Republican Candidates Express Strong Support for Israel Amidst Gaza Conflict
Republican presidential candidates made clear their unwavering support for Israel during a campaign stop in Las Vegas, coinciding with Israel’s escalated offensive against Hamas in Gaza. Former Vice President Mike Pence used his final speech as a candidate to emphasize his traditional Republican stance on robust U.S. foreign policy, contrasting with the America First positions of former President Donald Trump, the current frontrunner for the nomination.
Pence did not mention Trump by name when announcing his withdrawal from the race, but he called on President Joe Biden to unequivocally back Israel’s incursion into Gaza. Israel launched the offensive in response to a major attack by Hamas that resulted in over 1,000 deaths. The country has carried out airstrikes on the Palestinian enclave, cutting off power and communications as part of its operation against the militant group.
Speaking at the Republican Jewish Coalition summit, Pence urged the crowd to hold fast to faith, family, and the U.S. Constitution. He also emphasized America’s role as the leader of the free world.
Trump, who has previously received a warm reception from the Jewish group, was scheduled to speak in the afternoon, serving as the final White House hopeful to take the stage at the annual gathering.
Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy were among those who expressed their support for Israel’s right to defend itself following the Hamas attack on October 7. They also criticized Democratic officials and liberals for not adequately condemning anti-Semitism in the United States.
The Republican candidates made their pitches against the backdrop of Israel’s expanded ground operation into Gaza.
The annual gathering in Las Vegas has traditionally allowed GOP hopefuls to reach out to Jewish voters and showcase their political backing of Israel, a priority for the party and its base, including Christian evangelicals. However, this year’s summit coincides with Israel’s crisis and elevated state of war.
Scott, who frequently references his Christian faith, condemned Hamas’s actions as evil personified and invoked the Book of Proverbs, stating, As a Christian, I see the Jewish people as my elder brothers and sisters in faith.
Ramaswamy, who has often been criticized by Pence for his foreign policy views, addressed his previous statements on Israel. His speech included belligerent rhetoric, expressing his desire for the Israeli military to decapitate Hamas leaders as a show of strength on the Israel-Gaza border. Ramaswamy also argued for abandoning the concept of a two-state solution, drawing applause from the crowd.
Although the audience of around 1,000 coalition donors was not clad in Trump-branded red yarmulkes like in previous years, their support for the former president was evident from the start. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who has made criticizing Trump a central theme of his campaign, faced immediate boos when he took the stage.
Sheldon Adelson, the longtime benefactor of the organization and a billionaire casino mogul, threw his weight behind Trump during the 2016 election. Adelson passed away in 2021, and his widow, Miriam Adelson, remains a prominent party donor but has pledged to remain neutral during the primary.
Most of the candidates used their speeches to criticize President Biden, particularly for a $6 billion transfer to Iran as part of a deal to secure the release of five detained U.S. citizens. The Biden administration maintains that the funds have not been spent.
Earlier this month, Biden made a visit to Israel to demonstrate his support while attempting to prevent the conflict from escalating into a broader regional war. In the United States, Biden has requested billions of dollars in military assistance for both Israel and Ukraine, linking the wars to larger global threats and asserting that curbing Hamas and Russia is crucial for America’s national security.
During their remarks, the majority of the candidates pledged unwavering support for Israel, with limited discussion of the situation in Ukraine.
Ramaswamy, who has raised questions about U.S. aid to Israel, disclosed that he personally funded a charter flight to evacuate Americans from Israel, similar to the actions taken by his rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Ramaswamy elicited boos from the crowd when he asserted that America’s role should be centered on being strong domestically, minding its own affairs, and avoiding foreign military entanglements unrelated to national security.
Scott echoed the sentiment that Hamas’s actions were evil personified and highlighted his work in the Senate on legislation addressing anti-Semitism. He accused liberal politicians of neglecting to condemn the marginalization and oppression of Jewish Americans.
The mention of Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib from Michigan received jeers from the crowd. Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, has called for a ceasefire and a reevaluation of U.S. military aid to Israel due to concerns that it could be used to commit war crimes. Members of both parties have criticized her for not explicitly faulting Hamas for the attack.
Scott asserted that Democrats would rather embrace anti-Semitism within their ranks than upset their liberal base.
