View source for Steve Israel

{{Short description|American politician (born 1958)}}
{{About|the American politician|the football player|Steve Israel (American football)}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Steve Israel
| image               = Steve Israel, official photo portrait, 2009.jpeg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2009
| office              = Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee
| leader              = [[Nancy Pelosi]]
| term_start          = January 3, 2015
| term_end            = January 3, 2017
| predecessor         = Position established
| successor           = [[Cheri Bustos]]<br>[[David Cicilline]]<br>[[Hakeem Jeffries]] (Co-Chairs)
| office1             = Chair of the [[Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]]
| leader1             = [[Nancy Pelosi]]
| term_start1         = January 3, 2011
| term_end1           = January 3, 2015
| predecessor1        = [[Chris Van Hollen]]
| successor1          = [[Ben Ray Luján]]
| state2              = [[New York (state)|New York]]
| term_start2         = January 3, 2001
| term_end2           = January 3, 2017
| predecessor2        = [[Rick Lazio]]
| successor2          = [[Tom Suozzi]]
| constituency2       = {{ushr|NY|2|C}} (2001–2013)<br>{{ushr|NY|3|C}} (2013–2017)
| birth_name          = Steven Jay Israel
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1958|5|30}}
| birth_place         = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = {{ubl |{{marriage|Marlene Budd|2003|2014|end=div}} |{{marriage|Cara Longworth|2018}}}}
| children            = 2
| education           = [[Nassau Community College]]<br>[[Syracuse University]]<br>[[George Washington University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| module              = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Rep. Steve Israel Speaks on Rising Student Loan Interest Rates.ogg |title=Israel's voice |type=speech|description=Steve Israel on rising [[Student loans in the United States|student loan interest rates]].<br>Recorded June 26, 2013}}
}}
'''Steven Jay Israel''' (born May 30, 1958) is an American political commentator, lobbyist, author, bookseller, and former politician. He served as a [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. representative]] from New York from 2001 to 2017. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he was elected in {{ushr|NY|2}} until 2013 and {{ushr|NY|3}} until his retirement.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://Israel.nytimes.com/2000/05/21/nyregion/race-for-senate-congress-fight-already-for-house-seat-that-could-prove-decisive.html | title = Fight Already On for a House Seat That Could Prove Decisive | first = Bruce | last = Lambert | work = [[The New York Times]] | date = May 21, 2000}}</ref> At the time of his departure from Congress, his district included portions of northern [[Nassau County, New York|Nassau County]] and [[Suffolk County, New York|Suffolk County]] on [[Long Island]], as well as a small portion of [[Queens]] in New York City.

Israel chaired the [[Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]] from 2011 to 2015 and Democratic Policy and Communications Committee from 2015 to 2017. Prior to his election to Congress, he served on the [[Huntington, New York|Huntington]] Town Board, starting 1993. After leaving Congress in 2017, Israel joined [[CNN]] as a political commentator.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/spin-cycle/steve-israel-joins-cnn-as-commentator-1.12972276|title=Steve Israel joins CNN as commentator|work=[[Newsday]]|author=Rick Brand|date=January 17, 2017|access-date=April 14, 2017|archive-date=February 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218141725/https://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/spin-cycle/steve-israel-joins-cnn-as-commentator-1.12972276|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2019, he was appointed the inaugural director of the Institute of Politics and Global Affairs at [[Cornell University]].<ref>{{cite news|url = https://cornellsun.com/2019/02/05/former-congressman-steve-israel-to-head-new-institute-of-politics-and-global-affairs/|title = Former Congressman Steve Israel to Head New Institute of Politics and Global Affairs|work = [[The Cornell Daily Sun]]|last = Winberg|first = Olivia|date = February 5, 2019|accessdate = May 27, 2022}}</ref> {{As of|2022}}, Israel also serves on the Board of Advisors for lobbying firm Michael Best Strategies.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Steve Israel |url=https://www.michaelbeststrategies.com/about/steve-israel/ |website=Michael Best Strategies |access-date=November 6, 2019}}</ref>

