Democratic Congressional Candidate Brad Lander Opposes Iron Dome Support

Former NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, who is running in the Democratic primary for New York’s 12th Congressional District, said in a recent interview that he would vote to stop funding Israel’s Iron Dome system.

The district, which covers parts of Boro Park, is currently represented by Dan Goldman, a Jewish congressman, and Lander is challenging him from the left.

In an interview with multiple NYC journalists for the New York Editorial Board, Lander said that at the moment “he would not vote for any more aid” to Israel, including funding for the Iron Dome, Israel’s missile defense system, which helps protect civilians from incoming rockets.

Calling Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza a “genocide,” Lander added that he wants the United States “to follow the Leahy Law and condition all of our foreign policy aid on human rights and international law compliance,” and said that “at the moment, Israel is very far from complying with human rights and international law.”

In a statement to the Forward, Lander doubled down on his position, saying that “Israel should have access to purchase [the Iron Dome] with their own funds.”