1 year ago
ALBANY, N.Y. — More than a dozen governors from both parties on Tuesday urged the approval of nominations for key diplomatic roles in the Middle East as well as sustained federal aid to Israel.
A letter signed by 17 governors and released by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's office also reiterated plans to work with State Department officials to ensure the safe return of the Americans who have been taken hostage.
The letter, meant to highlight solidarity with Israel, also provided a bipartisan boost to President Joe Biden as he heads to Israel on Wednesday.
The governors, including Republicans Phil Scott of Vermont and Spencer Cox of Utah, praised Biden's "swift response in providing increased military assistance to Israel, and members of Congress from both parties for their firm statements of support for Israel."
The letter, which "unequivocally" condemned Hamas' Oct. 7 attack, comes as elected officials have sought to highlight their support for Israel ahead of a potential ground invasion of Gaza. Hochul, a Democrat, is set to travel to Israel later on Tuesday after meeting at the White House with top officials in Biden's administration.
The letter, written to top leaders in Congress, pushed the Senate to take up nominations in diplomatic posts in Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Oman and Kuwait.
The governors also called for ongoing U.S. aid for Israel as well as money for their own states to bolster security for houses of worship. Officials in New York announced plans to further step up security around Jewish sites late last week.
"We will continue to work with federal, state, and local law enforcement to monitor for potential domestic threats and provide support to community leaders as needed," the governors wrote in the letter.
New York is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, and there has been a bipartisan outcry following the Hamas attack earlier this month.
“The bonds between America and Israel are unbreakable — now and forever," Hochul said in a statement.
Tensions have been heightened amid protests and counterdemonstrations as the war rages in Gaza.
Hochul on Monday condemned the killing of a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy who was stabbed to death in Illinois as "sickening and heartbreaking."
"Day one, we've announced heightened security at sites that are vulnerable," she told reporters.
English (US)