==Early life and career==
Israel was born in [[Brooklyn]]<ref name=wapo-profile>{{cite web | url= http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/I000057/ | title=Steve Israel (D) | publisher= The U.S. Congress Votes Database ([[The Washington Post]]) | access-date= November 10, 2016| archive-date= May 3, 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160503070325/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/I000057/| url-status=live}}</ref> and raised in the [[Long Island]] community of [[Levittown, New York]].<ref name=official-biography /> He attended [[Nassau Community College]] and [[Syracuse University]] for one year before graduating from [[George Washington University]] with a Bachelor of Arts in 1982.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/i000057|title=Bioguide Search|website=bioguide.congress.gov|accessdate=July 7, 2023}}</ref>

After earning his bachelor's degree, Israel became a staff member for U.S. Representative [[Richard Ottinger]].<ref name="wapo-profile" /> He was later elected to the town council in [[Huntington, New York]], in 1993.<ref name="Uphill Charge" />

==U.S. House of Representatives==
===Elections===
After [[Rick Lazio]] left his House seat to run for the [[United States Senate]] in [[United States Senate election in New York, 2000|2000]], Israel was elected to his seat, receiving 48% of the vote, defeating Republican Joan Johnson, who received 34%, and four independent candidates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2000/wcon2000.pdf|title=NYS Board of Elections - Congressional - Nov. 7, 2000
|website=elections.ny.gov|access-date=19 July 2023}}</ref> He was reelected seven times with relatively little difficulty, despite representing a swing district on paper.

On January 5, 2016, Israel announced that he would not seek reelection in November 2016.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/06/us/politics/steve-israel-house-democrat-new-york.html?_r=0 | title=Steve Israel of New York, a Top House Democrat, Won't Seek Re-election | work=New York Times | date=January 5, 2016 | access-date=April 4, 2016 | author=Hulse, Carl}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===
* [[United States House Committee on Appropriations|Committee on Appropriations]]
** [[United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development|Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development]]
** [[United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs|Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs]]
** [[United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies]]

===Caucus membership===
* Co-chair and founder of Congressional Center Aisle Caucus
* House Cancer Caucus (Co-chair)
* Long Island Sound Caucus (Co-chair)

===Party leadership===
* Assistant Democratic Whip
* House Democratic Caucus Task Force On Defense and the Military (Chair)
* House Democratic Study Group on National Security Policy (Co-chair)

=== Tenure ===
Israel voted to authorize [[George W. Bush]] to use military force in Iraq, even though more than 60 per cent of his Democratic colleagues in the House voted against the bill.<ref>{{cite web | website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives | url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll455.xml|title=Final vote results for roll call 455 | access-date=19 July 2023}}</ref>

In his second term, Israel was tapped for a leadership position as Assistant [[Whip (politics)|Whip]]. In his third term, Israel was appointed to chair the House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Defense and Military, a group of 15 Democratic House members who reach out to the defense community and advise the House Democratic leadership on military policy.

In 2006, in response to [[Jimmy Carter]]'s book ''[[Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid]]'', Israel said, "I disagree with President Carter fundamentally. The reason for the Palestinian plight is the Palestinians."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forward.com/news/5918/carter-book-slaps-israel-with-e2-80-98apartheid-e2-80-99-tag/ |title=Carter Book Slaps Israel With 'Apartheid' Tag, Provides Ammo to GOP |newspaper=The Jewish Daily Forward |publisher=Forward.com |date=October 17, 2006 |last=Siegel |first=Jennifer |access-date=August 23, 2010}}</ref>

Israel supported a study on the feasibility of switching from Tuesday to weekend voting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whytuesday.org/2009/07/16/why-tuesday-goes-to-washington/|title=Why Tuesday? Goes To Washington|date=July 16, 2009}}</ref>

;Occupy Wall Street
Israel's support for [[Occupy Wall Street]] drew criticism from conservatives, who claimed the movement harbored "anti-Semitic" elements. In response Israel pointed to his support for the nation of Israel as well as his own Jewish heritage.<ref name="OWS anti-Semitism">{{cite news|title=Steve Israel Furious At Republican Charge That He Embraces Anti-Semitism In Occupy Wall Street|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/20/steve-israel-anti-semitism-occupy-wall-street-republican-charge_n_1022579.html|newspaper=The Huffington Post|date=October 20, 2011|first=Michael|last=McAuliff}}</ref>

