“191 House Democrats recently sent a letter” opposing aid cuts, “which should have been heard loud and clear, from Washington to Jerusalem,” said the Jewish Democratic Council of America’s executive director.
By Benjamin Kerstein, The Algemeiner
A letter signed by a group of far-left US lawmakers calling for a cut of American military aid to Israel in response to any annexation of parts of Judea and Samaria has been met with criticism from pro-Israel groups, including those affiliated with the Democratic Party.
Politico reported that the letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated, “Should the Israeli government continue down this path, we will … pursue legislation that conditions the $3.8 billion in US military funding to Israel to ensure that US taxpayers are not supporting annexation in any way.”
It added that annexation “would lay the groundwork for Israel becoming an apartheid state.”
The letter was spearheaded by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and was signed by, among others, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Ilhan Omar and Senator Bernie Sanders.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) expressed opposition to the letter, which it said “explicitly threatens the US-Israel relationship in ways that would damage American interests, risk the security of Israel and make a two-state solution less likely.”
The Democratic Majority for Israel (DMI) said it “opposes annexation, but we’re urging House Democrats not to sign Rep. AOC’s letter.”
Referring to a more moderate letter from other Democratic lawmakers sent to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asking him to “reconsider” annexation plans, DMI said, “Unlike the letter opposing annexation sent by 189 House Dems, [Ocasio-Cortez’s letter] is bad policy, bad politics, and counterproductive to the goal of stopping annexation and encouraging a two-state solution.”
Halie Soifer — executive director of the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) — also praised the more moderate letter, telling The Algemeiner, “An overwhelming majority of Democrats oppose unilateral Israeli annexation of parts of [Judea and Samaria], support Israel’s security, and support the $38 billion Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Israel.”
“191 House Democrats recently sent a letter aligned with this message, which should have been heard loud and clear, from Washington to Jerusalem,” she added.
The Washington Free Beacon reported on Tuesday that an internal email sent by Ocasio-Cortez listed 10 organizations supporting her letter, with a majority of them backing the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement, which rejects Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and is widely viewed as antisemitic.
The groups include American Muslims for Palestine, whose national policy director has praised Hamas; the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, a BDS umbrella group; and Churches for Middle East Peace, which signed a declaration accusing Israel of “sin against God and humanity.”