Religious leaders call on Congress to pass aid to Israel

A group of religious leaders is calling on Congress to pass aid to Israel and to take action against antisemitism in the United States.

Fifteen leaders from religious organizations across the country co-signed a letter Monday addressed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

The letter was led by the conservative Faith & Freedom Coalition with signees including pastors from Christian churches and leaders from organizations such as the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, American Center for Law and Justice, Outreach International and the Christian Broadcasting Network.

“With this letter, we issue a united condemnation of antisemitism and proclaim our support for Israel’s right to self-defense. The United States government, and the people’s representatives in Congress, cannot waver both in combatting antisemitism and in supporting the State of Israel,” the religious leaders wrote.

“We call on the United States Congress to without delay take the following specific steps to fight antisemitism and ensure that the Jewish state survives this horrific attack,” they added. 

Signers outlined steps they are urging Congress to take, including passing legislation to fund Israel’s defense, passing the Countering Hate Against Israel by Federal Contractors Act and passing the Antisemitism Awareness Act.

It is also calling on Congress to refreeze the $6 billion of Iranian funds that were a part of the Iranian hostage deal from earlier this year and urging federal agencies to “prevent, prosecute, and punish antisemitic hate crimes in the United States.”

Lawmakers are split over how to approve aid to Israel amid its war against Palestinian militant group Hamas, which launched a deadly attack on Israel early last month. Some Democrats are calling to put specific conditions on aid to Israel.

House Republicans had passed a $14.3 billion aid deal earlier this month solely for Israel, but that package was quickly shot down by Senate Democrats and the White House given its cuts to IRS funding and lack of funding for Ukraine. Schumer announced that the upper chamber would not take up the House GOP proposal, and the White House has maintained that President Biden would not sign a bill that aids only Israel.

The House will take up a separate measure this week that that would refreeze the $6 billion in funds that were unlocked as part of a prisoner exchange with Iran earlier this year. The agreement, which was struck in exchange for the release of five American prisoners, came under scrutiny after Hamas launched its attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

The letter from religious leaders was first reported by Politico.

The Hill has reached out to the offices of Schumer, McConnell, Johnson and Jeffries for comment.