===DCCC chairman===
As an ally of [[Nancy Pelosi]], Israel was mentioned in 2010 as a possible successor to [[Chris Van Hollen]], the chairman of the DCCC; he declined to speak about it until after the midterms were over, saying he was "just completely focused on supporting Nancy Pelosi."<ref name="To Chair Campaign Arm">{{cite news|title=Steve Israel to Chair Democratic Campaign Arm|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/11/steve-israel-to-chair-democratic-campaign-arm/66840/|newspaper=The Atlantic|date=November 19, 2010}}</ref>

It was reported that Pelosi's selection of Israel to head the DCCC had much to do with the district he represents, where "Democrats hold a modest registration edge but independents decide elections." Israel had gained respect through fundraising and recruiting candidates for the campaign committee. Israel is one of the few Democrats who has run campaign ads in defense of his vote on health care.<ref name="Uphill Charge">{{cite news|title=L.I. Congressman Leads Uphill Charge Toward a Democratic House|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/19/nyregion/19steveisrael.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 18, 2011|first=David M.|last=Halbfinger}}</ref>

==Policy positions==
===Abortion===
Israel has said he supports legal abortions in cases of rape, incest, and threat to the life of the mother, though he does not support abortions being legal in all cases.<ref name="votesmart.org">{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/political-courage-test/55440/steve-israel |title=Steve Israel - Political Positions - - Project Vote Smart |publisher=Votesmart.org |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref> He has voted against bills that would prohibit federal funding for abortions, against a bill that would eliminate federal funding for [[Planned Parenthood]], an organization that provides abortions, and against the Abortion Pain Act, which would have prevented abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Since 2004 he has consistently received 100% ratings from the pro-choice groups [[NARAL]], Planned Parenthood, and the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, as well as a 0% rating from the [[National Right to Life Committee]].

===Economics===
On July 4, 2013, Israel announced legislation that would require all U.S. national parks to sell merchandise that is [[Made in the USA]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://israel.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1207:rep-israel-announces-legislation-to-require-national-parks-to-sell-merchandise-made-in-the-usa&catid=57:2013-press-releases |title=Rep. Israel Announces Legislation to Require National Parks to Sell Merchandise 'Made in the USA' |access-date=July 4, 2013 |archive-date=July 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707002449/http://israel.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1207:rep-israel-announces-legislation-to-require-national-parks-to-sell-merchandise-made-in-the-usa&catid=57:2013-press-releases |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Gun control===
Israel supports increased [[Gun control in the United States|gun control]] on gun ownership. He voted against several bills and amendments which would decrease federal regulation of safety precautions of guns and decrease federal regulations on the sale of firearms. He also cosponsored the 2009 "No Fly, No Buy" Act,<ref>{{cite web|author=Rep. Carolyn McCarthy [D-NY4] |url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/111/hr2401 |title=No Fly, No Buy Act of 2009 (2009; 111th Congress H.R. 2401) |publisher=GovTrack.us |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref> stating "Gun safety measures like the 'No Fly, No Buy' Act should be a no-brainer for every member of Congress. It's common sense legislation."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/public-statement/424302/reps-mccarthy-and-israel-to-stand-with-law-enforcement-and-announce-no-fly-no-buy-act-today |title=Reps. McCarthy and Israel to Stand with Law Enforcement and Announce "No Fly, No Buy" Act Today - Public Statements - Project Vote Smart |publisher=Votesmart.org |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref> He has received an 'F' rating from the pro-gun rights [[NRA Political Victory Fund]]<ref>{{cite web |title=NRA-PVF {{!}} Grades {{!}} New York |url=https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/New-York/ |website=NRA-PVF |access-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104194224/https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/New-York/ |archive-date=November 4, 2014 |language=en-us |url-status=usurped}}</ref> and 0% from the [[Gun Owners of America]], as well as 100% ratings from the pro-gun control [[Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence]] and the [[Coalition to Stop Gun Violence]].<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/political-courage-test/55440/steve-israel/ |title=Steve Israel - Political Positions - - Project Vote Smart |publisher=Votesmart.org |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref> Israel was an original cosponsor of the bill [[To extend the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988 for 10 years (H.R. 3626; 113th Congress)]], which passed the House on December 3, 2013.<ref name=foxnewsHousevotes>{{cite news|title=House votes to renew ban on plastic firearms|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-votes-to-renew-ban-on-plastic-firearms/|access-date=December 5, 2013|newspaper=Foxnews.com|date=December 3, 2013}}</ref> The bill allowed for a ten-year extension of the [[Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988]], but did not expand any of its provisions (related to plastic guns).

