Brad Lander Opposes New U.S. Aid to Israel, Breaking With Past Iron Dome Support

The shift sharpens a Democratic primary contrast with Rep. Dan Goldman, who backs Iron Dome funding.

Overview

Lander said in a new interview that he would not vote for any more U.S. aid to Israel right now and urged applying the Leahy Law, which withholds security assistance from foreign military units tied to gross human rights abuses.
He told The Forward that Iron Dome protects civilians but said the United States should not provide taxpayer funds for it at this time, adding Israel could purchase it with its own money.
Goldman reiterated support for continued Iron Dome funding and said the system saves lives by knocking down rockets aimed at populated areas.
During his mayoral run last spring, Lander supported U.S. funding for Iron Dome, marking a clear reversal in his current campaign for Congress.
The new stance places Lander with progressive voices pushing to condition aid and won him support from MoveOn’s “Stop the War Hawks” effort, while AIPAC backs Goldman in a heavily Jewish New York district.