Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel has once again highlighted the New Hampshire federal delegation’s longstanding support for sending funds to Iran and their problematic votes on policy toward Israel.
Beginning with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s vote for the so-called “Iran deal” in 2015 — which sent pallets of cash to the terror-sponsoring Islamist regime — and continuing through the current crisis as Israel faces threats from Hamas and Hezbollah, the Granite State’s federal delegation has a mixed record on Middle East policy.
Both Sens. Shaheen and Maggie Hassan opposed President Donald Trump’s decision to dump the Iran deal in favor of a “maximum pressure” strategy. Both support the Biden administration’s reversal of Trump’s policies, and Iran has added tens of billions of dollars in new revenue since.
Even after the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel that killed more than 1,200 people, Shaheen and Hassan supported the release of nearly $10 billion in frozen assets by the Biden administration to the mullahs in Iran. Iran directly funds Hamas, and under Biden, its cash to the Gaza-based terrorists soared from less than $100 million a year to more than $350 million.
After Iran fired more than 200 missiles and drones at Israel, nearly all of which either failed to reach their targets or were intercepted, Biden urged Israel not to retaliate. “You got a win. Take the win,” he reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Shaheen issued a statement on social media after the attack, declaring, “The U.S. stands with the Israeli people and will work with allies to prevent further escalation.”
Does Shaheen oppose an Israeli military response to Iran’s attack? Is that what she means by “further escalation?” Does she agree with Biden that Israel should “take the win?”
Shaheen declined to respond to repeated requests for comment.
The two New Hampshire Democrats in the U.S. House also have controversial records when it comes to supporting Iran and opposing Israel.
In 2015, U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster repeatedly voted with the Obama administration and in favor of the Iran Deal.
In February, four months after the Hamas attack and headed for retirement, voted against a standalone bill providing billions in aid to Israel.
NHJournal asked the two Democrats running to replace Kuster, Colin Van Ostern and state Sen. Becky Whitley, about their stance on military aid for Israel and supporting revenue to Iran. Both declined to answer.
Kuster has often cast votes viewed as anti-Israel, including voting no to a bipartisan $14.3 billion bill in November giving aid to the Jewish state. She also voted against an anti-BDS bill and lobbied to keep fellow Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) from being punished by House leadership after making antisemitic comments.
Rep. Chris Pappas, on the other hand, was one of 46 Democrats who voted in favor of the standalone Israel aid bill, and he also issued a statement in support of Israel during the Iranian attack.
“As Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel continues, the United States must stand shoulder to shoulder with the Israeli people, and our commitment to our ally must remain ironclad. The Iranian regime has fueled Hamas’s war against Israel and recent attacks on the American military and merchant vessels. Their evil campaign of terror cannot stand,” Pappas wrote.
But the National Republican Congressional Committee released a list of pro-Iran votes Pappas has cast in the past, including a vote to limit Trump’s military options against Iran.
And earlier this month, Pappas told a local radio host he believes an Israeli missile strike that killed seven aid workers in Gaza may have been an intentional act targeting civilians, and he said Israel needs to be “pushed” by the U.S. to avoid civilian casualties.
“Weakness invites aggression, and extreme House Democrat Chris Pappas joined with terrorist sympathizers to embolden the evil Iranian regime. Every missile launched toward our ally Israel is a testament to why Chris Pappas should not be serving in Congress,” said NRCC spokeswoman Savannah Viar.
The Republicans who are running in the First Congressional District were quick to call out Pappas on Monday.
“Chris Pappas tries to convince voters he supports Israel while also accepting campaign cash from extremists on the far left who regularly make antisemitic statements,” said former Executive Councilor Russell Prescott. “No matter how much he tries to pretend otherwise, New Hampshire is seeing that Chris’ rhetoric, votes, and donor base do not align with him being a member of Congress who supports Israel.”
Businesswoman Hollie Noveltsky released a statement over the weekend in support of Israel.
“We desperately need a change in D.C. Chris Pappas has shown the same weakness and has supported Biden every step of the way. It is time for a representative who will advocate for a strong America that our allies know can be depended upon and our enemies know they must fear. That will not happen with Joe Biden in the White House and Chris Pappas in Congress.”
Republican Chris Bright, a West Point graduate and Army veteran, added, “The positions Chris Pappas has taken over his years in Congress demonstrate his lack of geopolitical knowledge and experience. His focus on extreme left platforms, while ignoring rising global threats—not to mention all the struggles everyday Granite Staters face—have contributed to the state we as a country and a state are in today.”