===Health care===
Israel voted for the 2010 [[Affordable Care Act]]<ref>{{cite web | website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives | url=https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll165.xml |title=Final vote results for roll call 165| access-date=19 July 2023}}</ref> and against several bills repealing it.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

===LGBT rights===
Israel supports same-sex marriage. In a June 2009 press release he stated, "I'm proud of what Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Vermont have done for marriage equality. I hope that my home state of New York will soon follow."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://israel.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=689%3Acounting-marriage-equality&catid=49%3Ablog&Itemid=1 |title=Counting Marriage Equality |publisher=Israel.house.gov |date=June 17, 2009 |access-date=May 21, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506140606/http://israel.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=689%3Acounting-marriage-equality&catid=49%3Ablog&Itemid=1 |archive-date=May 6, 2015 }}</ref> [[Same-sex marriage in New York|New York legalized same-sex marriage]] in 2011.

He voted for the repeal of [[Don't ask, don't tell]] and for the [[Employment Non-Discrimination Act]].<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

He has a 100% rating from the pro-LGBTQ rights [[Human Rights Campaign]] and a 0% rating from the [[Family Research Council]].<ref name="votesmart.org"/>

===Social media===
In October 2022, Israel joined the Council for Responsible Social Media project launched by [[Issue One]] to address the negative mental, civic, and public health impacts of [[social media]] in the United States co-chaired by former [[House Democratic Caucus]] leader [[Dick Gephardt]] and former Massachusetts lieutenant governor [[Kerry Healey]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Feiner|first=Lauren|date=October 12, 2022|title=Facebook whistleblower, former defense and intel officials form group to fix social media|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/12/council-for-responsible-social-media-features-haugen-gephardt-hagel-.html|access-date=October 12, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Council for Responsible Social Media – Issue One|website=issueone.org|url=https://issueone.org/projects/council-for-responsible-social-media/|access-date=October 12, 2022}}</ref>

===Canada===
In February 2025, Israel advocated for Donald Trump's efforts to coerce Canada into being the 51st state, believing that it would help the Democratic Party gain more voters. <ref>{{cite web|title=Canada as the 51st State? In Electoral Terms,Trump's Idea Favors Democrats.|website=nytimes.com|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/17/us/politics/canada-trump-51st-state.html|access-date=February 18, 2025}}</ref>

==J Street controversy==
Steve Israel was an honorary member of the gala host committee for a Gala dinner on October 27, 2009, by [[J Street (advocacy group)|J Street]], a liberal<ref name="Abramowitz2008-04-15">{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Abramowitz|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/14/AR2008041402647.html|title= Jewish Liberals to Launch A Counterpoint to AIPAC|newspaper= The Washington Post|date=April 15, 2008|access-date=April 29, 2008}}</ref><ref name="Eggen">{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/16/AR2009041603995.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=Year-Old Liberal Jewish Lobby Has Quickly Made Its Mark |first=Dan |last=Eggen |date=April 17, 2009 |access-date=May 5, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/02/27/delahunts_journey_to_mideast_upended/ | work=Boston.com | title=Delahunt's journey to Mideast upended| first=Farah | last=Stockton | date=February 27, 2010 | access-date=September 22, 2010}}</ref> nonprofit lobbying group. In the weeks leading up to the Gala dinner, those aligned with the [[Likud]], the political party of Israeli Prime Minister, [[Benjamin Netanyahu]], criticized Steve Israel and those supporting J Street. ''[[The Weekly Standard]]'' blogger [[Michael Goldfarb (political writer)|Michael Goldfarb]] called the J Street dinner an "anti-Israel bash."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/24/AR2009102400994.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Israel conference to open amid controversy | first=Dan | last=Eggen | date=October 25, 2009 | access-date=May 24, 2010}}</ref> In response, Steve Israel's spokeswoman Lindsay Hamilton state, "It's absurd that this has become a controversy [...] The Congressman agreed to be on the gala host committee. That doesn't mean he agrees with every viewpoint of every speaker at the event".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=158056 |title=Michael Oren rejects J Street conference invite |publisher=Jpost.com |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
New York election law allows for [[fusion voting]], where a candidate can run as a member of multiple parties. In 2000 Israel ran only as a Democrat in his winning bid for Congress, but since 2002 he has also run as the candidate for the [[Independence Party of New York|Independence Party]] and the [[Working Families Party]]. In 2000 the Republican candidate ran only as a Republican, but since 2002, every Republican has also run as the candidate for the [[Conservative Party of New York]].

