U.S. Congressman Mike Lawler (R-NY) arrives before a closed briefing on Iran for House members on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 27, 2025; Illustrative. (Photo credit: Reuters/Elisabeth Franz)
Lawler’s letter is now circulating again, asking Israel to protect the mobility of dual U.S.-Israeli citizens who are affected by the attorney general’s order for evading orthodox drafts.
A September letter from U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resurfaced on Tuesday asking that dual citizens be exempted from the attorney general’s order sanctioning yeshiva students who try to evade the Israel Defense Forces recruitment process.
Lawlor is concerned that “these measures include travel restrictions that prevent individuals who are dual U.S.-Israeli citizens from leaving the country.”
In the letter, Lawler asked Netanyahu to “ensure that these U.S. citizens are allowed to leave Israel freely and are able to visit and return to the United States of their choice.”
He affirmed that U.S. citizens “like all citizens deserve the full protections afforded by their nationality, especially those who maintain deep family, professional and personal ties in the United States through dual citizenship.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) sent a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu on September 19, 2025 requesting a draft bill that exempts citizens with dual U.S. and Israeli citizenship from evading sanctions. (Image source: SCREENSHOT/X/VIA Section 27A of the Copyright Act)
It’s unclear why the letter has recirculated on social media in recent days.
Lawler’s district is New York State’s 17th district, which includes Rockland County and parts of Duchess, Putnam and Westchester counties north of New York City and has a high proportion of Jewish residents.
He was elected to Congress in 2022 and took office in January 2023.
Lawler also serves as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including chairing the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee.
Lawler hosts Herzog to discuss bilateral relations, anti-Semitism
Lawler met with President Isaac Herzog during his visit to New York and said he was honored to “discuss the U.S.-Israel relationship” with the president, including “the importance of working together to counter the tide of anti-Semitism.”
“We are committed to strengthening the U.S.-Israel partnership and ensuring that America’s Jewish communities feel safe, supported and protected,” Lawler posted on X/Twitter after the meeting.