David Cicilline - another jew running foreign affairs for Israhell in Congress

[yankeedoodle]

David Cicilline, Jewish progressive, is new chair of House Middle East subcommittee
https://www.jta.org/2022/09/29/politics/david-cicilline-jewish-progressive-is-new-chair-of-house-middle-east-subcommittee

Democrats on the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee voted to name as chairman of its influential Middle East subcommittee Rep. David Cicilline, a Jewish Rhode Islander who is a member of the party's Progressive Caucus.

Cicilline bested Brad Schneider, a moderate Jewish Illinois Democrat, in an 18-6 vote.

Cicilline and Schneider are both close to the mainstream pro-Israel community and are both endorsed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's affiliated political action committee, but establishment pro-Israel insiders had favored Schneider and lobbied for him because his ties are closer. Schneider held lay leader positions at AIPAC, the American Jewish Committee, and Chicago-area Jewish groups and has taken the lead in advancing pro-Israel legislation.

Cicilline replaces Ted Deutch, the Florida Democrat who is quitting Congress to lead the American Jewish Committee, and who, like Schneider, is close to the mainstream pro-Israel community. Cicilline plans to run again to lead Democrats on the subcommittee in December. The subcommittee shapes policy on Israel and Iran, among other issues of intense focus to the organized Jewish community.

A committee insider told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that Cicilline prevailed because of his seniority, usually the most important factor when Democrats choose congressional leaders. Cicilline was elected in 2010 and has served since; Schneider was elected in 2012 but lost in 2014 before being reelected in 2016.

Cicilline stands out in the Progressive Caucus, where he is one of eight vice chairs, for being vocally pro-Israel among a faction of House members who have grown increasingly critical of the country in recent years. In addition to being endorsed by AIPAC's PAC, he is also endorsed by the political action committee associated with J Street, the liberal Jewish Middle East policy group; Schneider does not have J Street's endorsement.

Cicilline did not mention Israel in a statement after the vote but spoke in general terms of unity. "At a time of instability around the world, including in the Middle East, I believe that it is more important than ever that we work together, as members of the committee, to do everything we can to address humanitarian crises, human rights abuses, and political upheaval throughout the region," he said.

[abduLMaria]

"Jewish progressive"

not a term that has much meaning.

Benjamin Freedman came closer to being a genuine Jewish Progressive, because he tried to warn the Gentiles about the Jews.

[yankeedoodle]

David Cicilline, pro-Israel progressive, is leaving Congress
https://www.jta.org/2023/02/21/politics/david-cicilline-pro-israel-progressive-is-leaving-congress

Rep. David Cicilline, the Jewish Rhode Island Democrat and influential pro-Israel progressive, is leaving Congress.

Cicilline said Tuesday he will exit Congress in June to head the Rhode Island Foundation, the biggest funder of nonprofits in the Ocean State. The foundation is massively influential in the state and leading it could offer Cicilline, 61, a pathway into statewide office.

Cicilline is a member of the Democrats' Progressive Caucus. He and several other progressive Democrats belie the conventional wisdom that the traditional pro-Israel community is losing the party's left. Other caucus members with traditional pro-Israel views include Frank Pallone of New Jersey, Brad Sherman of California and Ritchie Torres of New York.

He aligns with mainstream pro-Israel positions in a number of areas, including in his criticism of the United Nations for singling out Israel. Cicilline is gay, and recently, he expressed concerns about anti-LGBTQ prejudice among members of Israel's new governing coalition. Cicilline was Providence's first ever LGBTQ-identifying mayor.

He won the top Democratic spot on the influential Middle East subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee last year — a choice pro-Israel insiders were happy with, even though he wasn't their preferred candidate. He received support from the political action committees affiliated with both major Israel lobbies — the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and J Street.

Cicilline also attracted attention as one of the managers of former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial, which focused on Trump's role in helping to spur the deadly storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Rhode Island's other congressional representative, Democrat Seth Magaziner, also identifies as Jewish.