{{s-start}}
|-
| colspan=10 |{{center|'''[[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House]], [[New York's 3rd congressional district|2nd District of New York]]''' (General Election)}}
|-
!Year
!Winning candidate
!Party
!Pct
!Opponent
!Party
!Pct
|-
|[[United States House elections, 2000|2000]]
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Steve Israel'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |48%
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Joan B. Johnson
|{{party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|{{party shading/Republican}} |35%
|-
|[[United States House elections, 2002|2002]]
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Steve Israel'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |58%
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Joseph P. Finley
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Republican
|{{party shading/Republican}} |40%
|-
|[[United States House elections, 2004|2004]]
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Steve Israel'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |67%
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Richard Hoffmann
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Republican
|{{party shading/Republican}} |33%
|-
|[[United States House elections, 2006|2006]]
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Steve Israel'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |70%
|{{party shading/Republican}} |John W. Bugler
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Republican
|{{party shading/Republican}} |30%
|-
|[[United States House elections, 2008|2008]]
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Steve Israel'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |67%
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Frank J. Stalzer
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Republican
|{{party shading/Republican}} |33%
|-
|[[United States House elections, 2010|2010]]
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Steve Israel'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |56%
|{{party shading/Republican}} |John Gomez
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Republican
|{{party shading/Republican}} |43%
|-
|[[United States House elections, 2012|2012]]
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Steve Israel'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |58%<ref name="elections.msnbc.msn.com">{{cite web|url=http://elections.msnbc.msn.com/ns/politics/2012/new-york/#.UKFgQuTAcwI |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109062847/http://elections.msnbc.msn.com/ns/politics/2012/new-york#.UKFgQuTAcwI |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 9, 2012 |title=New York Election Results - President, Congress, Governor |publisher=[[MSNBC]] |date=November 5, 2012 |access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref>
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Stephen Labate
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Republican
|{{party shading/Republican}} |42%<ref name="elections.msnbc.msn.com"/>
|-
|[[United States House elections, 2014|2014]]
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Steve Israel'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |54%<ref name="elections.msnbc.msn.com"/>
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Grant Lally
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Republican
|{{party shading/Republican}} |45%<ref name="elections.msnbc.msn.com"/>
|-
{{s-end}}

==Personal life==
Israel has two adult daughters.<ref name=official-biography>{{cite web| url= http://israel.house.gov/about/full-biography| title= About: Full Biography| publisher= Congressman Steve Israel official site| access-date= November 10, 2016| archive-date= November 8, 2016| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161108222441/https://israel.house.gov/about/full-biography| url-status= dead}}</ref> He has written two novels of political satire: ''The Global War on Morris'' (2014) and ''[[Big Guns (novel)|Big Guns]]'' (2018).<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/book-review-the-global-war-on-morris-a-political-satire-by-congressman-steve-israel/2014/12/23/f9fb6f72-87ba-11e4-9534-f79a23c40e6c_story.html|title = Book review: 'The Global War on Morris,' a political satire by Congressman Steve Israel|last = Charles|first = Ron|date = December 23, 2014|accessdate = May 25, 2022|newspaper = [[The Washington Post]]|url-access = limited}}</ref><ref name="book_release">{{cite news
  | last = Israel
  | first = Steve
  | title = Why a Book Tour Is More Brutal Than a Political Campaign
  | newspaper = [[The New York Times]]
  | date = November 6, 2018
| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/06/books/review/politician-turned-novelist-learns-rejection.html
  | access-date = April 23, 2019 }}</ref>

