The Democratic caucus nearly evenly split its support of an amendment to cut $3.3 billion in aid to Israel — indicative of a wider party divide on one of the defining issues this midterm cycle.
On Wednesday, 98 House Democrats joined nearly every Republican — save for Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky), who introduced the amendment — to block its inclusion in a State Department appropriations package. Ten Democrats voted present and four did not vote.
Even party leadership was unusually split ahead of the vote. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he was against cutting off the aid, saying there are “more decisive ways to achieve” change in a letter to members, while Minority Whip Katherine Clark announced she would vote for the amendment. Neither whipped members to vote a particular way before Wednesday afternoon.
Some Democrats, including Jeffries, called the amendment “overly broad” and said they voted against it because they did not want to cut off diplomatic funding, even if they have qualms with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions in Gaza.
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In a statement, Clark said she would 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.”
“It is clear that the status quo is not tenable. We should not provide a blank check for military aid to any country that does not comply with U.S. law, interests, and values,” she said.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-California), the former speaker of the House who describes herself as “committed to a strong U.S.-Israel relationship,” also came out in favor of the amendment, which she categorized as an “unfortunate choice.”
“The American people are rightly demanding an end to a perpetual cycle of war, and the Netanyahu government cannot maintain its current course,” Pelosi said in a statement. “Therefore, while this amendment is ill-conceived, I vote yes for the message that it sends.”
“I think it’s a powerful message that people are tired of supporting a blank check to Netanyahu so he can commit war crimes,” Rep. Jim McGovern told NOTUS. The Massachusetts Democrat released a letter of support from 27 Democrats ahead of the vote.
The National Republican Congressional Committee quickly put out a statement slamming Democrats for the vote.
“The Democrat Party has become so consumed by its radical, antisemitic faction that its own leaders are now voting to undermine our strongest ally in the Middle East. Voters will know exactly how extreme today’s Democrat Party has become,” NRCC spokesperson Mike Marinella said.
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