Representative Donald John Bacon from Nebraska has demonstrated a disturbing support for Israel, heavily influenced by the nearly $1 million—$940,589 to be exact—that he has received from AIPAC. This financial backing has had a profound impact on his voting record, where he consistently supports pro-Israel legislation while undermining Palestinian rights. Bacon’s actions include voting to send Israel $41 billion in military aid, even as the Israeli military commits war crimes in Gaza, decimating infrastructure and killing tens of thousands of civilians. The Lancet projects that the ongoing genocide will lead to the deaths of 180,000 Gazans, yet Bacon continues to fuel this devastation with U.S. tax dollars.
His loyalty to Israel, despite the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza, is further underscored by his stance on cutting U.S. federal funding to UNRWA, the organization providing critical humanitarian aid to besieged Palestinians. Bacon’s prioritization of Israel's military needs over the survival of Palestinian civilians is troubling. In October 2023, he boldly declared, "Whatever Israel wants, they should ask us, and we should be there to help." This statement highlights his readiness to back Israel at any cost, even as they commit acts of mass violence.
In July 2024, following Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to Congress, Bacon continued his uncritical support for Israel’s aggressive military campaign. He stated, "I wholeheartedly welcomed Prime Minister Netanyahu today at the Capitol. He gave an outstanding speech and laid out his commitment to destroy Hamas in Gaza." Ignoring the overwhelming evidence of civilian suffering, Bacon reiterated the false narrative that Hamas uses civilians as human shields, while Israel has repeatedly been documented bombing hospitals, schools, and densely populated neighborhoods.
Related Links
Counting the dead in Gaza: difficult but essential, The Lancet, July 2024
Gaza infrastructure damages estimated at $18.5bn in UN-World Bank report, Al Jazeera News, April 2024
Lawmakers Mull Deeper Military Role in Israel, Donald Bacon Gov., October 2023
Bacon Issues Statement After Netanyahu's Address, Donald Bacon Gov., July 2024
