NY Congressman’s Decision to Drop Support for Abraham Accords Bill Draws Fire

Despite the change of mind, Bowman was still endorsed for re-election on Wednesday by Jewish Sen. Chuck Schumer, who is also running to keep his seat.

By: Dmitriy Shapiro

In a reversal of his earlier co-sponsorship of the bill, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) said that he had withdrawn his support for the bipartisan Israel Relations Normalization Act.

Bowman, the only member of “The Squad” in the U.S. House of Representatives who supported supplemental funding to replenish Iron Dome interceptor rockets and had signed on last year to the Israel Relations Normalization Act along with 329 of his colleagues, said in a letter to constituents on Tuesday that he has reconsidered his decision in light of a trip to Israel in November sponsored by the left-wing group J Street, where he met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

In the letter, he also cited input from his constituents as part of the reason he changed his mind on the bill.

“Congressman Bowman takes the thoughts and suggestions of his constituents very seriously and values their engagement with the legislative process,” said spokesperson Marcus Frias.

“He sent the letter to his constituents yesterday to inform them of his decision to withdraw his co-sponsorship and vote no on the legislation when it comes to the House floor.”

In his letter, Bowman said the separate agreements that were part of the incentive for countries to enter the Abraham Accords—such as the sale of F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates, the recognition of Western Sahara as part of Morocco and the isolation of Palestinians—were not conducive to peace in the region and were the reasons for his withdrawal of support for the bill.

Introduced by Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), the Israel Relations Normalization Act seeks to promote and expand the Abraham Accords, which were negotiated and agreed to under former President Donald Trump.

Bowman, who defeated the staunch Israel supporter Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) in the 2020 primary for New York’s 16 Congressional District, which has a substantial Jewish population, was criticized recently by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) for his trip to Israel with J Street and support for the Iron Dome. The organization also criticized Bowman for not openly supporting the BDS movement against Israel.

Bowman’s district for the 2022 midterm elections has lost parts of its Jewish community following redistricting.

In December, the DSA’s National Political Committee considered whether or not to expel Bowman from the DSA, of which he is a member, but instead decided to not endorse his candidacy.

‘It’s not about principle’

According to former New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind, a Democrat, Bowman may have also been threatened by a primary challenge from the left leading to his decision.

“It’s really about the politics for him personally with the [Democratic] Socialists of America not supporting him, being concerned about a race he would have from the left,” said Hikind. “That’s really what it’s about; it’s not about principle. I mean he could dress it up any way he wants, he can come up with the excuses.”

He continued, noting that the Abraham Accords “go further than things like the peace with Jordan or the peace with Egypt. There is a real relationship between these countries—people are visiting, economic relations. It’s really what peace should be all about. Two countries getting to know each other, developing relations on every single level. … So where is Bowman living on? The moon?”

Hikind called Bowman’s decision “pathetic” since Bowman could have voiced areas where he disagrees with parts of the bill while still backing it.

(JNS.org)