Republican Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming has firmly aligned himself with Israel, receiving a staggering $679,402 from AIPAC in exchange for his support of pro-Israel and anti-Palestine legislation. His advocacy for Israel has continued unabated, even as the Israeli military conducts a brutal genocide campaign in Gaza, marked by relentless bombardments that have devastated civilian infrastructure. Since October 2023, Gaza has been ravaged by Israeli airstrikes, with more than half of its homes damaged and 80% of commercial facilities destroyed. Hospitals, schools, and even road networks have been decimated, leaving Gaza in ruins. Meanwhile, in the West Bank, Israel’s aggressive military actions have killed thousands of Palestinians, while illegal Israeli settlers continue to seize Palestinian land. Barrasso, however, has remained indifferent to these atrocities, instead championing U.S. military aid to Israel.
In July 2024, Barrasso applauded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress. He shamelessly praised Netanyahu, a convicted war criminal by the ICJ for his leadership in the genocide of Palestinians, saying, "I stand firmly with Israel as Israel fights to finish the war and defeat Hamas." Despite the immense destruction wrought by Israel, Barrasso has co-sponsored bills like the "Emergency Resupply for Iron Dome Act," which diverts U.S. foreign assistance away from Gaza, further emboldening Israel’s genocidal assault on its population.
Adding to his pro-Israel track record, Barrasso supported legislation in 2019 aimed at shielding Israel from the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, a global campaign that seeks to challenge Israel’s occupation of Palestine. Barrasso voted to allow states and local governments to penalize entities engaging in BDS, illustrating his prioritization of Israel’s interests over the rights of Palestinians. Despite the carnage in Gaza and the West Bank, Barrasso continues to endorse policies that fund Israel's war machine, showing a blatant disregard for Palestinian lives.
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
Barrasso Calls on Leaders to Affirm America’s Unwavering Commitment to Israel, John Barrasso Gov., July 2024
Republican senators introduce bill to resupply Israel’s Iron Dome, The Hill, October 2023
US Senate Passes Bill Fighting Israel Boycott Movement, Business Times, February 2019
