More than half of House Democrats voted against $3.3 billion in aid to Israel on Wednesday. The amendment would have barred funding the national security appropriations bill from being used for Israel and would have blocked billions of dollars in security aid for Israel.
Democratic leadership in the House split over the issue demonstrated growing chaos among the party over how to deal with the country’s relations with Israel. This comes as the more progressive wing of the party has experienced startling wins in recent primaries in different parts of the country ahead of the midterm elections.
Progressive Democrats have been vocal about their desire to cut assistance to the Israelis until the government adjusts its policies and approach toward Gaza. However, more centrist Democrats are reluctant to shake-up a decades-long alliance with Israel.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) voted against the amendment that was brought by Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie. His rationale was that the amendment was too broad. Minority Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts supported the amendment.
In a speech before the vote, Clark expressed her opinion that the old way of dealing with the issue is no longer feasible.
“We should not provide a blank check for military aid to any country that does not comply with U.S. law, interests, and values. The Netanyahu government has failed to meet that standard. I will be voting yes, not because I agree with the entirety of the amendment, or the GOP’s cynical motivations for its consideration, but because I believe we must change course,” she said. “While Democratic Members will make different decisions on this amendment in good faith, we are absolutely united in our shared goal of permanent peace.”
Ahead of the vote, Jeffries sent a letter to his colleagues stating that the amendment “would restrict our country’s ability to confront Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations in the region who are sworn enemies of both the United States and Israel.”
He also said that there are more effective ways to bring about the urgent change needed in response to the “far-right” Netanyahu government.
One day before the vote, Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar of Texas, sent his own letter that advocated for his colleagues to vote “yes” on the amendment.
“The American people are crying out for an end to US tax dollars subsidizing Israel’s military,” Casar wrote. “At a time when millions are struggling to make ends meet, we are sending billions of dollars to a military that has killed tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon, destabilized the region, and helped lead us into war with Iran.”
Massie’s amendment was not successful, but makes a record of where lawmakers stand on what has gone from merely a military finance issue to a humanitarian issue.
