FLEMINGTON - Many candidates like to say the state's "diversity is its strength."

It can also make things difficult. A diverse population means diverse opinions, which can be a landmine.

A week ago, the Democratic candidates in the contested CD-7 primary attended a forum held by the Jewish Caucus of the Morris County Democratic Committee.

On Saturday, there was a similar forum at the Islamic Center of Hunterdon County.

Talk about two groups with divergent foreign policy views.

The discussion - like last week's chat - was a grade above the usual political prattle.

Unfortunately, only two of the four candidates, Brian Varela and Michael Roth, attended.

Of the other two, Rebecca Bennett, a Navy veteran, had a military-related event, and Tina Shah had a family emergency, according to one of the organizers.

Both Varela and Roth, not surprisingly, were asked about U.S. military aid to Israel and "genocide."

Varela said that was a "fair" definition in regard to the Israeli military action in Gaza.

But he said that definition is not "necessarily understood" by other communities, an apparent acknowledgement of the district's Jewish population.

Varela added that makes it "more important to make sure we communicate with each other."
Asked directly about military aid, Varela said it's "perfectly reasonable" for any country receiving U.S. help that we provide conditions.

And if a nation is violating U.S. law and/or international law, unconditional military aid would be "unacceptable."

Roth on the campaign trail often speaks about his grandparents leaving Austria after the Nazis takeover.

He did so again on Saturday.

But before he got there, he extended his sympathy to those in the room who have friends or relatives in Gaza.

"We have to remember our shared humanity in all of this," he said.

Then, he spoke of his grandparents making it to what was then Palestine in 1939 and living there when Israel was created in 1948.

For them, the creation of the state of Israel, was the greatest moment of their lives. "And they rejoiced," he said.

But he quickly acknowledged that for many others living on that land, Israel's creation was the worst day of their lives.

"And we have to remember these two truths," he said.

Roth went on to say that he supports Israel's right to defend itself and its offensive against Hamas after the Oct. 7 attacks.

However, he called what happened since then an "atrocity."

He added, "As a Jewish person, seeing what's happening, it makes my heart bleed. As a human being, my heart breaks seeing what is happening in Gaza."

Roth also spoke about his support for a democratic Israel and true Palestinian state.

Like Varela, he supported conditions on military aid to Israel.

As noted, Shah was not there. But at the forum last week, she was the only one of the four candidates to support military aid without conditions.

It is true that one member of Congress - and especially a freshman - is not going to make foreign policy decisions. But it's important for candidates to articulate their views.

Varela and Roth did that - and to an audience that likely did not agree with all that they said.

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