New York politicians are furious at the liberal Working Families Party for making the extraordinary move of voting to endorse an anti-Israel bill at their convention earlier this week.
Pro-Israel Democrats were shocked by the party’s decision to boost the “Not On Our Dime Act,” which would force New York-based non-profit organizations to stop lending support to the Israeli military and the country’s settlement efforts.
“It’s become more of a Democratic Socialists party,” Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Queens) told The Post in an interview Friday.
Weprin has sought the WFP line in the past, but said he didn’t seek the endorsement this year as he doesn’t agree with the party’s shift towards “very left” positions.
“At this point I wouldn’t seek the Working Families Party endorsement and don’t want it because of some of their very left positions and clearly some of their anti-Israel positions and something like this would certainly be one of them,” he said.
Assemblyman Chuck Lavine (D-Nassau), president of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Jewish Legislators, concurred.
“I refuse to seek the WFP line,” said Lavine, who has sought the party’s endorsement in the past.
“The [Not On Our Dime] bill is, and will remain, dead as a doornail,” Lavine said in a statement.
State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D-Manhattan), who is on the WFP ballot line, said he was vehemently against the proposed anti-Israel legislation.
“I oppose the bill in no uncertain terms and have made this known to the WFP leadership,” he said.
Freshman Assemblyman Sam Berger (D-Queens) — who ran as a moderate and never sought the WFP ballot line — also ripped the decision.
“I’m not sure why WFP is so focused on foreign affairs and fringe legislation rather than helping their own districts,” he said, “but far be it from me if they think targeting Jewish non-profits who feed the poor and clothe the homeless is a winning strategy.”
The vote at last weekend’s convention was a “voice vote”, meaning it came with no specific tally.
WFP officers will decide later this year whether to make the endorsement of the “Not On Our Dime Act” part of the official party position.
The legislation is sponsored by Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (D-Queens), a member of the Democratic Socialists of America rumored to be thinking about joining the growing field of candidates looking to run for mayor next year.
“This Saturday, the New York Working Families Party convened its State Convention, gathering hundreds of members, allies and affiliates to make critical, time-sensitive decisions given the national political cycle,” New York Working Families Party co-directors Jasmine Gripper and Ana María Archila wrote in a statement.
“The Working Families Party is committed to the pursuit of a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the safe return of all hostages, and lasting peace in the region,” they continued.
Spokespersons for both the state Assembly and state Senate said leadership had no intent of bringing up the legislation for a vote.
