Editorial: John Fetterman, Summer Lee and the Israel-Hamas war

You might not think a war almost 6,000 miles away could have much of an effect on politicians in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Then again, politics is stitched into the fabric of everything these days. You cannot drink a beer, read a book or watch a football game without making a partisan statement. Of course, actual statements on real issues draw attention.

But this time, the dividing lines are less about Democrat and Republican. The Israel-Hamas war is creating division among political friends.

Take U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Braddock, and U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale.

Fetterman is a vocal and opinionated speaker who seldom pulls punches, whether about political opponents like his 2022 Senate challenger Dr. Mehmet Oz or former president and GOP front-runner Donald Trump. Lee is an equally outspoken voice on the more progressive edge of the party.

The two are often in agreement. The situation in Gaza has made things more complicated.

Fetterman is taking heat for his support of Israel’s right to respond forcefully after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks — and more recently, to hold back on ending the conflict, saying “now is not the time to talk about a cease-fire.” During a Get Out the Vote rally for Democratic candidates Sunday, Fetterman was heckled by a critic citing the number of Palestinian casualties.

On the flip side, Lee has been under fire for her opposition of support for Israel. She was one of just 10 members opposing a House resolution to stand with Israel and one of 17 calling for a ceasefire. Last week, a group of 40 rabbis and cantors from across the region demanded she “exercise better leadership.”

The senator has more time to weather the storm. He isn’t back on the ballot until 2028. Lee, on the other hand, is in the midst of her reelection campaign. Fetterman was a member of the host committee for her kickoff event in September.

But the Pittsburgh region could become a test case for how the Israel-Hamas war will affect politicians at the ballot box. It could show whether Democrats will end up with the same deep problems dividing Republicans between extremes and moderates — all because of something happening on the other side of the world.