After reading the letter written by Carrie Rubinoff regarding her reluctance to vote for Tom Suozzi, I wanted to voice my own thoughts regarding Tom Suozzi’s record on Israel during his terms in office.
Unlike Ms. Rubinoff, I have been a registered independent for nearly 30 years. I have voted my conscience for candidates on both sides of the political aisle depending how their records coincided with my political views.
That is why I believe it is critical to set the record straight on Congressman Suozzi, and why I support his candidacy in the special election on Feb. 13.
I first met Congressman Suozzi in 2018. Selected by the men’s club of Temple Israel to represent our organization at AIPAC’s annual national convention in Washington DC. As part of the convention, members visit their elected representatives to discuss issues of the day and look for their support for the Jewish state.
I sat in a room of fellow Great Necker’s, community members, both Republican and Democrat, united by our love and concern for Israel. We listened to Congressman Suozzi clearly state his backing and support for Israel, and the right for it to be able to live freely in peace and security with its neighbors.
The congressman repeated that courageous stand during our subsequent two meetings in 2019 and 2020.
Moreover, these were not just empty words spoken by Mr. Suozzi.
During his terms in Congress, he co-sponsored nearly a dozen pieces of pro-Israel legislation and additionally voted for three other bills brought to the floor of the House of Representatives that specifically supported Israel.
Included in this legislation were specific bills to help fund Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system, which protects millions of Israelis from incessant rocket attacks from terrorist groups like Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and now the Houthis in Yemen.
He voted to condemn and reject calls to back the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction) movement, supported legislation for Israel’s right to defend itself, and called for the European Union to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist group.
Most recently, during the current war against Hamas in Gaza, after its violent invasion of Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Tom Suozzi traveled to Israel to reiterate his support against such wanton violence by the Palestinian terrorist groups and the right for Israel to protect and defend its citizens from such massacres and atrocities.
The Citizens of District 3 would do well to have such a stalwart defender of American allies as Tom Suozzi and I would be proud to have him represent me in Congress once again.
Harold Citron
Great Neck