US Aid to Israel.. A Decisive Vote in Congress Reveals a Democratic Rift

The US House of Representatives rejected, on Wednesday, an amendment stipulating the cessation of American aid to Israel, in a vote that showed the widening split within the Democratic Party regarding the continuation of military support for Tel Aviv.

The House voted by a majority of 314 representatives to 104 in favor of defeating the amendment, which was introduced by Republican Representative Thomas Massie as part of the State Department appropriations bill.

Despite the rejection of the amendment, 103 Democratic representatives supported it along with one Republican representative, a significant shift compared to previous years, which saw the passage of pro-Israel legislation with a near-consensus majority.

The amendment stipulated halting the use of any funds within the appropriations bill for Israel, including the annual security aid of $3.3 billion, stipulated in the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries in 2016, which extends until 2028.

Massie, known for his opposition to foreign aid, said he introduced the proposal also because of the human casualties in the Gaza Strip, adding during the House discussions: "70,000 have fallen in Gaza, and I do not think we should be part of that."

However, the vote was largely symbolic, as the amendment would also have needed to pass the Senate before becoming law, with widespread expectations that US President Donald Trump would use his veto power against it, given his consistent assertion that supporting Israel is one of the pillars of his foreign policy.

The vote reflects an accelerating change in the positions of a number of Democrats towards Israel, as the progressive wing of the party pushes towards ending military aid, while moderate Democrats demand limiting support to defensive systems and weapons.

The vote also revealed a disparity within the Democratic Party leadership; while the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, announced his opposition to the proposal, describing it as "too broad," Representative Katherine Clark, the second-ranking Democratic leader, announced her support, considering that "a blank check should not be given for military aid to any country that does not comply with American law, interests, and values."

These developments come at a time when the war in Gaza has become one of the most prominent issues in election campaigns within the Democratic Party, with the approach of the midterm congressional elections, amid expectations that the primaries in the state of Michigan, scheduled for August 4, will constitute a new test of Democratic voters' stance on American support for Israel.

According to Israeli statistics, the October 7, 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people inside Israel, while the Gaza Health Ministry says subsequent Israeli military operations have killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, caused widespread destruction, and displaced the majority of the Strip's population.