New York Rep. Bowman’s decision to drop support for Abraham Accords bill draws fire
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 Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) said that he had withdrawn his support for the bipartisan Israel Relations Normalization Act.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.
Read More: JNS