Democratic Jewish Outreach Pennsylvania (DJOP) today called on U.S. House Republican leaders and members to “end the political game they are playing in opposing bipartisan Senate legislation to fund aid to Israel and to Ukraine.”
The DJOP statement came as House members defeated legislation sought by former President Donald Trump to separate the aid package from steps to address immigration issues.
The bipartisan legislation would provide much needed funding to secure U.S. borders, and would extend humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and fund programs for the security of religious institutions in the United States.
House Republicans, however, acquiesced to Donald Trump’s call to shelve the Senate bill because it would provide a legislative success for President Biden, as it addresses immigration issues at the U.S. border with Mexico — something a bipartisan committee has been urging.
“The Republicans caved to Donald Trump’s demand. He wanted the immigration crisis at the border to remain as a campaign issue he cynically could use against Joe Biden instead of being addressed in this important legislation,” said Jill Zipin, DJOP Chair. “Trump and his MAGA devotees would rather block critical policy gains on three fronts.
“The GOP remains under the spell of a two-time impeached, 91 times indicted former President at the expense of our country, Israel and Ukraine.
“By acceding to Trump’s demand that immigration funds be removed from the bill, the MAGA-dominated GOP wanted to torpedo critical legislation designed to address three major international issues, damaging important national interests of the United States and the security of Israel and Ukraine,” Zipin said.
“The GOP should be ashamed of this political game-playing, but its leaders and members appear to lack the capacity for shame,” she added. “If the Republicans really cared about Israel and the Jewish community, they would support the bipartisan security bill. DJOP urges quick passage of the bipartisan Senate bill that funds President Biden’s request for Israel, for Ukraine and for our own national security interests.”
