Candidates vying for Florida’s 25th Congressional District are maintaining a staunchly pro-Israel position, even as Israel's parliamentary elections indicate potential shifts in its leadership. The race, taking place in a district with a significant Jewish population, has seen both Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz and his Republican challenger, former Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer, articulate strong support for the U.S.-Israel alliance.
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party appeared to be losing ground to the centrist Yashar party in national elections, the outcome remained unclear. This electoral uncertainty in Israel coincides with international scrutiny over its war in Gaza and military actions in Lebanon and Iran. However, candidates in Miami Beach stressed that such developments would not alter their stance on Capitol Hill.
Moskowitz, speaking at a forum at the Miami Beach Jewish Community Center, highlighted his legislative efforts in Congress supporting Israel. "Every single solitary thing you can think of when it comes to being pro-Israel, every piece of legislation has my name on it," Moskowitz stated. He also attributed growing negative views of Israel among Americans, particularly young people, to social media influence and disinformation campaigns.
"I think Israel could use a new face, but I don’t think that’s fundamentally going to change the antisemitism that we’re seeing and the anti-Israel movement that we’re seeing," Moskowitz told HuffPost, emphasizing that his support for Israel extends to its people, regardless of leadership.
Singer, while focusing on domestic issues like the economy, affirmed the strategic importance of the U.S.-Israel partnership for military and intelligence purposes. He criticized Moskowitz's past support for a "two-state solution" following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, arguing it undermined Israel's security efforts. "I think that undermined Israel’s efforts to litigate that war," Singer contended. "I think that undermined Israel’s security. I don’t think we can even begin to talk about that until we clear out every damn terrorist and everyone funding those terrorists."
Moskowitz, in turn, accused Singer of remaining silent on antisemitic rhetoric from certain conservative figures.
Despite their differing critiques of each other's records, both candidates agreed on the fundamental importance of their pro-Israel stance. "I don’t know where we disagree," Moskowitz remarked. "We’re both very pro-Israel."
Singer praised Moskowitz's pro-Israel record as "laudable."
The race in Florida's 25th Congressional District is reportedly close, with some forecasts giving Moskowitz a slight advantage. Financial backing for Singer's campaign has seen contributions from groups including the Trump-tied No Going Back PAC and the NRCC, following an earlier withdrawal of funding by the Congressional Leadership Fund.