US House to Vote on Cutting $3.3 Billion Israel Aid as Top Democrats Split
Updated
Updated · Financial Times · Jul 15
US House to Vote on Cutting $3.3 Billion Israel Aid as Top Democrats Split
3 articles · Updated · Financial Times · Jul 15
Summary
$3.3 billion in US aid to Israel faces a House vote as soon as Wednesday under Rep. Thomas Massie’s amendment to the annual defense bill, setting up a high-stakes test of support for Israel.
Hakeem Jeffries said he will oppose the measure but will not pressure fellow Democrats, while Minority Whip Katherine Clark backed it, exposing a split at the top of the caucus.
Jeffries called the amendment overly broad and warned it would curb humanitarian aid and weaken US efforts against Hamas and Hezbollah; Clark said the status quo is untenable and rejected a military “blank check.”
The amendment is unlikely to clear the Republican-controlled Senate, but the House vote will spotlight how Israel aid has become a cross-party flashpoint nearly three years after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack.
AP-NORC polling last week showed about one-third of US adults—and roughly half of Democrats—say Israel committed genocide in Gaza, while 58% of Democrats now say Washington is too supportive of Israel.