James Talarico, the Democratic Senate nominee in Texas, reiterated his sharp criticism of Israel at a CNN town hall on Wednesday, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of targeting Palestinian civilians and restricting humanitarian aid and declining to push back when pressed on the credibility of those claims.

Talarico made the comments while speaking on stage with Rabbi Holly Levin Cohn of Congregation Beth El Binah, a Reform congregation in Dallas, who told Talarico that she was “concerned with some of the things that I’ve been hearing lately about your stance on Israel and also on your support of the Jewish people.” 

Talarico, running in a solidly Republican state,began by noting that his seminary studies required him to spend his first year “learning the Hebrew scriptures” and spoke about having “deep love and respect for the Jewish people, for the Jewish scriptures.” 

Pressed by Cohn about how that changed his approach to Israel, which she said “can impact antisemitism,” Talarico responded that he tries to make sure his criticisms of Netanyahu are not perceived as opposition to Israelis personally. 

Talarico condemned the “death and destruction in Gaza” before acknowledging the Oct. 7 terror attacks on Israel and his belief in Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas. He added, however, that he did not support Netanyahu, accusing him of using “collective punishment” against Palestinian civilians.

“I’m always very careful when I talk about this to make sure that my criticisms are directed toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and not the Israeli people,” Talarico said. “I have, as you know, been very critical of Prime Minister Netanyahu. As a former teacher, seeing the death and the destruction in Gaza, seeing what’s happening to children in particular, makes me sick to my stomach.”

“I know that Oct. 7 was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust, and I believe that Israel, like any nation, has a right to defend its people, but I don’t believe that Benjamin Netanyahu has a right to wage war against civilians or use collective punishment or restrict aid to civilians, and so that’s what I’ve spoken out against,” he continued.

Cohn pushed back on Talarico’s claims about aid, arguing that the American media was not telling the complete story when it comes to Israeli efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the enclave.

Talarico did not dispute Cohn’s comments, instead expressing his support for peace in the Middle East and a two-state solution.

“Regardless of how we feel about the current situation, hopefully we can all come together to fight for a two-state solution where we have security for Israel and we have freedom and self-determination for Palestinians,” Talarico said. “What my hope, my prayer, actually, is out of this chaos, this death, this destruction, this bloodshed, something new can rise out of the ashes and I hope it’s a sustainable, durable peace for all people in the region.”

Cohn said she wants “to make sure that what you’re communicating is what people are hearing, as far as the perception of everything.”

“I take that feedback. As a leader, I know that my words carry weight, and I’m always trying to improve how I talk about things, especially something as sensitive and difficult and painful as the conflict in the Middle East,” Talarico responded. “You have my word that I’m going to continue to listen to all sides of this conflict. I’m going to continue to learn as much as I can so that I can lead with moral clarity in the United States Senate.”

Jewish leaders in Texas have expressed concern over Talarico’s positions on Israel being further to the left than they are comfortable with, amid what they’ve described as limited outreach to the state’s Jewish community.