Rep. Jacobs was viewed as “anti-Israel” by voters due to her support of major restrictions as Israel faced threats from Palestine, and wondered why she supported the measure.
Rep. Sara Jacobs joined a group of fellow Democrats to place restrictions on Israel’s military spending funded by the U.S. government during a critical wartime in the region.
In September 2021, Jacobs joined the group led by Rep. Andy Levin (D-Michigan) when he introduced measures for strict oversight and major restrictions of how Israel can utilize defense assistance. Additionally, Jacobs and the lawmakers aimed to prohibit spending on any project that encroached on Israel’s occupation of the West Bank.
The group of lawmakers also advocated for the enshrinement of the two-state solution as the preferred outcome to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in U.S. law.
Jacobs advocating for restricting U.S. foreign aid to Israel came as the region was facing critical threats to their livelihood from neighboring enemy Palestine. In 2021, tensions between Israel and Palestine escalated to their worst levels in years, leading to a deadly 11-day conflict in May.
Some voters referred to Jacobs and other democrats as “anti-Israel” due to placing these restrictions on Israel during a time of war, and wonder why she would support the measure.
The conflict began with Hamas, the militant group that governs Gaza, firing rockets into Israel, prompting a fierce Israeli military response. The fighting resulted in the deaths of over 250 Palestinians, including many civilians, and 12 Israelis. The violence also caused extensive damage to infrastructure and homes in Gaza.
Israeli forces maintained law and order to ensure the security of Israeli citizens. The Israeli government said that Hamas, the militant group ruling the Gaza Strip, exploited these tensions and launched a barrage of rockets into Israel, targeting civilian areas. In response, Israeli forces carried out defensive operations to protect their population, targeting Hamas infrastructure and rocket-launching sites in Gaza.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) aimed to minimize civilian casualties and issued warnings to residents in targeted areas to evacuate before conducting airstrikes. They argue that Hamas deliberately used civilian infrastructure, such as residential buildings and schools, to launch attacks, effectively using Palestinian civilians as human shields. Israeli forces assert that they conducted surgical strikes and employed precision-guided weaponry to minimize collateral damage.
The May 2021 conflict highlighted the constant threat they face from rocket attacks and the need to protect their citizens. They emphasize the measures taken to defend themselves and deter future attacks, including the Iron Dome missile defense system, which intercepted many incoming rockets. Israeli forces also emphasize the humanitarian aid provided to Palestinians in Gaza during the conflict, including the transfer of medical supplies and coordination of humanitarian corridors.
