Thomas Massie Triggers House Democrats’ Circular Firing Squad Over Israel Aid

Tensions boiled over among House Democrats Sunday after Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie’s proposed an amendment to nix $3 billion in military aid to Israel.

During a phone call, Democrats could not reach an agreement on how to handle the amendment that would slash $3.3 billion in foreign aid to Israel, with some arguing that the party should support Israel less, Punchbowl News reported Monday. Divisions over Israel continued to flare on both sides of the aisle, causing major rifts within both parties.

Far-left and progressive Democrats argued that Israel committed “genocide” in Gaza and engaged in ethnic cleansing, prompting them to oppose military aid. Center-left Democrats largely supported security support and argued Israel had a right to defend itself against regional threats.

Establishment Republicans as well as seniors and evangelicals continued to support foreign aid for Israel, while Massie and other conservative skeptics viewed U.S. aid to Israel as being a betrayal to America First supporters. Some Republicans, including Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, supported unrestricted aid to Israel and argued the U.S.-Israel alliance was vital to Americans’ national security.

Members of the New Democrat Coalition, a center-left caucus, and Jewish lawmakers opposed Massie’s amendment. The House Appropriations Committee’s ranking member, Democratic Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, argued the amendment could cut off aid to Palestinians, Punchbowl News reported.

DeLauro sparred with Democratic Virginia Rep. Bobby Scott over how much of the proposed cuts would impact military versus humanitarian aid, according to Punchbowl.

Progressive Democrats supported the measure because they opposed Israel’s actions in Gaza. Democratic Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro accused Israel of  committing ethnic cleansing in Gaza, while Democratic Texas Rep. Greg Casar said he felt strongly about curbing aid to Israel, according to Punchbowl.

Democratic Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, Brad Schneider of Illinois and Greg Landsman of Ohio opposed the amendment, Punchbowl reported.

Israel critics in the party defeated establishment Democrats in New York Tuesday. Former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander beat incumbent New York Rep. Dan Goldman in the June 23 primary after accusing Goldman of being too aligned with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and for refusing to sufficiently criticize Israel.

During a debate with PIX11, Goldman argued that describing Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” was complicated, but stated that what happened in Gaza was “horrific.” He received nearly $195,000 in campaign donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and affiliated groups.

The Israel debate hurt former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election cycle. Tens of thousands of voters did not vote for Biden during the Michigan presidential primary in February 2024 over his support for Israel. Harris lost Michigan to President Donald Trump during the 2024 general election after voters in Metro Detroit, including Dearborn, Michigan, refused to show up at the polls for her.

During Colorado’s 1st Congressional District campaign, the Israel debate has raged ahead of Tuesday’s Democratic primary between Democratic Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette and her challenger Melat Kiros, a Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)-backed candidate. Kiros campaigned on cutting off all aid to Israel and argued against its status as a Jewish state, while DeGette, who has served in Congress for nearly 30 years, advocated for a two-state solution and supported providing aid to Israel.

The U.S. provides roughly $3.8 billion in baseline annual security assistance to Israel, including $3.3 billion for Foreign Military Financing and $500 million for missile defense.

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