Moskowitz promotes his pro-Israel record at Boca Raton synagogue

Jared Moskowitz promoted his pro-Israel credentials and his AIPAC endorsement at a synagogue event in Boca Raton, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported. The Florida congressman said he was proud to be known as the most pro-Israel Jewish Democrat in Congress. He spoke at Congregation B’nai Israel, a Reform synagogue. The gathering took place in Florida’s 25th Congressional District, which the JTA described as split across party lines and staunchly pro-Israel. Attendee Edward Kone told the JTA, “This isn’t New York, this isn’t Boston — this is South Florida.”

Moskowitz’s remarks included an argument about political disagreements among people who otherwise share views. The JTA’s excerpt quotes him saying that two people who agree on most issues want to use one issue to force their position on others. The excerpt does not identify the people he meant or specify the issue in that remark. The JTA reported that Moskowitz’s endorsement comment came as Democratic voters had grown more critical of Israel amid Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and the war with Iran. It also said Democrats were seeking control of the House of Representatives. Those political circumstances formed the backdrop to the event, but the account does not say that either development prompted Moskowitz’s remarks. The district’s recent redrawing has made it a focus ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Under the new boundaries, it would have favored Trump by 9 percentage points in 2024; under those same boundaries, Joe Biden won the district in 2020. The figures underscore the contrasting presidential results the JTA cited in describing the district’s electoral profile. Moskowitz defeated Democratic socialist challenger Oliver Larkin in August. The JTA characterized Larkin as an Israel critic, placing the contest within a local debate over candidates’ positions on Israel. The account does not provide details of Larkin’s campaign or describe a direct exchange between the two candidates at the synagogue event. The JTA also quotes Kone saying, “And on Israel, Jared Moskowitz just doesn’t add up,” followed by Moskowitz’s reply, “They’re staying out.” The excerpt does not explain the referent of Moskowitz’s reply. The reported event thus featured Moskowitz’s own statements about his record and endorsement alongside criticism from an attendee, while the district’s congressional contest approached the midterm elections.