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The US House of Representatives took a starkly bipartisan stance on a contentious amendment to cut military aid to Israel, with 13 republicans joining Democrats in voting against the proposal. The amendment, sponsored by Representative Thomas Massie, was part of the House Armed Services Committee’s mark-up of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The amendment, which aimed to reduce by $100 million the $3.8 billion in annual military aid to Israel, was intended to reflect a shift in public opinion towards Israel amid tensions over its recent actions in the Middle East. However, the measure ultimately fell short, with 77 representatives voting against it, while 65 voted in favor.
According to a vote breakdown published by the House of Representatives, 11 House Democrats, led by Representative Pramila Jayapal, joined eight Republicans in voting for the amendment. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who opposed the proposal, accused supporters of playing “politics with Israel’s security.”
The move to reduce military aid to Israel has sparked heated debate on Capitol Hill, with some lawmakers claiming that a more critical approach towards Israel is necessary, while others assert that it would undermine a vital strategic alliance. Representative Eric Swalwell (D-Calif), a vocal critic of Israel’s human rights track record, expressed support for the amendment, citing the need to take a “fresh look” at US foreign aid priorities.
On the other hand, supporters of Israel, including AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), the country’s most influential lobbying group, condemned the proposal as an attempt to “punish” the Middle Eastern nation. “We need to be working with our democratic friends to strengthen our alliance and our shared interests in the region, rather than playing politics,” said AIPAC spokesperson, Patrick Duffey.
The contentious debate comes amidst a backdrop of rising tensions in the region and ongoing efforts by Palestinian groups, including the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement (BDS), to garner support in the US Congress for an end to military aid to Israel. As the US continues to grapple with its relationship with the Israeli government, this vote serves as a clear indicator of the increasingly polarized landscape of American politics.
The fate of the amendment remains uncertain, with the House and Senate versions of the NDAA still in play. However, today’s vote highlights the deep divisions existing within the House on this key foreign policy issue, underscoring the complex dynamics at play in shaping America’s Middle Eastern policy.