Opinion

The eyes of the nation will be looking at Long Island next week, as residents of the third Congressional district in New York will be headed to the polls to determine their next representative.  Republicans’ razor-thin majority in the House will be put to the test, while Democrats are hoping that this election could be a bellwether for their 2024 prospects.  Voters need to determine if they want to give Joe Biden more allies or if they want to stand against his policies.

In a move that surprised supporters and opponents alike, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis dropped out of the 2024 presidential race before the New Hampshire primaries. Rumors immediately hit that his and Trump’s people have been negotiating for several days following the Iowa caucuses, and speculation abounds on what DeSantis’ future will be. In the meantime, it looks like nothing short of an act of G-d is going to stop us from having a 2020 rematch.

Nearly two weeks ago, Orthodox Jewish leaders in Queens held a tribute breakfast to thank local elected officials for supporting Israel and the Jewish community in a time when their offices have been facing relentless picketing, phone calls, and letters discrediting Israel’s war against Hamas. As they have stood with our community, we have a long history in which Jewish leaders and activists marched for civil rights and against xenophobia. It was our sense of justice that does not expect reciprocation and appreciates it as anti-Semitic incidents have increased following the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.

When a tight race occurs, it is typical for the candidates to associate their opponents with seemingly unpopular figures within their party. If one listens to advertisements from Republican Mazi Melesa Pilip, it would appear that she is running against former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the leftist “Squad,” and undocumented migrants.

Anyone who has even passing knowledge of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people should be familiar with UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. UNRWA was founded in 1949 after five invading Arab nations failed to kill every Jew in the newly formed State of Israel for the sole purpose of keeping the Arab refugees in perpetual limbo as a weapon to use against Israel.

On a bitterly cold night in Whitestone, Queens, the American Legion Hall became the epicenter of a fervent political rally for Mazi Pilip, drawing a standing room only crowd. The event, hosted by NYC Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, brought together a notable roster of elected officials, signaling the importance of the upcoming elections. The GOP Chairs of Nassau, Queens, and New York State all converged with the elected representatives they worked so hard to put in office to ensure that Mazi beats Tom Suozzi on February 13.