(Algemeiner) Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker told an anti-Israel 

activist who confronted him at a campaign event over the weekend, “I would understand if you want to support somebody else.”

Booker was approached by an activist from the progressive Jewish group IfNotNow, who said to the candidate, “It’s been really difficult and painful to understand, as you’re speaking out against mass incarceration, how the imprisonment of Palestinian children, thousands of them in military prisons, is something that you could ever be OK with.”

Booker replied, “So, I’m sorry that you think I’m OK with that, which I’m not, and I will continue to do everything I can to address this issue. We may not agree on strategies but…”

The activist interrupted, asking, “So do you think the occupation is a human rights crisis?”

“You’re not gonna get me to address that question as you want and I know that that’s a question that you’ve been asking every presidential candidate,” Booker said. “But I’m working on this issue, probably more than any other foreign policy issue.”

Booker asked if the activist had been to Israel, and when she replied that she had, he said, “So you and I both know that suffering firsthand.”

“Which is why I need to see leadership to end the occupation to create a better future for Israelis and Palestinians,” the activist stated.

“If that’s your issue I would understand if you want to support somebody else,” Booker replied, “but know I’m just as committed to that as you are.”

IfNotNow tweeted a video of the exchange with the comment, “Looks like he’s choosing @AIPAC over the grassroots.”