With southern Israel under attack from rockets being shot from Palestinian controlled Gaza, the two South Florida congressional representatives who lead the U.S. House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee expressed their support of that key American ally.
Retiring U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., the first woman to lead the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee and currently the chairwoman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, took to Twitter on Monday to weigh in on the attacks.
“I support Israel’s right to defend herself from attacks by Hamas and other Gaza terrorist groups,” she wrote. “These rockets are falling on innocent Israeli communities and I urge responsible nations to condemn these terrorists and help put a stop to their bloodshed.”
She was joined by U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., who leads Democrats on the subcommittee but has often allied himself with Ros-Lehtinen in recent years on Middle Eastern issues. Deutch also took to Twitter on Monday to blame Hamas for the latest round of attacks.
“Hamas responds to targeted Israeli anti-terror operation by indiscriminately firing 300 rockets at Israeli towns and cities. Hamas is a terrorist organization that once again shows utter disregard for the lives of innocent Israelis - and Palestinians,” Deutch insisted.
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) praised the two South Florida congressional representatives for their efforts, cheering Deutch’s “steadfast support of Israel as its people come under attack from Gaza" and Ros-Lehtinen “for speaking up for Israel as hundreds of rockets fired from Gaza slam into towns and villages in the southern part of the country.”
First winning a seat in Congress in a special election in 1989, Ros-Lehtinen is currently the dean of the Florida delegation. She announced earlier this year that she would not run for reelection. Deutch first came to Congress after winning a special election in 2010.
