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Supporting Israel

Standing with Israel

As our strongest ally in the Middle East, it is in the vital interest of the United States to stand together with Israel against a rising tide of extremism.  Our two nations must show the courage necessary to thwart existential threats to Israel and to make the hard choices necessary to ensure peace.  For this reason and more, I am a member of the bipartisan United States Israel Allies Caucus.  I am also an ardent supporter of Israel, and I have taken numerous actions to support this nation during my time in Congress.

Israel is a welcoming country, which provides a safe home for many Muslims, Christians, and other religious minorities.  It also is a home for people with different ethnic backgrounds.  It was, however, founded after the Holocaust on the basis that the Jewish people need a land and a nation they can call home. Israel was the ancestral home of the Jewish people, but because it is the one country with a Jewish majority and was described as a democratic “Jewish State” during its founding, it is the constant victim of a despicable campaign of anti-Jewish hatred.

I abhor antisemitism and will not tolerate racial or ethnic hatred.  This principle guided me in voting to remove the racist Rep. Omar from her committee and to oppose aid to Nazis in Ukraine.   I have put this principle in action.  My efforts to promote the prosperity of Israel include:

11/23- I voted for and passed H.R. 6126, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024 with $14.3 billion in additional funding to help Israel fend of genocidal attacks from Hamas.

11/23- I voted H.Res. 845- “Censuring Representative Rashida Tlaib for promoting false narratives regarding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the state of Israel”

10/23- I voted for and passed H.Res. 771, “Standing with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists.”

7/23- I voted for the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act with key priorities to support the U.S./Israeli partnership and enhance Israel’s security.

6/23- I met with members of the Liska Jewish community to assist them with resolving an issue in Hungary regarding a sacred cemetery in rural Hungary. 

6/23- I voted to establish a Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords at the Department of State to strengthen and expand the Abraham Accords.

5/23- I joined my colleagues in voting for and passing H. Res. 382, a resolution condemning antisemitism.

5/23- Recently, an op-ed noted “Never mind that Cong. Gosar has spoken publicly in favor of the State of Israel and the Jewish people. Or that as a congressman, he routinely votes in favor of continued military aid for Israel—by far the largest recipient of US foreign aid and military support since its founding in 1948.” 

5/23- I voted to condemn the rise of antisemitism and call on elected officials to identify and educate others on the contributions of the Jewish American community.

4/23- I voted for the expansion of the Abraham Accords to encourage nations to normalize relations with Israel and express continued support for bilateral cooperation across economic, security, and civilian issues.

4/23- I voted for H.Res.311, which encourages strengthening the direction of peace and normalization of relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords.

4/23- I spoke at an event honoring Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, stating that she was a “legendary figure” and one of the world’s most effective leaders, and that “The United States will be forever grateful for the crucial role Golda Meir played in shaping our countries … I hope we are allies and friends forever.”  

4/23- I released a statement reiterating my opposition to U.S. involvement with, and assistance to, Ukraine, because it openly promotes Nazis in its culture and military.  I said “$100 billion of your tax money is going to help Nazis … I will never support Nazis and I condemn our country’s support and military aid to Nazis.”  

4/23- I, along with a dozen other colleagues, attended an event on Capitol Hill honoring Jewish American Heritage Month.

2/23- I voted to remove Rep. Omar from her foreign affairs committee, explaining: “Representative Omar has pursued a reckless and fundamentally anti-American agenda while in the United States House of Representatives.  She regularly engages with racists, supports and condones racism, and champions anti-American sentiments.  Through it all, she has expressed a deep hatred for Jewish people and Israel.   It is because of her hate filled tirades against Jews and Israel that she has been barred from traveling to Israel.  Representative Omar has no place on the House Foreign Affairs committee, which often addresses issues with Israel.   Ms. Omar is not the exception; however, she is representative of the racism and antisemitism endemic of many on the Left today.  … We cannot allow a person who acts with such dishonor, with such open hostility against our Jewish friends, or a person so seething with hatred and bile such as Representative Omar, to serve on this important committee.  It is a fair question whether she should serve in Congress at all.”

8/22- I have been systematically critical of the Obama Administration’s efforts to assist Iran with building a nuclear bomb, and equally critical of the Biden Administration for the same reason.   This tweet is typical of my criticism: “The Biden regime resorting to the failed Iran Obama policies.”

5/21- I issued a statement condemning the rocket attacks being lobbed on Israeli citizens.  

