The Republican Party's Israel Platform is Insane
Republicans Seem More Fixated on Israel than America
As Israel finds itself more isolated in the international stage, Republicans now seem to be competing with each other to see who can give the Netanyahu government the tightest embrace. 143 countries recently voted to upgrade Palestine’s status at the United Nations, while just 9 voted against the measure. Aside from the U.S. and Israel, the only other countries to vote no were Argentina, Czechia, Hungary, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, and Papua New Guinea. And a Morning Consult poll in January revealed that the war in Gaza has taken a huge toll on Israel’s global standing, with net favorability declining in 42 of 43 countries surveyed. “China, South Africa, Brazil, and several other countries in Latin America all went from viewing Israel positively to negatively….(while net) favorability in Japan went from -39.9 to -62.0; in South Korea from-5.5 to -47.8; and in the U.K. from -17.1 to -29.8.”
The U.S. was the lone outlier in that survey but a Gallup poll revealed that a majority of Americans oppose Israel’s war in Gaza and a recent Pew Research poll indicated that 53% of Americans have little or no confidence in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “do the right thing with regard to world affairs.” 51% of Republicans have at least some confidence in the Israeli leader but among Republicans under 50, the number dropped to just 33%. This is remarkable given how strongly most conservative media outlets and nearly every Republican in Congress save for Thomas Massie (R-KY) has embraced Netanyahu and his campaign in Gaza. Consider some recent Republican legislation and rhetoric concerning Israel in recent weeks.
The House’s Chief Deputy Whip, Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), and U.S. Representative Max Miller (R-OH) recently introduced H.R. 8445, which would extend the same benefits U.S. servicemembers receive via the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) to American citizens serving in the Israel Defense Forces. In 2022, Rep. Miller wrote on social media that he was seeking office to “put America FIRST again.” His campaign website said, “We need an America first foreign policy that allows us to lead where we need to, protect our interests, and supports our allies.”
Rep. Reschenthaler has been described as an “America First patriot,” in conservative media. He told Newsmax in 2022 that the “America First agenda” was driving the “New Republican party.” Reschenthaler, who served in the U.S. Army, said on the campaign trail that same year, “America-first values are the answer to stopping inflation, lowering gasoline and energy costs, restoring law and order… and securing our southern border.”
Questioning the loyalties of politicians who believe serving in a foreign army is just as valuable as serving the U.S. army could now be considered antisemitic, based on the bipartisan “Antisemitism Awareness Act,” which mandates that when the Department of Education enforces federal anti-discrimination laws it uses a definition of antisemitism endorsed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. It passed 320-91, with all but twenty-one Republicans voting for it. Examples of antisemitism listed on the organization’s website include accusing Jews of dual loyalties, another is applying double standards to Israel not applied to other countries, another is alleging that Jews killed Jesus.
208 House Republicans also voted for H.R. 8369, the Israel Security Assistance Support Act, which would limit President Biden’s ability to withhold weapons from Israel and
defund the White House National Security Council and other national security agencies unless and until Biden agrees to provide unconditional aid to Israel. The bill was a response to the administration’s decision to hold up the delivery of 2,000 pound and 500-pound bombs, while continuing to send other weaponry and aid. Only three Republicans voted no: Reps. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Massie.
Tennessee Representative Andy Ogles also introduced a new bill this month, HR 8321, co-sponsored by Republican colleagues, Jeff Duncan (SC) and Randy Weber (TX), proposing to send students who were arrested for protesting to Gaza to “provide community service” for a minimum of six months. In February, Rep. Ogles got into an argument with a Palestinian activist and said, “You know what? So, I think we should kill ’em all, if that makes you feel better…everybody in Hamas.” Ogles also sponsored HR 8322, which would revoke the visas of “certain aliens” for “rioting or unlawful protests.”
A group of 12 Republican senators also recently sent a letter to International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan threatening repercussions if the court issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials. The language used was Tony Soprano-esque. “Target Israel and we will target you. If you move forward with the measures indicated in the report, we will move to end all American support for the ICC, sanction your employees and associates, and bar you
and your families from the United States. You have been warned.” We didn’t even ban all of Osama bin Laden’s relatives from the United States, but these legislators want to ban all the family members of those involved in the ICC prosecutor’s office?