The 2012 sale of Israel's marital home was the subject of a controversy, after it was discovered that he had received financial contributions from lenders who also gave him a favorable deal on a short sale of the home in the wake of his separation from his wife Marlene Budd.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsday.com/opinion/steve-israel-s-fortunate-home-sale-editorial-1.4098667 |title=Steve Israel's fortunate home sale - Editorial |newspaper=Newsday |date=October 10, 2012 |access-date=August 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://thehuntingtonian.com/2012/10/26/israels-lenders-gave-thousands-to-campaign/ |title=Israel's Lenders Gave Thousands To Campaign |publisher=The Huntingtonian |date=October 26, 2012|last=Callan|first=Colleen|access-date=August 13, 2014}}</ref>

In November 2021, Israel opened a bookstore in [[Oyster Bay, New York]], named after former president and town resident [[Theodore Roosevelt]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://forward.com/news/477540/former-ny-congressman-steve-israel-breaks-into-the-book-business/ |title=Former NY congressman Steve Israel breaks into the book business|newspaper=Forward|date=November 2, 2021|last=Kornbluh|first=Jacob|access-date=July 13, 2022}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|title = Charge!: History's Greatest Military Speeches|editor = Steve Israel|isbn = 978-1591143994|publisher = [[Naval Institute Press]]|year = 2007}}
*{{cite book|title = The Global War on Morris|isbn = 978-1476772233|publisher = [[Simon & Schuster]]|year = 2014}}
*{{cite book|title = [[Big Guns (novel)|Big Guns]]|isbn = 978-1501118029|publisher = [[Simon & Schuster]]|year = 2018}}

==See also==
* [[List of Jewish members of the United States Congress]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Steve Israel}}
{{CongLinks | congbio = i000057 | votesmart = 55440 | fec = H0NY02085 | congress = steve-israel/1663}}
*{{C-SPAN|87911}}

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{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Rick Lazio]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from New York|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[New York's 2nd congressional district]]|years=2001–2013}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Peter T. King|Peter King]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Peter T. King|Peter King]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from New York|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[New York's 3rd congressional district]]|years=2013–2017}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Tom Suozzi]]}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Chris Van Hollen]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]]|years=2011–2015}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ben Ray Luján|Ben Luján]]}}
|-
{{s-new|rows=3|office}}
{{s-ttl|rows=3|title=Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee|years=2015–2017}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Cheri Bustos]]}}
|-
{{s-aft|after=[[David Cicilline]]}}
|-
{{s-aft|after=[[Hakeem Jeffries]]}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[John M. McHugh]]|as=Former U.S. Representative}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br>''{{small|as Former U.S. Representative}}''|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Charles Taylor (North Carolina politician)|Charles Taylor]]|as=Former U.S. Representative}}
{{s-end}}

{{Chairs of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee}}
{{USCongRep-start |congresses=107th–114th [[United States Congress]] |state=[[United States congressional delegations from New York|New York]]}}
{{USCongRep/NY/107}}
{{USCongRep/NY/108}}
{{USCongRep/NY/109}}
{{USCongRep/NY/110}}
{{USCongRep/NY/111}}
{{USCongRep/NY/112}}
{{USCongRep/NY/113}}
{{USCongRep/NY/114}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Israel, Steve}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century New York (state) politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American novelists]]
[[Category:21st-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:21st-century New York (state) politicians]]
[[Category:American lobbyists]]
[[Category:American male novelists]]
[[Category:American satirical novelists]]
[[Category:Chairs of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]]
[[Category:CNN people]]
[[Category:Cornell University faculty]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)]]
[[Category:George Washington University alumni]]
[[Category:Jewish United States representatives]]
[[Category:Nassau Community College alumni]]
[[Category:New York (state) city council members]]
[[Category:Novelists from New York (state)]]
[[Category:People from Huntington, New York]]
[[Category:People from Oyster Bay Cove, New York]]
[[Category:People from Wantagh, New York]]
[[Category:Politicians from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Politicians from Suffolk County, New York]]
[[Category:Syracuse University alumni]]