February 7, 2022 (Washington, DC) — Jeff Mendelsohn, Executive Director of Pro-Israel America, issued the following statement on J Street PAC’s endorsement of Representative Marie Newman (D-IL):
“In light of the latest details in her alleged bribery scandal and her unabashedly anti-Israel positions, Pro-Israel America is calling on self-proclaimed ‘pro-Israel’ group J Street PAC to immediately renounce its endorsement of Representative Marie Newman.
In her freshmen term, Newman has already proven to be one of the most anti-Israel members in Congress – and one of only 9 members to vote against Iron Dome funding. On top of unseemly bribery charges, the Congresswoman’s alleged promise to Iymen Chehade if he agreed not to run against her in the 2020 IL-03 Democratic primary included adopting anti-Israel policy positions like opposing defense funding for Israel and opposing legislation that targets the harmful boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.
J Street – an organization that describes itself as ‘pro-Israel’ – has not only failed to condemn Congresswoman Newman’s increasingly anti-Israel stances and actions, but even raised money for the congresswoman’s re-election bid in 2022 a mere week after her ‘no’ vote on Iron Dome funding. As the truth comes to light, it seems Rep. Newman has lied to J Street about her views, accepting their support while knowingly changing her positions to avoid a primary. If J Street wants to live up to any remaining shred of its ‘pro-Israel’ name, it must rescind its egregious endorsement of Representative Marie Newman without delay.”