Mayor's Wife Condemns Rep. Pou for Israel Trip, Ties to Lobbying Group

Mayor Andre Sayegh's wife, Farhanna Balgahoom Sayegh, condemned Rep. Nellie Pou for traveling to Israel with other members of Congress on a pro-Israel lobbying group-sponsored trip, saying the money was being used for "war crimes." The criticism comes as the mayor has been considering a run against Pou in the 2026 Democratic primary.

As a pro-Israel lobbying group sponsored the trip, the itinerary included meetings with Israeli government officials, Palestinian Authority representatives, and family members of hostages. Pou's staff stated that the trip was a "fact-finding" exercise to learn more about supporting Israelis and Palestinians. However, Farhanna Balgahoom Sayegh claimed that the trip would lead to continued voting for billions of dollars to fuel conflict instead of investing in American communities.

Meanwhile, Mayor Sayegh has not explicitly endorsed his wife's criticism, stating that the issue is a "sensitive, humanitarian matter" and that world leaders should focus on preserving and enhancing life. His current mayoral term ends next year, and he has not ruled out a run for reelection. Another city official, Luis Velez, accused the mayor of using politics to gain an advantage in the 2026 mayoral election and distract from Paterson's problems.

Key Takeaways:

• Farhanna Balgahoom Sayegh, wife of Mayor Andre Sayegh, criticized Rep. Nellie Pou for traveling to Israel with a pro-Israel lobbying group-sponsored trip, calling it a form of "war crimes."
• Pou's staff stated that the trip was a "fact-finding" exercise to learn more about supporting Israelis and Palestinians.
• Mayor Sayegh has not explicitly endorsed his wife's criticism, but has expressed concerns about the humanitarian situation in the region.
• The mayor is considering running against Pou in the 2026 Democratic primary for Congress.
• Representative Pou's goals for the region include a two-state solution, release of all hostages, safe distribution of humanitarian aid, removal of Hamas, and an immediate ceasefire.
• Mayor Sayegh's mayoral term ends in 2026, and he is taking donations for his mayoral campaign fund.
• Councilman Luis Velez accused the mayor of using politics to gain an advantage in the 2026 mayoral election.

Statistics:

• In 2026, the mayoral and congressional primaries will take place in May and June, respectively.
• The mayoral election will be held in May 2026, and the congressional primary will be held in June 2026.
• $ billions of dollars have been allocated by the United States for support in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Sources:

• "Mayor's wife condemns Rep. Pou for Israel trip" - Paterson Press
• "Politico" article featuring Mayor Sayegh's comments on his potential run against Pou
• Rep. Pou's staff statement regarding the trip to Israel
• Councilman Luis Velez's statement regarding the mayor's intentions
• "Congressional primary" and "mayoral election" information from public records.