NEW: Vulnerable New York Republicans Voted to Cut Security Aid to Israel By Nearly $1 Billion

A new piece in Haaretz outlines how vulnerable New York Republicans Nick LaLota, George Santos, Anthony D’Esposito, Mike Lawler, Marc Molinaro, and Brandon Williams voted to cut nearly $1 billion in military aid to Israel in last week’s failed Republican funding bill.

In addition to security assistance, the failed bill would have cut funding to help combat anti-semitism as well as slashed critical resources for Holocaust education and to help law enforcement respond to hate crimes.

Despite talking a big game about their support for Israel, LaLota, Santos, D’Esposito, Lawler, Molinaro, and Williams still voted to cut security assistance to Israel by 30%.

In case you missed it: 

Haaretz: McCarthy Entrenched Israel and Antisemitism as Political Footballs in Washington

Ben Samuels | October 4, 2023

• “Kevin McCarthy’s short reign as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives came to an embarrassing end on Tuesday, concluding a saga lasting several days. It nearly resulted in the slashing of $1 billion in U.S. military aid to Israel in an effort to avert a government shutdown.”

• “The proposed cuts would have gone beyond Israel. They would have also significantly affected other areas of significant importance to the Jewish community — including combatting antisemitism, Holocaust education and law enforcement measures against hate crimes at a time of pronounced domestic antisemitism.” 

• “The Republicans who voted in favor of the continuing resolution included six Republican lawmakers from New York in competitive 2024 races, all of whom have portrayed themselves as pro-Israel while attacking their Democratic counterparts: Republicans Nick LaLota, George Santos, Anthony D’Esposito, Mike Lawler, Marc Molinaro and Brandon Williams.”  

• “Their votes are particularly important given the significant Jewish and pro-Israel presence in their districts. If Democrats continue to hammer them for voting against aid to Israel, it could play a role in Republicans losing seats that could potentially cost them their razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives.”

• “‘Vulnerable New York Republicans Nick LaLota, George Santos, Anthony D’Esposito, Mike Lawler, Marc Molinaro and Brandon Williams put their hypocrisy on full display by voting to drastically cut military funding to our ally Israel in [the] Republicans’ failed funding plan. We’ll make sure to hold them accountable for this reckless action,’ said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Ellie Dougherty.”

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