2024 Republican presidential debate on Sept. 27, 2023. Photo by Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

By Jacob Kornbluh October 16, 2023

The Republican Jewish Coalition was added Monday as a co-host of the upcoming Republican presidential debate amid the war in Israel. The debate is scheduled for Nov. 8 in Miami. 

The announcement comes as the political conversation shifts to focus on international affairs following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the Jewish state’s military response.

Several presidential candidates have used the sudden war in the Mideast to highlight their foreign policy bona fides and stress the importance of a robust American foreign policy. Former President Donald Trump, who has taken flack from GOP rivals for questioning Israel’s readiness to fight and called Hezbollah — a terrorist group that has attacked Israel from the north in recent days —  ‘smart,’ is not expected to be on stage. 

Matt Brooks, RJC’s chief executive, noted the historic nature of the partnership. “No other Jewish organization has ever co-sponsored a national presidential debate,” Brooks said in a statement. The RJC is set to host a number of presidential candidates, including Trump, at its annual leadership meeting at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas later this month.

Jewish Americans, however, overwhelmingly vote for Democrats — typically 70% or more cast ballots for the Democrat in presidential elections.

Recent polls showed that Republican voters are highly supportive of Israel and favor continued U.S. assistance to the Jewish state. According to a CNN-SSRS poll of 1,000 adults conducted on Thursday and Friday by text message, 78% of Republicans said they felt a lot of sympathy for the Israeli people and 68% justified Israel’s military response to Hamas’ attacks.

Republicans are also critical of President Joe Biden’s handling of the current conflict, despite his strong show of support for Israel and — according to Israeli media reports — plan to visit, perhaps at week’s end.

A joint NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll of 1,113 U.S. adults – with a 3.8% +/- margin of error – showed 80% of GOP voters disapproved of Biden’s approach.

The RJC and several Republican candidates have falsely accused him of funding Iran — which supports Hamas — and accused him of encouraging Hamas’ surprise attack by projecting weakness. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said on Sunday that in 2018, serving as Trump’s ambassador to the U.N., she had “sounded the alarm” about media reports of Hamas plans to invade and warned the United Nations Security Council about the threat Hamas posed to Israel.

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