Jeffries dismisses friction in Democratic caucus over Israel aid vote
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) denied any tensions within the Democratic caucus regarding an amendment to reduce U.S. financial support for Israel. The amendment, proposed by Republican Rep.Thomas Massie, aimed to cut $3 billion in foreign aid to Israel and was part of the annual appropriations bill. Despite 103 Democrats voting in favor, Jeffries himself voted against the measure, citing concerns that it was too broad and coudl hinder humanitarian efforts, refugee aid, and embassy operations. the amendment was ultimately defeated with a vote of 314-104, largely along party lines, with important Democratic support but also notable opposition, including from Jeffries and his deputy Katherine Clark, who voted against it. The debate highlighted ongoing divisions within the Democratic Party over U.S. support for israel amid the gaza conflict, a contentious issue since the 2024 elections. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez remarked that the Democratic support for the amendment was a significant moment, reflecting responsiveness to public opinion, while Ilhan Omar emphasized that U.S. aid to Israel has become more widely rejected among the party’s base.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) denied there are tensions within the Democratic caucus over an amendment to cut U.S. monetary support for Israel.
House Democrats were divided during a vote on Wednesday to cut $3 billion in foreign aid to Israel in an annual appropriations bill through an amendment offered by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY).
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The amendment, considered on the floor as part of the annual National Security, Department of State, and related programs appropriations bill, saw 103 Democrats vote yes.
When asked Thursday afternoon if there was tension in his caucus over the amendment, Jeffries said, “Absolutely not.”
Jeffries, however, was among the 98 Democrats who voted no on the measure. The minority leader told his caucus in a Dear Colleague letter Tuesday that he would not support the amendment, calling it “overly broad” and saying it could limit “humanitarian aid, refugee resettlement, peace-building, and U.S. embassy operations.”
Despite the significant Democratic support, with more members voting yes than voting no, the amendment failed 314-104, with 215 Republicans and 98 Democrats voting in opposition. Ten House Democrats voted present.
Massie’s amendment reignited debate within the Democratic Party over U.S. support for Israel amid the Gaza war, an issue that has dogged the party since the 2024 elections.
Jeffries even saw his No. 2, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), vote opposite him on the amendment.
When pressed on the division within the party on Israel, Jeffries said: “It’s been a divisive issue for about 4,000 years, and people understand that we’ve got to meet the moment that we’re in right now, and we’ll continue to do so.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said Wednesday that the Democratic support for the amendment to cut aid to Israel marked a “very important moment because this has been an issue where both parties have been resistant to change.”
“This has been an issue where the majority of both parties have been in the past,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “But I think it’s important to note that the party that has adapted to the American people first and that has been responsive to the American people first has been the Democratic Party.”
NO. 2 HOUSE DEMOCRAT BREAKS WITH JEFFRIES ON ISRAEL AID VOTE
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday that U.S. aid to Israel is an issue that the Democratic Party’s base has “moved on,” and that it is “no longer a fringe issue.”
“Everybody agrees that [the American Israel Public Affairs Committee] is toxic,” the Minnesota Democrat said. “Everybody agrees the Israelis are committing the genocide. Everybody agrees that it is unjustifiable for us to continue to send them our hard-earned tax dollars. You can’t sleep well at night knowing that it is our money that is causing death and devastation.”
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