In a historic move on Wednesday, over half of House Democrats cast their votes in favor of withdrawing $3.3 billion in U.S. aid to Israel. This decision stands as the clearest indication yet that the once unwavering bipartisan support for Israel is crumbling, particularly in light of the recent conflict in Gaza that has resulted in the loss of thousands of Palestinian lives.
Although the final vote count of 104-314 was insufficient to incorporate the amendment into a larger national security spending package, it underscores significant shifts in perspective. These changing attitudes are creating rifts not only within the Democratic Party but also nationwide regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing war strategies, which are now in their third year.
The divide within the Democratic leadership on this critical issue was highlighted in what many considered a preliminary vote ahead of the impending U.S. midterm elections, which are set to determine the balance of power in Congress.
The partisan split was evident as more than 100 Democrats supported the amendment to withdraw the military aid, while nearly an equal number opposed it. In contrast, almost all Republicans voted to maintain the funding support to Israel.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who publicly opposed the proposal to eliminate the aid, nevertheless emphasized a vital point: “For the betterment of both Israel and the Palestinian people, it’s imperative that American policy in the Middle East undergoes a transformation.”
Jeffries said in a letter to colleagues, ahead of a private caucus meeting this week where he spoke on the issue, that he believes “there are more decisive ways to achieve the urgent change necessary when it comes to the far-right Netanyahu government.”
Democrats divided over US support for Israel
The deepening divide over Israel threatens to upend the Democratic Party as it faces an energized left flank that is promoting self-proclaimed democratic socialists in a handful of marquee House races, particularly last month in New York.
While more traditional Democrats have stood with US support for Israel, a growing number have distanced themselves from Netanyahu’s strategy as the war has dragged on in a prolonged response to the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
The Democratic Whip, Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, announced she would support the measure to withhold the funds.
Republicans have seized on the divide to portray Democrats as being overtaken by their more radical far-left elements, even as House Speaker Mike Johnson faces divisions within his own ranks as President Donald Trump’s most ardent America First Republicans lean toward less foreign military spending.
According to an AP-NORC poll this month, about one-third of US adults — including roughly half of Democrats — believe Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians during the war in Gaza, an accusation that’s been leveled by some human rights organizations and vehemently denied by Israel and the US government.
Amendment pushed forward from Rep. Thomas Massie
The amendment to strip Israel’s foreign aid was offered by Rep. Thomas Massie, the libertarian-leaning Kentucky Republican who lost his own bid for reelection after Trump backed his challenger.
During the floor debate, Massie said the $3.3 billion could be better spent at home on US roads, bridges and veterans’ needs, especially as national deficits are on the rise. He said the American weapons were used on “oftentimes innocent civilians.”
“I think we should stop it — we should put them on a diet,” Massie said.
But Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, himself a former party leader, championed longtime support of Israel and warned against withdrawing US aid.
“I rise in strong opposition to this amendment, which would dangerously undermine American national security,” Hoyer said. He said it would limit the United States’ ability to confront terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, which he said “expressly target American citizens and military personnel.”
Lawmakers under pressure as midterms near
The lawmakers were feeling pressure from all sides as they prepare for midterm elections this fall.
The powerful American-Israel group AIPAC encouraged its supporters to contact members of Congress to register their opposition.
“We must ensure his dangerous amendment is defeated,” AIPAC said in a statement ahead of the vote.
At the same time, the progressive advocacy organization J Street gave lawmakers more leeway to express their views, as Jeffries did, even as the group opposed the amendment as poorly drafted and overly broad.
President Jeremy Ben-Ami said in a statement that J Street recognizes “that, for many Democrats, this is one of the few opportunities to cast a recorded vote expressing opposition to the way American military assistance and American-supplied weapons have been used by the Israeli government in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and elsewhere.”
He said that what unites the majority of Democrats “is far more significant” than this vote as they work to support “the security and rights of both Israelis and Palestinians.”