By COLlive reporter
U.S. Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, whose 9th Congressional District includes Crown Heights, Flatbush, and Midwood, has co-sponsored 2 recent bills aimed at supporting Israel against its many sworn enemies.
In voting for H.R.1837 – United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act, Israel will receive $3.3 billion in security assistance and $500 million in cooperative U.S.-Israel missile defense programs.
“This legislation ensures that Israel has the ability to defend herself from the very real threats posed by terrorist organizations that sit on her borders,” said Congressman Ted Deutch (Democrat-Florida), the bills lead sponsor.
He thanked Mira Resnick of the majority staff and Gabriella Zach of the minority staff for their work on the bill, and the Middle East Subcommittee staff director Casey Kustin.
“The United States has always maintained a strong commitment to ensuring that our ally can defend herself and this bill highlights the ways in which we guarantee that commitment,” Deutch said. “But our alliance is based on more than our mutual security concerns. This bond is rooted in mutual democratic values. Israel is a vibrant democracy where political parties span the spectrum from right to left and vigorously debate and disagree on policy.”
He said the bill is also “a step toward providing American victims of terrorism with a path to justice,” citing the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act that was meant to allow American victims of Palestinian terror to pursue justice in US courts.
Clarke also voted for the resolution H. Res.246 which calls for “opposing efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel and the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement targeting Israel.”
Clarke and her staff members met with Jewish community leaders Monday, where this bill and a host of local and foreign issues were discussed.
In attendance were Rabbis Eli Cohen and Chanina Sperlin of the CHJCC, Eli Slavin, Crown Heights activist, Mr. Leon Goldenberg, Flatbush acitivist, of Flatbush COJO and Agudah, and Mr. Josh Mehlman of Flatbush FJCC.
The resolution has been formally endorsed by the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan caucus co-chaired by Congress members Josh Gottheimer (Democrat-NJ) and Tom Reid (Republican-NY) and was passed unanimously by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on July 18.
Let’s see how she will vote on Ilhan Omar’s pro-BDS legislation.
…did she vote in favor (as did Cory Booker!) of the “Iran Deal” during the Obama administration????
She has never “owned” that one, or shown any regret for it either.
This is good news and I’m pleasantly surprised. I wouldn’t have put it passed her to do the opposite.