To qualify as Pro-Israel, an elected official only has one responsibility – to vote for bills that strengthen Israel and the U.S.-Israel relationship. If they vote for those bills, then they are Pro-Israel, if they don’t, they don’t qualify as Pro-Israel. Words are cheap, legislation is what matters. (“New Group of Democrats Aims to Counter Anti-Israel Trend in Party,” January 30,2019)

There were over 17 Senators who have voted against the following:

1) Authorizing sanctions against the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria

2)Extending an existing loan guarantee program with Israel through 2023, while increasing protections for state and local governments that refuse to invest in or contract with companies which boycott Israel.

3)Authorize the president to transfer quantities of precision guided munitions from reserve stocks to Israel as necessary for legitimate self-defense and otherwise consistent with the purposes and conditions for such transfers under the Arms Export Control Act

4)Authorize the resident to enter into a cooperative project agreement with Israel to carry out research on, and development, testing, evaluation and joint production (including follow-on support) of defense articles and defense services, such as the use of directed energy or high powered microwave technology to detect, track and destroy unmanned aerial vehicles that threaten the United States or Israel.

When given the opportunity to strengthen Israel and the U.S.-Israel relationship, these Senators voted no. Nothing should placate the Pro-Israel community into thinking that these Senators make Israel’s security a priority.

Yes, they are all Democrats. Among them, some who have declared they will run for U.S. President in 2020; Booker, Gillibrand and Warren.

The Democratic Majority for Israel has its work cut out for it.