NAPLES—The rise of anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric appears to have reached a fever pitch in American politics, as Democratic Progressive Democrats like Reps. Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and other individuals and organizations continue to push for what appears to be a complete ostracization of the Jewish state of Israel, accusing it of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
According to President Donald Trump's Department of State, the overwhelming majority of military aid sent to Israel is actually spent right here in the U.S. The money allocated to help sustain the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stays in the U.S. to pay for munitions that are eventually shipped overseas.
U.S. munitions companies and their employees are benefiting from the military aid to Israel.
During a recent fundraising event in Naples, Florida, where all of the Republican candidates running to replace Rep. Byron Donalds (R) in congressional district 19 were in attendance, the issue of funding Israel was posed to them during the "meet and greet" segment of the event.
Fmr. Illinois State Senator Jim Oberweis, House Policy Advisor Ola Hawatmeh, former Trump Administration official Catalina Lauf, former U.S. Reps. Madison Cawthorn and Chris Collins, media mogul Jim Schwartzel, John Strand, and former U.S. Marine Corps Naval Flight Officer Mike Pedersen are all running for this seat.
“Israel is our ally in the Middle East. They will remain our ally in the Middle East. That is non-negotiable," said Rep. Donalds
Here is what the candidates we spoke to said about continuing to fund Israel with military aid:
Ola Hawatmeh
Question: Do you support the U.S. funding Israel?
"Like I said before, funding our friend and ally Israel’s effort to combat radical Islamic terrorism in the Middle East is 'non-negotiable' and needs to be continued.
We continue to fund Israel because it is our #1 ally in the Middle East. They are protecting us. They are saving American lives by hitting the terrorists in their own backyard and helping prevent them from attacking U.S. interests both at home and abroad.
Funding Israel is defending U.S. national security. Anyone who questions sending military aid to Israel does not understand the climate in the Middle East and is nothing less than misinformed."
Catalina Lauf
"It depends what, what piece of legislation is brought in front of me."
Jim Oberweis
" I am 100% in support of Israel. It’s the only Democracy in that part of the world, and they've been our friend. We need to continue to support them. I'm not sure what we should do when it comes to Iran. I'm reluctant to want to send ground forces… (VIDEO)
Madison Cawthorn
"Wait, what state is Israel in? Oh, its actually not in the United States of America. In my opinion, I will tell you , I am not here to serve foreign interests. I am not here to take money from foreign interests. I’m here to serve Americans.
If you want to be an ally to us, if Mossad wants to go do dirty things for us, we want to bribe them with some kind of things, I understand that as long as it serves American interests. We want to have a military base. We are not subservient to any foreign nations…I am completely ok with targeted intercepting strikes, like what we did in Iran, or we did in Venezuela… I am not here to be the lapdog for any foreign nations—China, Iran, Israel, Russia, whoever it is.
I am here to be American, and America should dominate the entire world." (VIDEO)
Question: So no funding for Israel?
"Listen, if something serves the United States’ interests, then I understand. I understand, I understand sometimes we have to do foreign aide as a bribe so we can have their airspace, or we can have a military base there. That I understand, but until all of our homeless veterans are off the streets, until our American citizens can afford homes, until our economy is back and thriving, why are we sending money to any other country? I am sorry, we don’t owe you a penny. We are Americans and you are not. We serve American interests"
