Metro

Teachout refuses to take a stand on Israel

ALBANY — Zephyr Teachout, who accuses Gov. Cuomo of ducking her on debates, is doing some ducking of her own on Israel.

The leftist Fordham Law professor, who is challenging Cuomo in the Sept.  9 Democratic primary, has repeatedly refused to state her position on Israel’s actions in defending itself against rocket attacks from militants in the Gaza Strip.

In a recent appearance on Albany’s WGDJ ­radio, she deflected six times when Post columnist Fred Dicker tried to pry loose her views.

Asked if Cuomo was right to travel to Israel in a show of solidarity, Teach­out responded: “I think Gov. Andrew Cuomo should be focused on the questions facing New York.”

Joseph Potasnik, executive VP of the New York Board of Rabbis, said Teach­out’s silence won’t sit well with Jewish voters.

“They [Jewish voters] want to know if someone who aspires to be governor stands with the state of Israel, even though she is not a foreign-policy architect,” Potasnik said.

Teachout told The Post she won’t comment because the issue is outside the jurisdiction of the governor.

“As I’ve said previously, like most New Yorkers, what I want is peace. I want people all over the world to be safe from violence. My focus right now is on issues directly within the governor’s power,” she said.