When Jon Ossoff was elected to the US Senate in 2021, he became the first Jewish senator from Georgia, and the first from the Deep South since 1885. During his campaign, he declared himself “strongly committed to Israel’s security as a homeland for the Jewish people.” This commitment is in line with the overwhelming consensus of American Jews and is the majority opinion among Americans as a whole.

Ossoff’s recent vote to ban specific arms sales to Israel during its ongoing battle against the Iranian hegemony marks a disgraceful reversal of that promise. As Israel faces one of the most serious, multi-front threats in recent memory, the senator’s decision to vote against supporting Israeli military needs was not only a betrayal of his previous stance but also an affront to the Jewish community of Georgia.

The context of Ossoff’s vote cannot be overstated. Israel is currently engaged in one of its most critical and complex wars. While Israel has always faced threats from groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, the situation today is on a larger scale, and more complicated. Hamas continues to hold hostages, including American citizens. By failing to assist Israel in its battle to win the war, Sen. Ossoff is betraying those held captive. 

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