US Democrats Divided Over Support for Israel Ahead of Midterm Elections
Over 100 House Democrats voted to cut military aid to Israel, revealing a deep party rift that could impact November's elections and US foreign policy.
A vote in the US House of Representatives this week to cut military aid to Israel has exposed a growing divide within the Democratic Party. Although the amendment, proposed by conservative Republican Thomas Massie, was defeated as nearly all Republicans and 98 Democrats opposed it, the fact that 103 Democrats voted to end aid, with 10 others voting present, marks a significant shift.
Party leadership is split. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed the amendment, but his deputy Katherine Clark voted for it, as did former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime defender of the US-Israel alliance. Pelosi stated that US policy must change for the good of Israelis and Palestinians. Clark said Washington should not provide a "blank check" to any country that fails to comply with US law and values.
The vote reflects changing voter sentiments. A Washington Post-Ipsos poll found nearly three-quarters of Democrats want to reduce or halt military aid to Israel, with 40% wanting to end it entirely. Younger voters are far less willing to accept unconditional US support for Israel.
These attitudes are already influencing Democratic primaries. Progressive candidates in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Colorado have won while openly criticizing US aid to Israel and the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC. In Michigan, Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has made opposition to the Gaza war a central campaign issue.
Pro-Israel Democrats warn the party is moving too far, too fast, and that Republicans will use the divide to paint Democrats as hostile to Israel and weak on security. The National Republican Congressional Committee quickly seized on the vote, claiming Democrats are consumed by a "radical, antisemitic faction."
Tensions are also evident in the Senate. Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, a strong Israel supporter, said he would consider leaving if Democrats officially became the "anti-Israel party." Meanwhile, Democratic Majority for Israel called the amendment reckless but acknowledged that the number of Democratic supporters sends a clear message that Israel must repair its relationship with the party.
