Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is facing calls to resign after she faced criticism for her response to the ongoing conflicts in Israel. Aryeh Lightstone, a former Trump-era adviser to the U.S. ambassador to Israel, called on the governor to step down in a post on social media. This comes after Whitmer's initial comment on the situation, which did not mention Israel by name.
Lightstone, who had hosted Whitmer and 25 other Michigan residents for Thanksgiving in Israel in 2019, said he was "embarrassed" and "disappointed" by the governor's response. He pointed out that she had witnessed the ongoing conflict during her trip to Israel and accused her of being "politician" rather than a leader.
Whitmer's initial comment, which failed to mention Israel by name, received significant backlash. Many accused her of being silent on the issue and not speaking out against the Palestinian terrorist attacks on Israel. In response, the governor later tweeted that "there is no justification for violence against Israel" and that her support for the country is "steadfast."
Lightstone, who is currently in Israel, also expressed his frustration with Whitmer's second tweet, saying that she was most likely "embarrassed for herself" and that there are only "two sides" to the issue – the right side and the wrong side. He went on to highlight his work to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship while serving as a senior adviser to the U.S. ambassador to Israel from 2017 to 2021.
Speaking about the current conflicts, Lightstone said that Israel is going through the worst day in its history and noted that every chant of "death to Israel" is often followed by "death to America." He also debunked the idea that Israel is divided, saying that the country is "fully and totally united."
Lightstone also emphasized that there is no "whataboutism" in this situation, stating that there is no competition between two sides with "equal merit." He described one side as "animals" and the other as "democracy," making it clear that there was no parallel between the two.
Whitmer's response to the ongoing conflicts has also been under scrutiny from the Jewish community, with some calling her out for not showing enough support for Israel. As the situation in Israel continues to escalate, pressure is mounting on Whitmer to take a stronger stance and show her support for the country.
However, despite calls for her resignation, Whitmer has not indicated any plans to step down. Her office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Lightstone's call for her to resign. As the situation in Israel remains tense, all eyes will be on Whitmer and her response to the ongoing conflicts in the region.