(Radio Iowa [follow-up to previous story]) -Ryan Melton, the Democrat running against Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra, says the U-S should support Israel’s defense and its response to the October 7th attacks — but there should be limits.  “Hamas is horrible. Everything that can be done that still respects the dignity of the Palestinian folks in Gaza, in the West Bank…should be done to try to rid Palestine of Hamas,” Melton says. “However…we should not be providing offensive military funding to Netanyahu.” Melton says the Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians last October were horrible and indefensible.

“But I think Netanyahu has really amplied problems here and has played into the hands of Hamas here,” Melton says. “…There have been tens of thousands of Palestinians that have lost their lives, the dropping of non-precision munitions upon densely populated areas, while Hamas fighters were in the tunnels, unscathed from those.” Melton points to a recent poll showing 64 percent of Israeli citizens favor a cease fire linked with the release of hostages held by Hamas.

“I think it’s hard for anyone to really put together a robust argument that what Netanyahu is doing in Palestine is increasing the likelihood that Israelis will have a longer lasting peace as well,” Melton says. Israel is fighting Hezbollah, another Iranian-based terrorist group, in Lebanon. Melton says Hezbollah is obviously a horrible organization, but that doesn’t mean Netanyahu’s decision-making can’t be questioned.

“Is the person on the Israeli side that’s leading the offensive cognizant and necessarily concerned about minimizing civilian casualties?” Melton asks. “And his track record pretty clearly since October 7 has been no.”

Melton made his comments during a recent appearance on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S. As Radio Iowa reported this (Wednesday) morning, Congressman Feenstra says the United States must stand with Israel as it roots out terrorism.