On CNN’s “Inside Politics” broadcast on Friday, Rep. Richie Torres (D-N.Y.) said in response to a question about conditionality on U.S.-Israel aid. “We feel that we should continue to fundamentally support the U.S.-Israel relationship,” and “Hamas has publicly stated that they intend to repeat October 7, but we do so at our own peril.” Ignoring that threat. Therefore, I disagree.” He also said, “Any attempt to fundamentally undermine the relationship between the United States and Israel will ultimately lead to the worst genocide of Jews since the Holocaust.” “This will benefit Hamas, a fact that the world seems to have forgotten.”
“I think we should be clear: Republicans have been in charge of the House since October 7, and they have fundamentally failed to pass bipartisan legislation that includes support for Israel,” Torres said. He refuses to bring to the floor a national security supplement bill that would provide aid to all allies Taiwan, Israel, and Ukraine. So if you want to stall aid to Israel indefinitely; It is not my place to lecture anyone, including President Biden, on support for Israel.I am in no position to preach support for Israel to anyone, including President Biden. We share the view that every effort must be made, but at the same time, any attempt to fundamentally undermine the U.S.-Israel relationship will ultimately benefit the perpetrator, Hamas, the most disastrous since the Holocaust. It was a genocide of Jews that the world seems to have forgotten.
Host Dana Bash then said, “For example, some of the most pro-Israel Democrats, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware), currently support putting conditions on U.S. aid to Israel. He says he is. How about you?”
Mr. Torres replied: We feel that we should continue to fundamentally support the U.S.-Israel relationship. It is in the interests of the United States. Israel is our greatest ally in the Middle East. And people should keep in mind that Israel did not start the war. This war was imposed on Israel by the barbarism and terrorism of Hamas, and Hamas must be removed from power. If Hamas remains in power, it will regroup, rearm, and launch terrorist attacks even more horrifying than the atrocities of October 7th. Hamas has publicly stated that it intends to repeat October 7th, and we are ignoring that threat at our peril. . Therefore, I disagree. I support preserving the U.S.-Israel relationship and removing Hamas from power, but it should be done in a way that minimizes Palestinian casualties and delivers aid to those in need. ”
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