Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) Chairman of the Board Rubin Margules and ZOA National President Morton A. Klein released the following statement:

The ZOA is horrified by and rejects the dangerous, ignorant opposition by 75 faculty members to Rep. Elise Stefanik being honored by Yeshiva University. Virtually every Jewish group is clamoring to honor Stefanik for her extraordinary and effective work to protect Jewish students on college campuses. She has been a giant in fighting antisemitism and Israel-bashing. These ignorant faculty members should be praising and regaling Stefanik, not condemning her. What they’ve done is frighteningly dangerous. Their absurd actions will discourage others from helping our people. These left-wing partisans disagree with Stefanik on her strong political support for the Republican president, even though she is a Republican. And they disagree with her expressing concern over the legitimacy of the outcome of the 2020 election where an incapacitated, physically and mentally compromised Joe Biden received the largest presidential vote—a total of 81 million—in history. Kamala Harris received 75 million. It is her legitimate right to express that opinion, just as it is others’ legitimate right to criticize such an opinion. That’s politics in a democracy.

We hope the Yeshiva U administration condemns these faculty members who are being unfair, unjust and political. We support YU honoring this great heroine, this Esther of the Jewish people. ZOA presented Rep. Stefanik with our Dr. Miriam & Sheldon G. Adelson Award for defending Israel and Jews, and we’re proud of it.