11/20- I authored a letter to the Secretary of State seeking intervention of Iran’s efforts to sell long range missiles to Venezuela.   I worked closely with EMET, an Israel policy think tank and advocacy group.  EMET stated that they were “proud to share a Congressional letter written in collaboration with Paul A. Gosar’s office (R, AZ).” 

2/20- I attended the AIPAC, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, dinner in Phoenix, celebrating our strong support for Israel.  Tweet and picture here. I have also routinely attended AIPAC events in Washington, D.C.

7/19- I’ve co-sponsored a bill (H.Res.246) that opposes the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (or BDS) Movement, which is a movement dripping with antisemitic sentiment and seeks to punish Israeli people and businesses – which would also hurt innocent Palestinians who rely on many of those businesses for jobs.

3/19- I joined a dozen of my colleagues in a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asking the U.S. to implore Jordan to extradite a terrorist to the United States for trial.

2/19- I sent a letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to investigate the use of Title VI funding by the University of Arizona's Center for Middle Eastern Studies to promote pro-BDS teachings. The University of Arizona, and all Arizona institutions for higher education, are the crown jewel of our state and shape the next generation of American private and public leaders. Using government funds to fund this biased teaching does not comply with government rules and hurts the reputations of our institutions, and I continue to push for oversight to protect this esteemed tradition.   

11/17- I participated in a House Oversight subcommittee on National Security hearing on moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.   I made my views clear then, and now, that the United States should honor the chosen capital of Israel, which is Jerusalem, not Tel Aviv.

9/16- I voted for H.Res.729, expressing support for a new Memorandum of Understanding on military assistance to Israel.

10/15- I voted for H.Res.485, expressing solidarity with the people of Israel in the wake of terrorist attacks and condemning the Palestinian Authority for inciting violence.

12/15- I voted for H.Res.551, recognizing the importance of the US-Israel economic relationship and encouraging new areas of cooperation.

12/15- I was one of 27 members of Congress to send a letter to the Obama state department asking it to revoke the diplomatic status of the Palestinian Authority in Washington, D.C. and close that office. This was in response to months of incitement to violence by the PA against Jews.  

7/14- I issued a statement, providing in part: “I introduced an amendment to the FY15 National Defense Authorization Act in order to fully support Israel’s lawful exercise of self-defense, including actions to halt aggression. It is time that our actions speak louder than our words. Recently, Israel intercepted Iranian-funded weapons headed for Gaza. Unfortunately, this is part of a long culture of providing weapons and rocket parts to terrorist cells based in the Gaza strip. Therefore, Israel should have the absolute right to protect her citizen’s from attacks launched by Hamas terrorists. If we do not stand in support of Israel, we will witness the demise of our greatest ally in the Middle East due to lack of support and action from the White House. I urge all my House colleagues  to remain committed towards pushing this Administration to firmly stand behind Israel.”

5/14- I successfully offered an amendment to the NDAA that was reported as follows: “A second, similar section of the bill, first sponsored by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), states that “Congress declares that it is the policy of the United States to fully support Israel’s lawful exercise of self-defense, including actions to halt regional aggression.” The Gosar amendment did not, however, delineate the terms of that “support.” 

4/14- I was one of less than a dozen House members to co-sponsor “The Stand With Israel Act of 2014”, H.R. 1337, which would have cut all aid to the Palestinian Authority because of its terrorist attacks on Israel.

7/11- I spoke on the House Floor against the creation of a Palestinian state as long as the PA did not renounce terrorism.  You can watch me here.

7/11- My amendment to defund Hamas and Hezbollah passed the House:  “On July 7, 2011, the United States House of Representatives passed an amendment to HR 2219 sponsored by U.S. Congressman Paul Gosar, DDS (AZ-01), that prohibited the use of any military funds, or military assistance, to the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, Iran, and Hezbollah.  Gosar stated, “until the Muslim Brotherhood recognizes Israel’s right to peacefully co-exist, no U.S. military assistance should be provided to an Egypt controlled even in part by the Muslim Brotherhood.”  In a rare bipartisan vote, the House adopted the Gosar Amendment unanimously.

These are just a handful of examples in which I have stood with the Israeli people.  Rest assured that as your Congressman, I will continue to support Israel and seek peace through strength.

As with all countries, my biggest foreign policy goal is to have a positive and peaceful relationship which encourages prosperity.  A more independent Israel is a stronger Israel.  Less dependence on the United States means the people of Israel can better champion their destiny.  Until that day arrives, I will continue to support our ally, and our Jewish friends in Israel, just as I have since being first elected in 2011.