The ICC filed applications for arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and two leaders of Hamas in any case. The warrants allege the war crimes of starvation of civilians, attacks directed at civilians, willful killing and causing great suffering, as well as the crimes against humanity of extermination, including through starvation, and persecution, among other tactics. A panel of three judges—one from Mexico, one from Romania, and another from Benin— will now determine whether the arrest warrants will be issued.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) promised to work “feverishly” to levy “damning sanctions” against the ICC, and other Republicans echoed his sentiments. In an appearance on Meet the Press this month, Graham, always eager to back wars large and small around the globe, suggested that perhaps Israel would be justified in dropping nuclear bombs on Gaza. “Why is it okay for America to drop two nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end their existential threat war,” he said. “Do whatever you have to do to survive as a Jewish state. Whatever you have to do.”
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) claimed on X that college protesters were “Hamas sympathizers” who are “promoting terrorism right here in the US.” She said they should be “treated like the terrorists they are supporting.” And in another tweet, she threatened to put students on the terrorism watch list and the TSA no-fly list if they “promoted terrorism or engaged in terrorists acts on behalf of Hamas.” Blackburn and Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) subsequently introduced the No Flights for Terrorists Act, which could place protesting students on the no fly list based on “disciplinary actions related to supporting terrorists.” The bill targets “any individual who has openly pledged support for, or espoused allegiance or affiliation to” Hamas or several other terrorist groups listed in the bill such as the Palestine Liberation Front, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and others. The bill never defines exactly what “support” or “affiliation” entails.
In April, Congress passed about $17 billion in aid to Israel, and last week the Biden administration told lawmakers it plans to send an additional $1 billion in arms and ammunition to Israel, in addition to the $4 billion we send every year. The $300 billion plus we’ve sent to the Jewish state since 1948 is almost double the figure we’ve sent to any other country, and the number two recipient of U.S. aid, Egypt, only gets its windfall of aid because it made peace with Israel in 1979. These are striking figures for a country of 9 million that has a per capita GDP/PPP is $55,533, higher than that of Japan. It’s also worth noting that Israel has universal health care and other progressive social welfare provisions that Republicans generally oppose. Would they be able to afford any of it if they had to pay for their own defense?
According to Open Secrets, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) made more than $13 million in contributions to politicians in the 2022 election cycle and more than $7 million so far this year. For context, out of more than 30,000 organizations that made political contributions, just 34 others spent more. Massie, the lone Republican to vocally oppose AIPAC’s priorities, was targeted by an AIPAC affiliated group that financed an ad blitz in the final days of the campaign worth at least $300,000. Massie says that the ad blitz may have been “suggested” or “sanctioned” by Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson. “AIPAC superPAC just bought $300,000 of ads against me because I am often the lone Republican for freedom of speech, against foreign aid, and opposed to wars in the Middle East,” Massie said on X.
Massie destroyed two primary opponents Tuesday night, winning in a landslide with 76% of the vote. AIPAC tweeted that they weren’t “playing” in” Massie's primary, but rather just “shining a spotlight on his atrocious anti-Israel record.” Massie responded, “(America) FIRST. After spending $400k+ smearing me, and watching me get 75%+ in the race tonight, they claim they weren’t playing in the race. They deserve the ratio here.” But Indiana Republican John Hostettler, who was a notably unreliable vote for the Israel lobby when he was a member of Congress from 1995-2007, lost in his bid to return to Congress. Pro-Israel groups spent more than $2 million to ensure his defeat.
Trump may be up in the polls, but the Real Clear Politics average of polls shows that Congressional Democrats lead Republicans by 1.6%. Many Americans are suffering right now, with inflation, wage stagnation, and 7% mortgage interest rates taking a heavy toll. Yet many Republicans, like Elise Stefanik, for example, who is currently auditioning to be Trump’s V.P. speak of little else but Israel. If Americans perceive that Republicans are more focused on helping a foreign country than their own, they’ll fare poorly at the polls. Rep. Massie’s landslide victory illustrates that conservative voters are receptive to his free speech, anti-war, America first agenda. Republicans would be wise to take note.