Former Rep. Democrat Tom Suozzi broke away from President Biden and other party leaders on Tuesday, announcing that he supports a House Republican bill to provide additional aid to Israel in its war against Hamas.
Suozzi, a former three-term congressman from New York’s 3rd District, is engaged in a hard-fought campaign against Republican Mazi Philip – an Ethiopian-born Jew who served in the Israeli army – ahead of a Feb. 13 special election to replace the ousted incumbent. Rep. George Santos.
The district, which covers parts of Nassau County and Queens, has large Jewish and pro-Israel constituencies — whose votes could determine who becomes the next congressman.
Biden and the two Democratic leaders from New York — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) — opted to pass a massive $118 billion package that included $20 billion to improve border security and $60 billion in aid to Ukraine as well as $14 billion for Israel.
But House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other Republican leaders in the lower house have said taking up a larger bill would be a “waste of time” and offered a proposal for $17.6 billion in support only for Israel that failed late last night. Tuesday.
Tom Suozzi said he supports a Republican bill in the House that would provide aid to Israel. Dennis A. Clark
Biden has vowed to veto a separate bill, with the White House budget office calling it “another cynical political move” 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 National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act to the President’s desk,” the administration said.
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Suozzi disagreed.
“I support this bill and do not agree 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 of the bill is a split with President Biden and the rest of the Democratic Party leadership. AP
“While I would prefer that House Republicans support a comprehensive bipartisan package in the Senate that supports Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan and FINALLY addresses the border, my unwavering support for Israel demands that I support this stand-alone bill,” he added.
Suozzi emphasized that Hamas’ October 7 invasion of Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and led to the taking of more than 200 hostages, was the worst attack on 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 stand with our ally Israel, bring home all our hostages, defeat Hamas, and, ultimately, work towards peace and address the humanitarian devastation caused by this conflict.”
Mazi Philip, who opposed Suozzi, also supported the bill. Dennis A. Clark
Philip also said he supports a stand-alone bill.
“As a former IDF soldier, I fully support the Israel aid bill. Standing firmly with our nation’s closest ally as it fights Hamas terrorists is one of my top priorities,” said the 47-year-old Nassau County lawmaker from Great Neck.
But Philip said Suozzi could not escape the decision of Biden and the Democratic leadership to leave Israel in time.
“I am disappointed that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries does not support Israel.
Tom Suozzi, if he is elected, will 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, short of the two-thirds majority needed to send it to the Senate.
It’s not the first time Suozzi has run afoul of Biden and other Dems — having said last week he didn’t want the president’s endorsement, vowing to fight left-wing democratic socialists including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on policy issues, and complained that New York City is progressive. Anti-police policies have hurt moderate Democrats.
Tuesday marked the fourth of nine days of early voting before the special election.
As of 2:30 p.m., the county’s 26,203 Nassau residents had voted –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: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
