Bowman bounce: Israel-haters turn Riverdale's lefty rep against Jewish state (again)

See also opinion: Bowman flip clarifies J Street's anti-Israel creds

In a reversal of his earlier co-sponsorship of the bipartisan Israel Relations Normalization Act, Rep. Jamaal Bowman has withdrawn his support. He also attacked the Abraham Accords for helping to normalize relations between Israel and her Arab neighbors absent a peace deal satisfactory to the Palestinians.

A member of AOC’s left-wing “Squad” in the House of Representatives, Bowman, whose Riverdale-Westchester district is home to a substantial Jewish population, said in a letter to constituents last week that he reconsidered his decision in light of a trip to Israel in November sponsored by 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.

Redistricting that takes effect with this year’s midterm elections transferred some of Bowman’s Jewish constituents — including those in Riverdale — to South Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres. Torres, the first gay Afro-Latino in Congress, has been a consistent supporter of the Jewish state.

Bowman was the only member of the “Squad” who had supported supplemental funding to replenish Iron Dome interceptor rockets and to sign on last year to the Israel Relations Normalization Act along with 329 of his colleagues. His initial position sparked heavy fire from progressive colleagues, some of whom demanded that he be ousted from the Democratic Socialists of America.

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

In his letter, Bowman said side 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, and the recognition of Western Sahara as part of Morocco — were not conducive to peace in the region and, together with the accords’ further isolation of the Palestinians, were 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 handily defeated the staunch Israel supporter Rep. Eliot Engel in the 2020 primary for New York’s 16th Congressional District, was criticized by the Democratic Socialists of America for support of the Iron Dome and for visiting Israel last November on a trip run by J Street. The organization also criticized Bowman for not openly supporting the BDS movement against Israel.

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.

According to former Boro Park Assemblyman Dov Hikind, the prospect of a primary challenge from his left may have encouraged Bowman’s 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.”

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

“You want to make it better? You want to make it more effective? OK, fine. But to say I’m withdrawing my support is so pathetic. It’s embarrassing that this is a member of Congress talking this way,” he added. “I would have much more respect for him if he just said, ‘Look, I need to do this for my political future.’ I would say, ‘OK.’ But to sell it to the public that it’s about principle is so dishonest.”

“The fact is that [the Abraham Accords] is an amazing thing that happened. This is a huge development, a huge positive thing, which by the way President Biden recognizes,” he said.

Pro-Israel organizations from across the country were critical of Bowman’s decision.

“Disturbing to see [Bowman] oppose peace deals,” AIPAC tweeted on Wednesday. “The Abraham Accords knocked down barriers between millions, fueling dialogue, trade and progress. There is nothing progressive about opposing this tectonic shift toward openness and peace. Stand for peace, not more division.”

“Whatever Congressman Bowman’s political calculation was in doing a 180, he actually just hurt the cause of peace and reconciliation and the cause of the Palestinians by further empowering terrorist Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, which continues its pay-to-slay Jews policy,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean and director of global social action at the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

“For decades, leaders and pundits insisted that peace in the Middle East would not come unless and until the Israel-Palestinian conflict was settled,” he said. “But [our] decade-long outreach in the Gulf region debunked that myth years before the Abraham Accords were signed. We found that Emiratis and Bahrainis were eager to establish contacts and meaningful relationships — that there was a genuine thirst for normal interaction and for building a future that’s not based on violence and hate. We all see the fruits of true peace-seekers.”

Jeff Mendelsohn, executive director of Pro-Israel America, tweeted that “by pulling his support for the Abraham Accords, Rep. Bowman makes clear that he isn’t interested in peace. He’s only interested in placating the anti-Israel Socialist party that’s supporting him.”

“The Abraham Accords have enhanced critical economic, security and intelligence ties between countries that just a few years ago didn’t even acknowledge Israel’s right to exist,” wrote Mendelsohn. “Recognizing Israel’s right to exist is the only path towards mutual peace and prosperity in the Middle East, and instead, Rep. Bowman is turning his back to the historic progress being made between Israel and Arab states.”

AIPAF tweeted: "Disturbing to see @RepBowman oppose peace deals. The Abraham Accords knocked down barriers between millions, fueling dialogue, trade and progress. There is nothing progressive about opposing this tectonic shift toward openness and peace. Stand for peace, not more division."

Despite Bowman’s flip-flop, the congressman was still endorsed for re-election on Wednesday by Jewish Sen. Chuck Schumer, who is also running to keep his seat.

“I am very pleased to endorse my friend and partner, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, for reelection in the 16th Congressional District in the Bronx, Westchester and Putnam. He is smart, hardworking, passionate and extremely effective,” said Schumer, according to News 12 The Bronx.

Bowman’s record in Congress on Israel has been lukewarm. While originally supporting the bill and Iron Dome, he also co-sponsored Rep. Betty McCollum’s bill last year that puts conditions on aid to Israel and supported a resolution during the Israeli conflict with Hamas last May to block $735 million in arms sales to the Jewish state.

In addition to Bowman and AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose district includes parts of Queens and the Bronx), “Squad” members are Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Cori Bush of Missouri.

Updataed Feb. 23 2022 11:23 am