We love Israel 'more than a lot of Jews’: Doug Mastriano wife’s response draws scrutiny

The wife of Doug Mastriano objected to criticism of her husband’s alleged close relationships with antisemites and his trafficking in antisemitic tropes, saying the couple loves Israel more than many Jews.

In answer to a question Saturday posed by Israeli journalist Nathan Guttman from the Kan public broadcaster, Rebecca Mastriano said that “as a family, we so much love Israel. In fact, I’m going to say we probably love Israel more than a lot of Jews do, I have to say that.”

Haaretz.com focused on her response in a story on its website. It has received a lot of attention Sunday on social media.

Doug Mastriano asked by an Israeli reporter (@nathanguttman of @kann_news) to respond to antisemitic attack on Josh Shapiro and association with Gab.

His wife Rebbie steps in and says: “I'm gonna say we probably love Israel more than a lot of Jews do.” #PAGov pic.twitter.com/Pczpz2IYgJ

— Jacob Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) October 30, 2022

Rebecca and Doug Mastriano campaigned on Saturday in Lancaster County, the final leg of what they are calling their “Restore Freedom” tour aimed at increasing the size of their grassroots army. After the rally he held what has been for his campaign a rare conference.

Rebecca Mastriano said during her response that she and her husband have been involved for “at least 10 years [in] outreach to Israel and Jerusalem. We have — I had — visited Israel, say, for five years. We’re just an average family, we’re not wealthy, wealthy people,” she said.

The story noted that the comments by Mastriano’s spouse and others reflect the tactics being used by a number of the candidate’s non-Jewish supporters: They have criticized his Jewish critics for not demonstrating what they, the supporters, deem to be “acceptable” Judaism.

Mastriano, a state senator, is running for governor against Democratic candidate Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania’s attorney general, who is Jewish.