Over 190 Democrats affirm support for Israel, rebuking progressives.
House Democrats Show Overwhelming Support for Israel
House Democrats made a resounding statement by overwhelmingly voting in favor of a Republican-led resolution affirming congressional support for Israel. This united front came despite efforts from GOP lawmakers to expose divisions within the party.
The concurrent resolution passed with an impressive 412-9 vote on Tuesday, receiving support from 195 Democrats and all Republicans. Only nine Democrats voted against the measure, including Reps. Jamaal Bowman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Cori Bush, Rashida Tlaib, and Ilhan Omar. These members have also announced their intention to boycott Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s upcoming address to Congress.
Resolution in Response to Controversial Comments
The resolution was a direct response to comments made by Rep. Pramila Jayapal during a panel discussion with the progressive Netroots Nation. Jayapal emphasized their shared goal of “fighting to make it clear that Israel is a racist state,” which immediately sparked backlash from both Republicans and Democrats. Jayapal later retracted her statement.
Despite Jayapal’s vote in favor of the resolution, Republicans are likely to use her comments to attack her and other vulnerable incumbents in the Democratic caucus. GOP leadership has already called for Jayapal’s removal from her leadership position in the Progressive Caucus, and they may seek to tie progressives to her controversial statements during their reelection campaigns.
Strong Support from House Democratic Leaders
House Democratic leaders, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, all voted in favor of the resolution. This support comes after the leaders issued a rare statement rebuking Jayapal’s comments and reaffirming their commitment to maintaining bipartisan support for Israel in Congress.
The vote on the resolution is scheduled just one day before Herzog’s address to Congress. This event has already caused a divide among liberal Democrats, with some planning to boycott. However, Democratic leaders have downplayed these concerns, stating that the majority of the caucus will be in attendance.
“I look forward to welcoming [Herzog] with open arms when he comes to speak before Congress,” said Jeffries. “Individual members make individual decisions, but I can tell you that I expect there will be an incredibly robust turnout and participation amongst House Democrats on Wednesday.”
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