Explaining why he opted to vote against H.R.8369, the Israel Security Assistance Support Act, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) called the pro-Israel legislation “yet another cynical partisan attempt to politicize the U.S.-Israel relationship.”
In a press release announcing his reasons for voting against the bill, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed on Thursday by a mostly party-line vote of 224-187, Nadler referred to himself as “the most senior Jewish member of the House of Representatives.”
“As a lifelong Zionist and deeply committed Jew, I take Israel’s safety and security incredibly seriously,” Nadler said. “I was proud to vote last month for H.R.8034, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024, which provided Israel with $26.38 billion to support Israel’s necessary military needs as it faces continued threats from terrorist proxies and hostile neighbors.”
The New York congressman added that the “unhelpful” bill “put on the floor by Republicans” on Thursday “was not a genuine attempt to protect Israel’s security nor to successfully direct offensive weapons to Israel.”
“It contained several poison pill provisions aimed at causing division within the Democratic caucus and among supporters of Israel,” he said, noting that the bill “explicitly condemns the Biden administration’s actions and policy regarding Israel.”
“Such a condemnation is unwarranted and insulting after President Biden and the administration have been historically supportive of Israel,” Nadler said.
“President Biden visited Israel immediately after the horrific Oct. 7 terrorist attacks, sent military assistance to aid Israel in defending itself after the attacks and was the first president in American history to order U.S. troops to directly fight to protect Israel when Iran attacked on April 13,” he added.
Nadler also cited what he called the bill’s “inflammatory invocation of the Ministry of Public Security, which is led by Itamar Ben-Gvir—an extremist whom the Israeli court system has previously convicted of racist incitement against Arabs and of backing a Jewish terrorist group.”
“The United States has repeatedly condemned Minister Ben-Gvir, including for handing out rifles at a political event in the settlements of Bnei Brak and Elad amidst a troubling rise in settler violence,” the congressman said. “Nevertheless, the bill specifically calls for the United States to promptly deliver aid directly to Ben-Gvir’s ministry.”
Nadler stated that he remains committed to a two-state solution and that he will “continue to demand the return of the hostages and humanitarian protection for all innocent civilians in the region.”
