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Anti-Israel congressman takes parting jab at Israel lobby

Democratic Congressman Al Green denies being anti-Israel, while in the same breath accusing Israel of genocide.

By World Israel News Staff

Rep. Al Green sharply attacked AIPAC and accused Israel of committing “genocide” after the pro-Israel lobbying group celebrated his defeat in a Democratic runoff.

Green, a Texas Democrat who has served in Congress for more than two decades, issued the statement Thursday after AIPAC praised Rep. Christian Menefee’s victory over him in Texas’s newly redrawn 18th Congressional District.

AIPAC had congratulated Menefee and described Green as “one of the most outspoken anti-Israel voices in Congress.”

Green responded by rejecting the label and saying his opposition was directed at US military support for Israel, not Israel itself.

“I am not anti-Israel; I am anti-sending any more of hardworking American’s tax dollars to Israel,” Green said.

He accused AIPAC of treating criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conduct in Gaza as hostility toward Israel.

“AIPAC, which has not denounced the genocide in Gaza, seems to perceive every person who denounces the slaughter of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinian men, women, and especially children under the leadership of Prime Minister Netanyahu as anti-Israel,” Green said.

“Question for AIPAC: Why are so many candidates rejecting your once open and notorious contributions?” he said. “Answer: You have become persona non grata.”

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“Shame on you for what you have condoned. Crawl back into your hole.”

Green signed the statement as “your unbought, unbossed, unafraid, unelected, liberated Democrat.”

AIPAC responded on X by quoting Green’s “crawl back into your hole” line and writing, “No. Sincerely, Millions of pro-Israel Americans.”

Green has been among the House members most critical of continued US support for Israel. His comments placed him alongside a group of lawmakers on the left and right, including Reps. Ilhan Omar and Thomas Massie, who have challenged US aid or arms transfers to Israel.

Menefee, who won the runoff after Republican-led redistricting forced an unusual incumbent-versus-incumbent contest, praised Green after the election and called him an “icon.”