Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) released the following statement after her vote on the State Department appropriations bill.
“As a Member of Congress, it is my job to ensure American taxpayer dollars are spent out of necessity – and in a way that advances the interests and values of the United States of America. That is the spirit in which I voted today against sending an additional $3.3 billion American taxpayer dollars to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government.
“My support for Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself as a Jewish and democratic state is ironclad. The amendment did not affect our support for Israel’s air-defense systems, which remain mission-critical to defending against persistent threats from some of America’s most brutal and determined enemies, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, and its terrorist proxies, including Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Hamas. My support for a peace agreement that guarantees Israel’s security and safeguards the human rights, dignity, and self-determination of the Palestinian people in their own state is equally ironclad.
“Our alliance with Israel requires a reset. Having ignored the concerns of the vast majority of Americans about its conduct in Gaza, which devastated civilians while ultimately empowering Hamas, and its support for settler violence in the West Bank, the Israeli government cannot expect Americans to continue to provide it with unconditional aid. Subsidizing Israel’s defense budget also no longer makes sense given the country’s wealth and military dominance in its region. Even the Israeli government has acknowledged it no longer needs this support.
“I am disappointed that Republicans intentionally weaponized this vote, bringing to the floor a deeply imperfect amendment drafted by a lead sponsor whose abhorrent and dangerous track record of virulent antisemitism I wholeheartedly reject and condemn. But my vote today reflects my belief that the United States and Israel should forge a more normal partnership, built not on dependence and aid, but on shared interests, shared principles and mutual accountability as we promote the dignity and security of Israelis and Palestinians alike.”
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