A 104-313 vote in the House of Representatives failed to strip $3.3 billion in US military aid from Israel, though the tally represents the most substantial signal yet of disintegrating bipartisan support for the country. According to reports from Business Standard, the amendment was offered by libertarian-leaning Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, who argued the funds could be better spent domestically on roads, bridges, and veterans' needs. The vote was not sufficient to attach the amendment to a broader national security spending bill, but it stands as a stark accounting of shifting attitudes within the Democratic Party. As reported by Fox News, the vote even split House Democratic leadership, which declined to whip members either way.
The vote revealed deepening divisions within the Democratic Party, with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries joining 97 other Democrats in opposing the amendment to strip foreign military aid money, while House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark joined 102 other Democrats in supporting the measure to withhold funds. According to Fox News, Jeffries argued the measure was poorly drafted and criticized that it would prohibit or limit the use of funds for humanitarian aid, refugee resettlement, peace-building and U.S. Embassy operations. The Democratic Whip, Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, announced support for the measure to withhold funds, while Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland championed longtime Israel support and warned against withdrawing US aid, citing concerns about confronting terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah. As reported by Fox News, Clark argued the country's war in Gaza — an event some lawmakers have labeled a genocide — necessitated ending financial support to the Jewish state.
The vote follows Israel's war in Gaza that has killed thousands of Palestinians, with the conflict now approaching its third year since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. According to an AP-NORC poll cited by Business Standard, 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 vehemently denied by Israel and the US government. Recent polling supports this shift, with an NBC News survey released in March finding that 67% of Democratic voters have more sympathy for Gaza than Israel, while just 17% said the opposite. The deepening divide threatens to upend the Democratic Party as it faces an energized left flank promoting self-proclaimed democratic socialists in marquee House races.
Lawmakers faced pressure from all sides as they prepared for midterm elections this fall. As reported by Business Standard, the powerful American-Israel group AIPAC encouraged supporters to contact members of Congress to register opposition to the amendment, stating "We must ensure his dangerous amendment is defeated." At the same time, the progressive advocacy organization J Street gave lawmakers more leeway to express views, with President Jeremy Ben-Ami recognizing that "for many Democrats, this is one of the few opportunities to cast a recorded vote expressing opposition" to how American military assistance has been used by the Israeli government. According to Fox News, some Democrats predicted the Massie amendment would draw significant support, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez noting "I think this is affecting people all across the board."
