Melat Quiros Criticizes Israel Amidst Rising Anti-Semitism

Melat Quiros, a Socialist Party candidate for Congress in Colorado, recently claimed in an interview that Israel’s actions in the Middle East are provoking attacks on Jewish communities globally. Her comments reflect a growing trend of far-left candidates within the Democratic Party who are increasingly critical of Israel.

Quiros made headlines this week after winning a primary election in a Denver-area district, defeating long-serving incumbent Diana DeGette. This follows a similar victory for a far-left candidate in New York just last month.

Colorado’s Attorney General, Phil Weiser, has been vocal about how the state has been reluctant to label last year’s fatal attack on a pro-Israel rally in Boulder as anti-Semitic. During his conversation with the press, a 9 News presenter discussed Weiser’s concerns with Quiros.

The presenter mentioned, “I just spoke last night with Attorney General Phil Weiser, who is likely to be Colorado’s next governor, just as you are likely to join the state’s Congressional delegation next year.”

Weiser expressed his worries to Quiros concerning her remarks about Israel and the Boulder incident. He offered to meet and discuss their differing views. Quiros responded positively, stating, “Yes, I would definitely accept that opportunity. What happened in Boulder was a horrific attack on Jewish individuals peacefully protesting, and we need to recognize that Israel’s actions put Jews at risk.”

“The rise in hatred and anti-Semitism is something I intend to prioritize in addressing,” she noted.

During the interview, Quiros remarked on the actions of Mohamed Soliman, the individual convicted of the attack, saying, “I can’t know what was in his mind, but he harmed innocent people based on his beliefs. Many protesters there were likely calling for the safe return of those kidnapped on October 7.”

The violent incident involving Soliman occurred on June 1, 2025, at a pro-Israel demonstration, resulting in the death of 82-year-old Karen Diamond and injuries to about a dozen others. Prosecutors revealed that Soliman disguised himself as a gardener, launching two explosives at the crowd.

In May, he pled guilty to murder and received a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Although he expressed remorse and claimed he deserved the death penalty, he denied harboring anti-Semitic motives, instead launching into a critique of Zionism.

Soliman still faces federal hate crime charges which could lead to the death penalty.

Central to Quiros’s campaign was her opposition to Israel. In her victory speech after winning the nomination, she stated that one of her main objectives was to “end the genocide in Palestine.”