Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson drew media attention Thursday morning after announcing that he would take steps as “acting governor” while N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper was in Japan this week for an economic development summit.
In an event in the N.C. House auditorium, Robinson issued an official proclamation of a Day of Prayer and declaring this “North Carolina’s Solidarity with Israel Week.”
The announcement comes after twelve leading Democrats in the N.C. House walked out of the chamber Tuesday, rather than vote on a resolution to urge Congress to support Israel in its suffering from terror attacks by Iranian-back Hamas.
“We honor and mourn the victims of the terrorist attacks by Hamas and their allies against Israel and her people,” Robinson said Thursday. “These terrorists have launched an unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Israel, they’ve taken hostages and murdered innocent civilians including American citizens.”
Last week’s attack shocked the world as Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, moving house to house murdering and kidnapping civilians, including children. U.S. Sec. of State Anthony Blinken is in Tel Aviv Thursday and says that at least 25 Americans have been killed, and numerous others are still missing. The attacks triggered a response from Israel, including air raids, against the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.
When Robinson’s office issued a cryptic press advisory on Wednesday ahead of his announcement, Sam Chan, spokesperson for Gov. Roy Cooper, told local news station WRAL that “This stunt by the lieutenant governor and attempt to undermine our state’s democracy is harmful to North Carolina’s reputation and a reason he should never be trusted with real responsibility.”
Cooper, a Democrat, would have the authority to walk back the support for Israel upon his return to the state and to official duties. The NC Coalition for Israel is scheduled to have a rally in downtown Raleigh Thursday afternoon.