JVP-Rhode Island: RI Congressional delegation represents the Israel lobby and weapons industry, not constituents
The top donors to Rhode Island’s elected representatives include a wide range of weapons manufacturers and the right-wing extremist pro-Israel group AIPAC.
From a press release:
A majority of Americans and an overwhelming majority of Democratic voters - 80% - support a permanent ceasefire in Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. But not a single member of Rhode Island’s Democratic federal delegation has called for a full and lasting end to the violence.
Who are they representing if not their constituents? Answer: Their donors.
Our delegation receives tens of thousands of dollars from AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), the right-wing extremist lobby that has supported dozens of January 6th insurrectionist Republicans in its quest to keep Congress as pro-Israel as possible. AIPAC also disproportionately targets legislators of color in its efforts to crush progressive allies of the Palestinian cause.
AIPAC is an enemy of American democracy, but a friend to the Rhode Island delegation.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse recently accepted $61,000 from AIPAC for his 2024 reelection bid, making the pro-Israel lobby his top single contributor. Newly minted Representative Gabe Amo received $19,113 from AIPAC during his successful run for Congress this year, making the group his largest single donor as well.
Representative Seth Magaziner received $18,496 from J Street, another pro-Israel lobby. Despite presenting itself as a liberal critic of AIPAC, J Street has full-throatedly supported Israel’s current war and opposed a ceasefire, even threatening to pull its endorsements from lawmakers who don’t back pro-Israel resolutions.
Our representatives’ staunchly pro-war stance might also have something to do with the money they take from weapons manufacturers.
Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, is one of the defense industry’s favorite senators. When he ran for reelection in 2020, his top five contributors were all arms manufacturers: General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, L3 Harris Technologies, Electric Boat Corp, and General Atomics.
Representative Gabe Amo also took thousands of dollars from Raytheon employees this year. Since taking office on November 13th, Amo has not only supported Israel’s war on Gaza but has tried to silence those who disagree. On December 5th, he voted “yea” on HR 894, which declares that anti-Zionism is a form of antisemitism. As proud anti-Zionist Jews and Amo’s constituents, we reject this smear in the strongest terms.
As Rhode Islanders, we expect our elected officials to represent our views—not those of the Israel lobby or the weapons industry. We call on our delegation to join the majority of the American people in pushing for an end to Israel’s genocide of Palestinians.
As Jews, we demand: No more American tax dollars to fund the Israeli military! Ceasefire now!
JVP-Rhode Island is the local affiliate of Jewish Voice for Peace, the largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization in the world. JVP is organizing a grassroots, multiracial, cross-class, intergenerational movement of U.S. Jews in solidarity with the Palestinian freedom struggle, guided by a vision of justice, equality, and dignity for all people.
H. Res. 894 https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-resolution/894/text is a disgusting display of one-sided bias. Rep. Gabe Amo voted yea and Rep. Seth Magaziner equivocated and voted present. https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023697
The vulgarity of these elected “officials”. Perhaps they think that they can accept AIPAC money to get elected but then have some negotiating room once in office. But that’s not how AIPAC rolls and our more seasoned politicos know this full well. I simply cannot fathom how they reconcile their moral compass with their acceptance of AIPAC money. I guess its possible that said compass is a distant memory. Because the inconvenience …..