Many Jewish Marylanders expressed disappointment with Rep. Jamie Raskin’s recent decision to back a bill that would restrict United States arms transfers to Israel, while some believe it’s a step in the right direction amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
Raskin, a Jewish Democratic member of Congress who represents Maryland’s 8th Congressional District, joined a growing list of Democrats backing the Block the Bombs Act amid a decline in Democratic support for Israel.
The bill, which currently has 37 co-sponsors, states that the sale or transfer to Israel of certain weapons, including 120mm tank ammunition, 155mm artillery ammunition and BLU–109 bunker-busting bombs, would require congressional authorzation and written assurances as to how those weapons will be used.
Support for the Block the Bombs Act among House Democrats follows record support from Senate Democrats for two resolutions blocking U.S. military sales to Israel in July, which failed in the Senate.
Caren Leven, the executive director of the Baltimore Zionist District, called Raskin’s decision to cosponsor the bill “profoundly disappointing.”
“At a time when Israel faces constant attacks from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, weakening our ally’s ability to defend itself is both dangerous and short-sighted,” Leven wrote in a statement emailed to Baltimore Jewish Times. “Maryland’s Jewish community expects its leaders to stand with Israel, not empower those who seek its destruction.”
“We are deeply disappointed with Rep. Raskin for his decision to cosponsor legislation to severely restrict arm sales to Israel, seemingly caving to the radical fringes of the Democratic Party,” Rabbi Ariel Sadwin of Agudath Israel of Maryland wrote in a statement emailed to the Baltimore Jewish Times. “It is extremely disheartening that he and several of our other elected representatives, who constantly refer to themselves as ‘friends of Israel,’ are willing to uncritically accept accusations made by dishonest actors and terrorist sympathizers over measured reports from trustworthy sources.”
Sadwin added that instead of pushing for measures that would “only exacerbate” the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Raskin should “work constructively with Israel and other trusted allies to help maximize efforts to mitigate civilian suffering and bring about the defeat of Hamas and the return of the hostages.”
Others from national Jewish organizations echoed that sentiment, including Morton Klein, the national president of the Zionist Organization of America.
“Throughout the country, as well as our friends in Maryland, [we] are absolutely horrified by [Raskin’s] decision to endanger Israel and Jewish lives and extend the war by limiting the arms that will be coming to Israel,” Klein told Baltimore Jewish Times. “It’s almost unanimous among the people that I talk to, nationally and in the Baltimore area. We have a lot of ZOA members in Baltimore.”
He said Israel needs “all the arms it can get to try and finally destroy Hamas.” Only then, Klein said, can the war in Gaza end.
Critics of Israel have denounced arms transfers to Israel as Gaza’s death toll continues to rise, although the Gaza Health Ministry doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants.
In an Aug. 20 letter to Raskin, the Religious Zionists of America–Mizrachi wrote that this legislation is “profoundly misguided” both policy-wise and politically.
“Severely restricting” arms to Israel erodes American national security interests because Israel is the United States’ “most reliable ally in the Middle East,” according to the letter, which was signed by Stephen M. Flatow, the organization’s president.
This legislation ruptures the “bipartisan foundation of U.S.-Israel relations,” which hurts not only Israel but America’s reputation abroad, the letter stated. Lastly, the legislation is “bad politics.”
“Maryland is home to a vibrant and engaged Jewish community that has long stood with Israel,” the letter read. “Many of your constituents, including those who may not agree with every Israeli policy, nonetheless recognize the existential threats Israel faces and expect their elected leaders to ensure that America stands firmly by the Jewish state.”
The RZA letter continued that by cosponsoring the bill, Raskin is alienating a “vital segment” of his Democratic Maryland base.
Others similarly disagree with Raskin on the Block the Bombs Act, but commend him for his history of supporting Israel, such as Halie Soifer, the CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America.
“Jamie Raskin is a champion of our Jewish values and a true defender of our democracy,” Soifer wrote in a statement emailed to Baltimore Jewish Times. “He has an incredibly strong record on every issue of importance to Jewish Americans, and stands with Israel. Most recently, Rep. Raskin has expressed his deep concern about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state. While we disagree with Rep. Raskin about this particular bill, we know that Rep. Raskin supports Israel’s safety and security.”
Rabbi Ariana Katz of Hinenu Baltimore said that Raskin’s decision was a “clear moral, Jewish choice.”
“As a Marylander, rabbi, Jew and mother, I am grateful to Representative Raskin for cosponsoring the Block the Bombs Act,” Katz wrote in a statement emailed to Baltimore Jewish Times. “Raskin’s cosponsorship of this bill is most appropriate as we head into the season of the High Holy Days, which reminds us that true loving relationships require boundaries and limits — including saying ‘no’ to our family when they behave in ways that we cannot abide.”
Raskin was one of the first Jewish Democrats to deviate from the status quo in terms of support for Israel amid the Israel-Hamas war, according to JTA.
He was among the first Jewish Democratic House lawmakers to call for a cease-fire in November 2023, and in May 2024, he voted against sending more emergency aid to Israel.
