House Democrat Leader Calls for Dramatic Shift in US Policy Toward Israel

Nine days after the Democratic victory in the U.S. elections, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Thursday for a dramatic change in American policy toward Israel, including in the security assistance agreement, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank. However, he stopped short of explicitly supporting initiatives to reduce security and intelligence cooperation between the two countries.

Speaking at a press conference in Washington, Jeffries was asked if he would support a demand by 12 senators, led by Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, to remove provisions from the defense budget bill that obligate the U.S. administration to expand security and intelligence cooperation with Israel. "I have not yet spoken with Senator Van Hollen, but as I have said before, things in the Middle East must change dramatically," Jeffries responded. "We need a dramatic change in the West Bank, and therefore I strongly support the bill to protect against violence in the West Bank. We need a dramatic change in Gaza, and a dramatic change regarding the Memorandum of Understanding, as it approaches its end."

The current security Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Israel, signed in 2016, provides for $38 billion in U.S. aid over a decade and is set to expire in 2028. Jeffries has previously stated that a future agreement should reflect a change in the format of aid to Israel. Despite his remarks, the Democratic leader did not announce support for canceling the requested provisions from the defense budget bill, nor did he call for an end to U.S. aid to Israel. "We will work together as a caucus to bring about a just and sustainable peace that Israelis and Palestinians deserve. The status quo is unacceptable," he said. He envisions "a secure and protected Israel, existing as a Jewish and democratic state alongside an independent Palestinian state, which will grant dignity and the right to self-determination to the Palestinian people."

Alongside criticism of policy toward Israel, Jeffries also sharply attacked the war in Iran, which he called "a reckless and expensive war of choice that has been a disaster for the American people." "The Iranian regime is stronger than it was before the war. We never should have entered it," he asserted. Jeffries clarified that House Democrats overwhelmingly oppose allocating further funds to the war. "Taxpayer money should be used to ease the cost of living for Americans, not to drop bombs overseas in an endless war," he stated. The Democratic leader pledged to work towards ending the campaign but refrained from committing to using budget negotiations to force its cessation.