‘A Win For Donald Trump Is a Win For Netanyahu’: First US Jewish Lawmaker To Call For Ceasefire Warns Against Trump Victory in November

Rep. Becca Ballint (D-VT), who was the first Jewish member of the House of Representatives to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, told CNN she planned to vote against aid to Israel in order to “send a message” to Netanyahu’s government.

The U.S. House is expected to pass a contentious $95 billion foreign aid package Saturday that would provide aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. Far-right Republicans strongly oppose sending additional funds to Ukraine, prompting Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to file a motion to vacate against House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

“It’s clear that this is going to pass, so this vote is really about sending a message that we understand that if we continue to send offensive weapons to this extremist government, to Netanyahu, it’s essentially sending a green light for an invasion of Rafah and to continue this devastating, devastating war in Gaza. And I believe a ‘no’ vote is indicative of where most Americans are right now,” Balint told CNN’s Victor Blackwell.

Blackwell asked, “What did you…say to those constituents who agree with everything you just said — that the U.S. should send a message, there should be some controls or some checks on the use of the weapons, that there’s not enough aid — and they say, ‘For that reason, I’m not voting for Joe Biden in November.’ What do you tell them?”

“A win for Donald Trump is a win for Netanyahu, period. No question,” Balint said. “If you want to see a safe and secure Israel and a safe and secure Palestine, Joe Biden is the president that will be working tirelessly to bring about two-state solution as well as peace and security in the entire region. I can, I will say it again: A vote for Donald Trump, or a vote that is sitting out, you know, this election, and not voting for president Biden, is a win for Benjamin Netanyahu.”

Balint first called for a ceasefire last November, a month after Hamas staged a surprise attack, killing more than 1,200 Israelis. Hamas reported that Israel’s retaliation has killed 32,000 Palestinians. Since last fall, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) “and 10 of their Jewish colleagues wrote to President Biden” to “facilitate a temporary ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.”

Watch the clip above via CNN.