Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma has built a political career rooted in loyal support for Israel, amassing $365,090 from AIPAC to ensure his commitment to pro-Israel, anti-Palestinian legislation. His voting record paints a damning picture of someone who actively props up a military regime responsible for the genocide of Palestinians. In April 2024, Lankford voted to send Israel $41 billion in military aid with no conditions, all while the Israeli government continues its ruthless genocide campaign in Gaza and the West Bank. The projected death toll in Gaza, according to The Lancet, is expected to reach 180,000, a chilling reminder of the devastation Lankford’s policies helped fund.
Lankford’s justification for his support of Israel, detailed on his government webpage, is dripping with false narratives. “America should speak with moral clarity against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthi terrorists...and for the free people of Taiwan, Ukraine, and Israel,” Lankford stated, conveniently omitting Israel’s own tyrannical actions. With Palestine politically dismantled and its leaders exiled or killed by the Israeli military, Lankford’s claim that Israel faces tyranny rings hollow. Instead, his vote to cut U.S. federal funding to UNRWA, the organization providing food and medical supplies to over two million Gazans, shows where his true loyalties lie—political donations from AIPAC and the Israeli war machine.
Even in the face of mounting Palestinian civilian casualties, Lankford remains unapologetic. His joint resolution in April 2024 reaffirmed his unconditional support: “Make no mistake—America stands with our friend and ally, Israel, and the democratically elected leaders of Israel,” he declared. This endorsement of a regime committing war crimes, including the shelling of refugee camps and schools, underscores Lankford’s complicity in the ongoing genocide. His priorities clearly lie with his political donors, not the countless Palestinian lives lost.
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
Lankford Supports Israel, James Lankford Gov., April 2024
Lankford Continues to Support Israel’s Right to Genocide, James Lankford Gov., April 2024
