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Aid cut vote
More than half of House Democrats voted Wednesday to strip $3.3 billion in U.S. aid from Israel, in a test vote that AP described as a sign that bipartisan support is disintegrating after Israel’s war in Gaza.
“Estados Unidos aprueba nuevo recorte a la ayuda militar a El Salvador, Guatemala y Honduras La iniciativa fue de los representantes demócratas para 'fortalecer los esfuerzos anticorrupción' en el Triángulo Norte de Centroamérica y, según ellos, por la falta de disposición de los Gobiernos centroamericanos para combatirla”
The amendment was offered by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, and the House vote tally was 104-314, with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposing the measure even as he said “that for the good of Israel and the Palestinian people, American policy in the Middle East must change.”
NBC News reported that the amendment was rejected in a 104-314 vote, with 103 Democrats joining Massie in voting yes and 98 Democrats joining the rest of Republicans in voting no, while 10 Democrats voted “present.”
The vote put House Democratic leadership on opposite sides, with Minority Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts voting for the amendment and Jeffries voting against it, as NBC News said Clark broke with Jeffries at the party’s highest levels.
Leaders split publicly
NBC News said Minority Whip Katherine Clark voted for the amendment and argued, “We should not provide a blank check for military aid to any country that does not comply with U.S. law, interests, and values.”
In contrast, AP reported that House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed the measure that would zero out the aid, while still saying “that for the good of Israel and the Palestinian people, American policy in the Middle East must change.”
The split was framed as a party-base and leadership test ahead of the U.S. midterm elections, with AP describing it as largely seen as a test vote for control of Congress.
AP also reported that the powerful American-Israel group AIPAC encouraged supporters to contact members of Congress and said, “We must ensure his dangerous amendment is defeated,” ahead of the vote.
Consequences and pressure
The vote came as Democrats faced pressure from both sides, with NBC News describing a rising progressive wing calling for cutting off assistance to Israel and center-left Democrats reluctant to upend the U.S.’ decadeslong alliance.
NBC News reported that Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar circulated a letter arguing, “The Democratic Party needs a new approach to Israel and Palestine,” and said “The American people are crying out for an end to US tax dollars subsidizing Israel’s military.”
AP said the amendment was not enough to attach to a broader national security spending bill, but it still stood as a “stark accounting” of shifting attitudes dividing the Democratic Party and the nation over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war strategy.
NBC News added that the debate also intersected with public opinion shifts, noting that in February Americans said for the first time they were more sympathetic to Palestinians (41%) than Israelis (36%), and that among Democrats 65% said they were more sympathetic to Palestinians while 17% said they were more sympathetic to Israelis.
