Forty-eight hours after far left Democrats led by AOC removed $1 billion in funding for Israel's Iron Dome, the funding was restored as a stand alone measure by a full vote of Congress by a margin of 420-9 with AOC voting present. AOC appeared to shed tears at her reversal of fortune and had to be comforted by some of her Democratic colleagues.
But to me to most significant event of that vote was Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch of Florida who rose to rebuke Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib who characterized Israel as having a "violent Apartheid system" and alleging "numerous war crimes." Deutch, who also serves as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, rose on the floor of the House stating Tlaib "besmirched our ally" and that her remarks were "consistent with those who advocate the dismantling of the one Jewish state in the world." Deutch added, “When there's no place on the map for one Jewish state, that's antisemitism." The House burst into applause following his remarks.
There have been times over the past several years when I have been discouraged by the response of Democrats to anti-Semitism within their own ranks. Today, I feel a level of assurance I haven't felt in a long time. Democrats put their money where their mouths are by restoring the Iron Dome funding while making a point of rebuking one of their own for engaging in anti-Semitic behavior.
Of course, I was initially encouraged by the initial Democratic denunciations against Ilhan Omar in 2019 but that quickly changed. Democrats could always go wobbly and perhaps Deutch could face a primary challenger next year. But today, most Democrats were on the right side of Israel and on the right side against anti-Semitism.
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