Democrats Blast GOP Plan to ‘Zero’ Israel Aid

By Haaretz November 14, 2011

Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz sharply challenged the Republican field, including Mitt Romney, for pledging to zero out the foreign aid budget, including resources the U.S. provides to Israel.

?I?m aghast that the leading Republican contenders for President tonight, including Mitt Romney, pledged to zero out the foreign aid budget including the traditional and vital support the U.S. has provided the Jewish state of Israel for its security,? she said. ?I cannot think of a more irresponsible, risky or deplorable position towards our most important friend and ally.?

The Florida congresswoman called it a ?moral and security imperative? for the U.S. to stand by Israel, especially with the threat posed by Iran.

?Mitt Romney and the rest of the Republican field clearly do not understand the vital need for the U.S. to consistently stand by our friend and ally, Israel and not only when it?s politically popular,? she said.

For more, go to Haaretz.com

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO