Jewish Republicans and their allies are still furious with members of the progressive faction in Congress – directing their anger over Hamas’s brutal terrorist attack on US lawmakers who will not condemn them outright.
GOP lawmakers and 2024 candidates will gather this weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada for the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Leadership Summit.
The conference was planned before Hamas attacked Israel earlier this month and already included a rock-star lineup of Republican leaders. But the meeting took on a whole new purpose as Jewish people in America look to come together in the wake of the tragic terrorist attacks that killed approximately 1,500 Israeli people.
More than 30 U.S. citizens are confirmed dead, and at least a dozen more are missing.
“The sad thing is that President (Joe) Biden is only a small part of the problem,” Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders said during her remarks as Jewish voters were wrapping up Shabbat dinner.
“We have members of the House of Representatives repeating Hamas’ talking points,” she said. “And we have a team calling for a ceasefire, which really means calling on Israel not to defend itself. In cities across the Western world we have left-wing demonstrators wrapping themselves in Palestinian flags and calling for the eradication of Israel.”
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) blasted progressive members of Congress for their anti-Israel comments. “We have people who are elected to our country to represent us, who are paid with our tax dollars, and who say the most insane and anti-Semitic things,” he said.
Senator Scott specifically referenced comments from Representative Ilhan Omar (left) and Representative Rashida Tlaib (right), calling it “scary” to work in Congress with those who condemned Hamas terrorist attacks and called for a ceasefire demanded of Israel.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders said: “We have members of the House of Representatives repeating Hamas’ talking points. And we have a team calling for a ceasefire, which in reality means calling on Israel not to defend itself.”
Progressive lawmakers who are part of the ‘squad’ have called for a ceasefire and blamed Israel for killing innocent Palestinians while launching counter-attacks on Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Republicans are angry about these comments, claiming that those calling for a ceasefire are sending a coded message claiming that Israel has no right to defend its autonomy.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) called these progressive members “insane” during the RJC Shabbat dinner on Friday.
“We also have people who are elected into our country to represent us, who are paid with our tax dollars, and who say the most insane and anti-Semitic things,” the Florida Republican told a room full of Republican voters.
‘Ilhan Omar: It is ‘frightening to work with members of Congress who condemn Hamas’ attack on Israel,’ he said, quoting progressive Rep. Omar (D-Minn.).
He then quoted the first-ever Palestinian-American Congressman Rep. Tashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).
‘Tlaib: ‘I am ashamed of members of Congress who refuse to call for a ceasefire.’ After repeating false claims that Israel bombed the hospital,” he complained.
Rep. David Kustoff (R-Tenn.) also spoke at the Shabbat dinner at the RJC Summit on Friday and criticized team members.
He specifically noted that the House passed by a whopping 412 votes a resolution expressing support for Israel as the country defends itself against “barbaric” Hamas terrorists after they launched a surprise multi-front attack earlier this month that resulted in the biggest death in one day. for Jewish people since the Holocaust.
‘The good news is that this resolution was adopted in the House of Representatives with 412 votes. That is good news. And, ladies and gentlemen, this vote sends a message to the nation and to the rest of the world that we support Israel – the United States supports Israel,” Kustoff said.
“The bad news is that 16 members of the House of Representatives either voted no or voted present,” he added. “Among those ‘no’ votes are Cori Bush, Alexandria (Ocasio-)Cortez, Ihan Omar and Rashida Tlaib.”
‘Now I am convinced that these are outliers. But ladies and gentlemen, they are outliers with very loud voices.’
Rep. David Kustoff also took aim at his progressive colleagues in the House of Representatives during his speech at the annual RJC summit on Friday
He mentioned Omar and Tlaib, but also targeted Rep. Cori Bush (right) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (left).
While Omar and Tlaib have made some of the arguably more anti-Semitic comments, the crowd had the biggest jeers and boos for Ocasio-Cortez.
The annual summit at the Venetian Convention and Expo Center on the Vegas Strip kicked off this year with a Shabbat dinner featuring remarks from Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo and speeches from Arkansas Governor and former White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders , Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Senator Scott and Representative Kustoff.
“Here in Nevada, we unequivocally and unapologetically stand with Israel and the Jewish community,” Lombardo said Friday evening at the opening of the conference.
On Saturday, all 2024 Republican presidential candidates will make remarks in the morning program before the summit.
A Shabbat dinner table at the RJC Annual Leadership Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday evening was set and reserved for men, women and children who were kidnapped from Israel by Hamas terrorists and remain missing or hostage in Gaza
The candidates speaking are former President Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.
House Way and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.), House Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) and Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) will speak at the luncheon.
Then in the afternoon, new House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise will deliver the keynote addresses.
Also attending Saturday’s dinner will be Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) and former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, among others.