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A Republican Congressman is in a disagreement with a pro-Israel group over his vote towards funding for Israel’s aerial protection system.
The US Home of Representatives handed a $1 billion funding invoice for Israel’s Iron Dome final week. Just a few progressive Democrats voted towards the invoice, as did one Republican: Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky. The Iron Dome is an air protection system that forestalls rockets from the Gaza Strip from hitting Israel.
Massie is often described as a libertarian, and has voted towards a number of protection spending payments. He has additionally voted for restrictions on US navy motion in Iran and Syria in defiance of former President Donald Trump. In 2016, he was named an advisor of the Ron Paul Institute, which is led by the eponymous former Congressman identified for his anti-war and libertarian beliefs. Massie’s opposition to the Iron Dome invoice is according to his total opposition to foreign aid to any nation.
The main pro-Israel foyer group in the USA, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), ran an advert towards Massie after the vote, which learn “When Israel confronted rocket assaults, Thomas Massie voted towards Iron Dome.”
Massie responded by tweeting a picture of the advert Monday, insinuating that AIPAC was interfering in US elections on behalf of Israel.
“How is THIS not overseas interference in our elections?” he tweeted. The tweet might have additionally been a reference to the allegations that Russia interfered within the 2016 election to assist Trump.
AIPAC then responded on Twitter, saying that their work is according to US pursuits and democracy.
“We’re proud that we’re engaged within the democratic course of to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship. Our bipartisan efforts are reflective of American values and pursuits,” stated the foyer group. “We won’t be deterred in any manner by ill-informed and illegitimate assaults on this necessary work.”
The change led to an issue on social media, and was picked up by The Occasions of Israel on Tuesday. Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell additionally criticized Massie on Twitter Monday for characterizing AIPAC, which is an American group, as a overseas entity. Massie responded by calling Swalwell a “‘foreign affairs’ expert” in relation to the latter’s previous relationship with a Chinese language authorities spy.
Spokespeople for Massie didn’t reply to Al-Monitor’s request for remark Tuesday.
Massie’s opposition to help for Israel contrasts considerably with the positions of the Democrats who voted towards the Iron Dome funding. Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, for instance, are vocal critics of Israel’s insurance policies towards Palestinians, whereas Massie is vital of overseas assist throughout the board and never essentially an opponent of the Israeli authorities. Massie retweeted a video ostensibly exhibiting an anti-vaccine passport protest in Tel Aviv this week.
The Iron Dome invoice will subsequent head to the Senate after passing within the Home.
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