Former Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi broke with President Biden and other party leaders on Tuesday and announced he is backing a House Republican bill to provide additional assistance to Israel in its war against Hamas.
Suozzi, a former three-term congressman from New York’s 3rd District, is embroiled in a tough campaign against Republican Mazi Pilip, an Ethiopian-born Jew who served in the Israeli military, ahead of the Feb. 13 special election to replace the ex expelled Rep. Jorge Santos.
The district, which covers parts of Nassau County and Queens, has a significant Jewish and pro-Israel electorate, whose votes could decide who becomes the next congressman.
Biden and New York’s two Democratic leaders, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn), prefer to approve a massive $118 billion package. dollars that includes $20 billion to boost border security and $60 billion in aid to Ukraine as a support measure for Ukraine. as well as 14 billion dollars for Israel.
But House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other House Republican leaders have said accepting the broader bill would be a “waste of time” and offered a $17.6 billion proposal. of dollars in support only of Israel which failed to pass on Tuesday night.
Tom Suozzi said he supports a Republican bill in the House that would provide aid to Israel. Dennis Clark
Biden had vowed to veto the bill separately, and the White House budget office called it “another cynical political maneuver” by Republicans in an election year.
“The administration strongly encourages both houses of Congress to reject this political ploy and instead quickly send the bipartisan Emergency Homeland Security Supplemental Appropriations Act to the President’s desk,” the administration said.
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Suozzi disagreed.
“I support this bill and disagree with the president and members of the Democratic Party who do not support it,” the 61-year-old said in a statement early Tuesday.
Suozzi’s support for the bill is a split with President Biden and other Democratic Party leaders. AP
“While I would prefer that House Republicans support the comprehensive bipartisan package in the Senate that supports Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan and FINALLY addresses the border, my unequivocal support for Israel demands that I support this stand-alone bill,” he added.
Suozzi emphasized that Hamas’ invasion of Israel on October 7, which killed about 1,200 people and led to the taking of more than 200 hostages, was the worst attack against Jews since the Holocaust.
“People are tired of this political theater from both parties, they want results,” he said.
“I am committed to doing whatever it takes to support our ally Israel, recover all of our hostages, defeat Hamas, and ultimately work for peace and address the humanitarian destruction caused by this conflict.”
Mazi Pilip, who is running against Suozzi, also supports the bill. Dennis Clark
Pilip also said he supported the standalone bill.
“As a former IDF soldier, I fully support the Israel aid bill. Standing strong with our nation’s closest ally in its fight against Hamas terrorists is one of my top priorities,” said the Nassau County lawmaker, 47, from Great Neck.
But Pilip said Suozzi couldn’t run away from Biden and the Democratic leadership’s decision to abandon Israel in its time of need.
“I am disappointed that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is not on Israel’s side.
“Tom Suozzi, if elected, would be a member of the minority leader’s team,” he said.
Suozzi emphasized the devastation of the October 7 attacks in his statement announcing his support for the bill. James Keivom
The House voted 250-180 in favor of the Israel aid bill, falling short of the two-thirds majority needed to send it to the Senate.
It’s not the first time Suozzi has opposed Biden and other Democrats: Last week he said he didn’t want the president’s endorsement, vowed to fight left-wing Democratic socialists, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, over political issues and complained that the progressives of New York City. Anti-police policies were hurting moderate Democrats.
Tuesday marked the fourth of nine days of early voting before the special election.
As of 2:30 p.m., 26,203 Nassau residents had voted in the district: 11,280 Democrats, 9,309 Republicans, 4,929 unaffiliated voters and nearly 1,000 others from minor parties.
As of Monday, 3,519 Queens residents had voted.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn