Without question. For me, it’s enough to say I support the right of both peoples to exist. I can’t imagine people would disagree with that. If people think I’m insufficiently supportive of military answers to tough problems, so be it,” said Hansen, who narrowly lost to Leno in the 2000 elections.
Added Rabbi Yoel Kahn, a District 8 voter, “I think Eileen Hansen’s record is well within the range of respectable discourse. I think anyone who gives this due consideration will see that this is a non-issue in this campaign.”
Hansen alleged that San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown is “committed to spending hundreds of thousands of dollars” to keeping Hansen off the board, and, therefore, preventing opposing supervisors from forming a veto-free majority. Hansen said she feels Jews are “being used” by Brown and others to help sink a progressive candidate.
Brown’s press secretary, P.J. Johnston, said he has “no idea what Eileen Hansen’s relationship is with the Jewish community or what her stances on Israel and Palestine are. I’ve certainly read comments from members of the Jewish community who have major concerns, but I don’t know what that has to do with the mayor’s office.”
Dufty said Hansen is brandishing Brown as some sort of bogeyman to frighten progressive voters.
Willie Brown “will be the mayor for one more year…As much as Ms. Hansen’s camp tries to make this election about Willie Brown, it’s about Bevan and Eileen,” said Dufty, who is supported by Brown, Leno and Rep. Nancy Pelosi.
“I think people would like the person they vote to serve them on the Board of Supervisors to have a vision that extends past next year.”
Dufty characterized himself as “100 percent in support of Israel’s existence. I know peace can only come from negotiations and not from terrorism…we have seen Arafat is not able to negotiate in good faith because he does not have control over the people who are politically aligned with him.”
Dufty added that he is not surprised Hansen is being grilled over her position on Israel.
“When you step into public life, all of your public actions are open to discussion and consideration,” he said.
With a large Jewish population in District 8 and a traditionally low turnout in runoff elections, Jewish votes could be pivotal.
Natalie Berg, a board member on AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobby, said she expects Hansen’s voters to come out on election day, but “since Bevan is more moderate, they may or may not come out. There’s a surprising number of Jews in that district, and if they get out and vote it could be really important.”