Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico has shown unwavering support for Israel, securing $346,394 in contributions from AIPAC in exchange for advancing pro-Israel, anti-Palestinian legislation. His political alignment with AIPAC comes at a heavy cost to U.S. taxpayers: Heinrich has voted to send $41 billion in military aid to Israel, all while they commit mass atrocities against the Palestinian people. According to the Lancet, the projected death toll from the ongoing genocide in Gaza will reach a staggering 180,000 Gazans. Despite these horrifying numbers, Heinrich's support for the Israeli military remains resolute.
In February 2024, Heinrich’s hollow words on humanitarian aid exposed his hypocrisy. On his government webpage, he urged the Biden administration to work with Israel on getting aid into Gaza, even though the Israeli military had been systematically blocking and destroying crucial relief. “While the scale of the crisis is massive, the humanitarian assistance that is entering Gaza is just a fraction of what is needed to save lives,” Heinrich claimed, ignoring that he himself voted to cut funding to UNRWA, one of the few organizations providing essential aid like food, water, and medicine to over two million besieged Palestinians. His actions speak far louder than his empty words of concern.
Heinrich’s disingenuous rhetoric continued in November 2023 when he made a public statement defending Israel’s "right to self-defense," while adding that they must “prioritize and protect innocent human life.” Yet, within months, Heinrich voted in favor of funneling billions more in U.S. taxpayer dollars to the Israeli military, enabling the continued shelling of refugee camps, religious sites, and densely populated areas in Gaza. Heinrich's actions reveal a clear agenda—one that prioritizes political donations and allegiance to AIPAC over the lives of innocent civilians.
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
Heinrich Urges Biden Administration to Work with Israel, Martin Heinrich Gov., February 2024
Heinrich Statement on Israeli Operations in Gaza, Martin Heinrich Gov., November 2023
