Top House Democrats vow to oppose bid to cut US military aid to Israel

Original article by Chris Stein in Washington

Top House Democrats split on Tuesday over a proposal to block aid for Israel’s military, with two of the party’s highest-ranking lawmakers saying they will oppose the effort while the chair of the progressive caucus encouraged his colleagues to back the defunding.

The debate over an amendment introduced by Republican congressman Thomas Massie to halt $3.3bn in aid for Israel – the majority of which would go to its military – comes as Democrats grapple with a rebellion among their voters over the party’s support for the Middle Eastern ally, which has fueled the defeats of a series of congressional incumbents in recent primaries.

The proposed amendment would affect legislation funding the state department and related agencies for the coming fiscal year, which the House of Representatives is expected to vote on this week. House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries circulated a letter among Democrats saying he would vote against Massie’s provision, the New York Times reported, calling it “overly broad”.

He warned the amendment could cut off funds for humanitarian aid programs and complicate efforts to counter militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. The minority leader’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

“In my view, there are more decisive ways to achieve the urgent change necessary when it comes to the far-right Netanyahu government,” Jeffries wrote. He also accused the House’s Republican leaders of “trying to weaponize an amendment they do not support for nakedly partisan reasons”.

However, he said, he would not launch a formal effort to sway his party’s vote, citing “the strongly held views throughout the caucus in this important area of foreign policy”.

Jeffries was joined by Pete Aguilar, the third-highest-ranking House Democrat, who told a press conference: “It’s clear that the Netanyahu administration has done everything they can to isolate Israel, and we need to ensure that we are building more friends in the region, not having fewer.”

In a letter to members of the congressional progressive caucus obtained by the Guardian, its chair, Greg Casar, said he would vote yes on the amendment, and encouraged his colleagues to join him. “The American people are crying out for an end to US tax dollars subsidizing Israel’s military,” he wrote.

Nodding to the losses of three Democratic incumbents in recent primaries to candidates who vowed to take a hard line on Israel and the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, Casar said: “The Democratic party needs a new approach to Israel and Palestine.

“I hope you will join me in beginning that process by voting yes on this amendment.”

Joe Biden’s support for Israel following the 7 October attack rocked his aborted bid for a second term, and has haunted some Democratic incumbents who sought re-election this year. In Colorado, the longtime congresswoman Diana DeGette last month lost her party’s nomination to Democratic socialist Melat Kiros, while in New York, incumbents Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat fell to democratic socialist primary challengers who criticized their stance on Israel.

The issue has loomed large in Missouri, where freshman representative Wesley Bell is facing a challenge in the Democratic primary from Cori Bush, the former congresswoman he ousted in 2024 with the help of heavy spending from pro-Israel groups. It’s also a factor in the primary to replace the retiring Democratic senator Gary Peters in Michigan, where the former public health official Abdul El-Sayed has criticized his opponent Haley Stevens for her support of Israel.

Jeffries and Aguilar signaled their own support for the US rethinking its approach to Israel and Netanyahu, whose government has faced accusations of genocide from international commissions over its incursion into Gaza following the 7 October attacks.

In his letter, Jeffries called for “a major reset” in relations between the two countries based on two principles: a continued US commitment to Israel’s right to exist and the creation of a Palestinian state. With a 10-year memorandum of understanding signed under Barack Obama with Israel soon to expire, Jeffries wrote that the next agreement should “strictly adhere to our human rights laws and values” and acknowledge Israel’s ability to afford its own weapons.

Aguilar acknowledged to reporters that “there needs to be a change in the relationship moving forward with Israel” but downplayed the impact on his strategy of the views of lawmakers who may win election in November.

“We’re not thinking about what a Democratic candidate is going to to say in December after they’re sworn in … that’s not part of the calculus,” he said.