Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) was named on Tuesday as the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Middle East Subcommittee, a move that places one of the House’s most outspoken Jewish pro-Israel Democrats in a key leadership role even as many in the party take a more skeptical stance toward the U.S.-Israel relationship.

Moskowitz has frequently worked with his GOP counterpart, subcommittee Chair Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), on various issues related to Israel and Middle East policy.

“I’m honored to be named Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa,” Moskowitz said in a statement. “At a moment of enormous change across the region, I’ll work to strengthen America’s relationships with Israel and our Gulf allies, expand regional peace, advance American diplomacy, and ensure our foreign policy is grounded in strength, security, and reality. I’m ready to get to work.”

He also thanked Rep. Greg Meeks (D-NY), the Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) “for this important responsibility to help lead Democrats[‘] policy in the Middle East and North Africa on the Foreign Affairs Committee.”

The position has a turbulent history, as it was originally held in the current congressional term by former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL). Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) took over the spot after Cherfilus-McCormick was indicted on corruption charges, but he holds another subcommittee leadership post and would not have been able to retain the Middle East leadership role in the next Congress.

Sherman and Lawler, while working together on some legislation, also clashed heatedly on multiple occasions during committee hearings.

Two sources familiar with the situation explained that, since Sherman would have been unable to remain in the post next year, he decided to give up the position early to help support Moskowitz in his reelection race — in a South Florida district with a substantial pro-Israel constituency where the leadership position will further bolster Moskowitz’s profile — and to pass off the committee leadership to a pro-Israel successor.

One source noted there are several vocal critics of Israel on the committee who would otherwise be in contention for the post in the next Congress and jockeyed for the role at the outset of this term, but Moskowitz stepping into the role now should help ensure he retains it in the coming year or — should Democrats win the House and Moskowitz win his reelection race — becomes chair of the subcommittee.

In a statement, Meeks congratulated Moskowitz and thanked Sherman for his “stewardship” of the subcommittee over the past several months.

“Congratulations to my friend [Rep. Moskowitz] on his appointment as Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa,” Lawler said in a statement. “As Chair, I look forward to partnering with him to protect America’s interests in the region, combat Iran and its malign influence and terror proxy network, and stand resolute in support of a strong US-Israel relationship.”

Moskowitz is the sixth lawmaker to lead Democrats on the subcommittee since 2022. The post was previously held by former Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN), who retired at the end of the previous session, and former Reps. Ted Deutch (D-FL) and David Cicilline (D-RI), both of whom resigned in the middle of their terms.

Deutch, who now heads the American Jewish Committee and previously represented Moskowitz’s district, congratulated his “friend and fellow Floridan [Rep. Moskowitz], as he’s set to lead the Democrats on the [House Foreign Affairs Committee’s] subcommittee for the Middle East and North Africa.”

“In a moment marked by instability, violence, and increasing demonization of Israel, Jared’s leadership, communication skills, and moral clarity will help Congress advance meaningful steps toward peace and security throughout the region,” Deutch said.

The announcement has prompted an outpouring of anger from Israel critics, who argued that Moskowitz is out of step with a majority of Democrats on Middle East issues, and described the appointment as a betrayal by Democratic leaders.

Ben Rhodes, a senior Obama administration aide, called the appointment a “giant f*** you from Democratic leadership to Democratic voters.” He added, “Dems are counting on people not noticing how they approach governing. Appointments on HFAC are a signal of what the party cares about and the disregard for war crimes and voter concerns could not be clearer.”

Rhodes and other critics asserted that the appointment shows that senior Democrats including Meeks don’t oppose the Iran war or have sought to avoid forcing the administration to account for it. Though Moskowitz initially said he opposed efforts to pass a war powers resolution to halt the war, he has voted in favor of every Iran war powers resolution that has come to the floor.

Sherman and Cherfilus-McCormick, his predecessors, also held largely positions on Middle East policy issues that were similar to Moskowitz.

Some critics also asserted that the position would allow Moskowitz to determine what Middle East-related legislation makes it to the House floor; his primary authority would be in determining what hearings the subcommittee holds and what witnesses are called to appear.

Some on the far-left bizarrely linked a recent meeting between Jeffries and Jared Kushner, an unofficial advisor to the administration, to Moskowitz’s appointment.