Kemp, Georgia lawmakers meet with Israelis whose family members have been kidnapped by Hamas
A group of Israeli families directly affected by the Israel-Hamas War came to the state Capitol this week.
On Tuesday afternoon, they met with Gov. Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp for about 30 minutes. Kemp spoke to reporters afterward.
“We just had an incredible visit with the families. Heard just the horrific but also very passionate stories and obviously, they’re called to bring the hostages home. So it was I think … following everything that’s going on, to hear it from victims and family members makes it even more real but also unreal that something like this could happen.”
First Lady Kemp added, “Very emotional. I mean, you’d hug them, cry with them. I mean, it’s family. They’re humans.”
Gov. Kemp reiterated his support for Israel.
“There’s a public information campaign going on right now. So, it’s important for leaders to stand up and let the citizens that we represent know where we stand. And I think the Kemp family in the state of Georgia has been very clear on that.”
In late May, the Republican governor and his family went on a weeklong trade mission to Israel.
Since the October 7 attacks, Kemp has been vocal about his support for the nation.
“Israel is one of Georgia’s greatest friends and one of America’s strongest allies. We must continue to stand with Israel as they fight to defend their people,” said Kemp on the platform X, formerly Twitter.
On Monday, the six family members met with more than a dozen state lawmakers in a legislative hearing room.
Some were moved to tears when a video was played showing images from the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas on civilians.
Or Sella lives near Tel Aviv and has seven family members he believes have been kidnapped and are alive.
“As of right now, we need you to put every pressure on everyone, you know, to release them unconditionally because these are families; they have nothing to do with any conflict,” he said. “They are victims of evil and they need to come back right now. Any means necessary. This should be the first priority of everything that is talked about, about anything. It has to come before any other conversation; the hostages come first because they are alive and we can get them back.”
Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast Anat Sultan-Dadon joined the family members at both meetings. She says it is important to bring Israeli families to the U.S. to humanize what is happening there.
“That is the magnitude of the massacre and the atrocities that we have suffered and continue to suffer,” she said. “It is important to spread the message at a time when three weeks after, there are already those who are trying to deny the war crimes and crimes against humanity that have been committed.”
Republican State Rep. Brent Cox of Dawsonville addressed family and reporters during Monday’s event.
“God’s got you. And he right now, I believe miracles are happening to the hostages that were kidnapped and that the terrorists, that needs to come to an end,” he said. “At the same time, I believe God created the Palestinian people, and I believe that they’ve been oppressed for many years. And my prayer is that they will also become free.”
Georgia’s only Jewish state lawmaker called on Gov. Kemp to add legislation to the agenda of the upcoming special session that would define antisemitism.
Democratic State Rep. Esther Panitch of Sandy Springs is a co-sponsor of House Bill 30, which would allow that definition to be used for evaluating violations of anti-discrimination laws or weighing hate crime charges.
“And for those who voted no last time or who tried to block it but say that you are against antisemitism. I haven’t heard from any of you. Not one,” she said. “So, please don’t tell me how much you hate antisemitism when the Jewish world is burning.”
In a statement Monday, the governor’s office says the agenda for the special session is already set and that it anticipates that the proposed legislation (HB 30) will be considered during the regular session, which starts in January.
Kemp reiterated that position Tuesday afternoon.
“If I did that, we’d have every legislator down here with an issue that’s important to them that they would want to bring up during the special session,” he said. “We have handled the special session consistently, like we have in the past, with the things that we got to deal with per the courts, redistricting.”
House Bill 30 stalled during this year’s legislative over issues including free speech concerns and what definition needs to be used for antisemitism. See more of WABE’s coverage of that here: 2023 Gold Dome Bill Tracker – WABE
The governor has called a legislative special session for redistricting starting Nov. 29, following a federal court ruling that struck down Georgia’s congressional and state legislative district lines.
The regular legislative session begins Jan. 8.
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