WASHINGTON (JTA) — All three of the Democrats seeking to become the next head of the House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee have said they do not want U.S. money to aid Israel’s potential annexation of parts of the West Bank.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Reps. Brad Sherman of California, Joaquin Castro of Texas and Gregory Meeks of New York are vying for the role with the defeat of the current head, longtime pro-Israel voice Eliot Engel, in his New York primary in June.
“I oppose any use of American taxpayer dollars to implement the Annexation Plan or to build any permanent Israeli installation in the West Bank or Gaza,” Sherman said in a statement.
Sherman and Meeks are longtime allies of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, the country’s largest pro-Israel lobby.
“Not a penny of US taxpayer money should subsidize or enable any unilateral annexation of parts of the West Bank,” Castro said. “Under a two-state approach, America has a responsibility to be an arbiter of peace, which means we need trust and credibility with both Israelis and Palestinians.”
Meeks suggested that aid to Israel could be used as leverage to influence its policy.
“Annexation is anathema to a two-state solution, and America cannot be used by its proponents to justify a pro-annexation position or policy,” he said. “On the contrary, the United States must be explicit in our opposition by applying pressure against Netanyahu should he annex territory, including leveraging US aid.”
Whether or not to withhold U.S. funds to Israel has become a common question posed to politicians since Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont brought it up prominently in the Democratic presidential campaign.
Democrats are anti Israel and always side with the terrorists, in November vote Republican so we can take back the house and none of these 3 will be chair.
they s/b voted out of office – BOYCOTT these DemocRATS
Democrats are now the party of anti-Semitism, this policy is the new progressive Democrats, even the Democrats from Jewish families.
If cholelah they win the Presidency, and the House and the Senate, I predict that when Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas or others bomb Israel, when Yerushalayim is attacked and Yidden are killed, there will be lots of words and no real actions from Biden and the others. Hizahar.
But they’re ok for millions$$$ for BLM.
They’ve been bought off by Soros money. Destroy the democrats !
Soros calling the shots
Democrats are now the party of anti semitism no it goes back to FDR how refused to save Jewish lives and Truman and anti Semite How many of us could have been saved but weren’t there
And American Jewry praise at the democrats alter