Colorado Congressional Candidate Melat Kiros Links Israeli Actions to Increased Danger for Jewish People

During a recent interview, Colorado congressional candidate Melat Kiros, who identifies as a socialist, attributed a rise in attacks against Jewish individuals in various countries to Israel's actions in the Middle East.

Kiros secured a victory in her Denver-area district's primary this week, unseating incumbent Diana Degette. Her win aligns with a broader trend of progressive, anti-Israel candidates achieving success in Democratic primaries, following similar outcomes in New York last month.

Candidate Links Israeli Actions to Antisemitism

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, also the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, previously criticized Kiros for her reluctance to label a fatal attack on a pro-Israel rally in Boulder as antisemitic. This point was raised by a television host during her recent interview.

The interviewer noted that Weiser, who had also won his Democratic primary for governor, expressed significant concerns regarding Kiros's comments on Israel and specifically the firebombing incident in Boulder. The host conveyed Weiser's desire for a direct conversation with Kiros to exchange perspectives, asking if she was open to such a meeting.

Kiros responded affirmatively to the idea of meeting with Weiser. She stated:

"Absolutely. You know, at the end of the day, what happened in Boulder was a horrific attack on a group of Jewish people that were peacefully protesting, and we are seeing that the actions of Israel are putting Jewish people in great danger. And the hate and the antisemitism that's rising as a result of it is one that I have every intention of prioritizing and combating. I really look forward to sitting down with Phil Weiser to figure out how we can work together to combat that hate."

Background on the Boulder Attack

During the prior discussion about the Boulder attack, Kiros had offered comments regarding the convicted individual involved. She remarked:

"I don't know what was in the heart of the perpetrator. All I know is that he went and attacked innocent people because of what they might have believed, and I don't even know what the people that were at that protest believed, too. In fact, most of them were probably just there to, you know, ask that the people who were kidnapped during Oct. 7 be returned home to their families. That's not a political statement in and of itself."

The incident, which occurred on June 1, 2025, involved Mohamed Soliman targeting a pro-Israel demonstration in Boulder. The violent act resulted in the death of 82-year-old Karen Diamond and injuries to approximately twelve other individuals. Prosecutors reported that Soliman allegedly disguised himself as a gardener before launching two flaming objects at the attendees.

In May, Soliman entered a guilty plea to state charges, including murder, receiving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Reports indicated that Soliman expressed remorse for his actions, even suggesting he merited the death penalty. While denying antisemitic motives, he delivered what one publication characterized as a "rambling diatribe against Zionism," which he labeled "the enemy." Federal hate crime charges could still lead to a death penalty sentence for Soliman.

Campaign Focus on Palestine

Throughout her successful primary campaign, Kiros prominently featured her opposition to Israel. Following her nomination victory, she stated in her acceptance speech that a primary objective would be to "end the genocide in Palestine."