Majority of House Democrats Expected to Vote to End US Aid to Israel Amid Internal Party Debate

Approximately 150 Democratic members of the US House of Representatives, constituting a majority within their party, are expected to vote on Wednesday in favor of a proposal to halt all American aid to Israel, according to the New York Times. This initiative, which has been intensely debated within the Democratic Party in recent weeks, highlights growing divisions between some Democrats and the Israeli government, as well as differing views on US policy toward Jerusalem.

The proposal is being advanced by Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who seeks to stop $3.3 billion in US aid to Israel, covering both civilian and military needs. Massie, known for his libertarian views and past criticism of Israel, lost his congressional seat following conflicts with former President Donald Trump. Despite being a Republican initiative, the main controversy has emerged among Democrats.

House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced on Tuesday that he opposes the proposal, warning that ending aid could undermine efforts against Hezbollah and Hamas, and described the measure as overly broad. However, Jeffries stated he would not pressure Democrats to vote against it and hinted that future Democratic demands might condition security aid on Israel reducing human rights violations against Palestinians, calling for a "significant change in direction" in US-Israel relations.

Conversely, Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar urged Democrats to support the amendment, stating in a letter published in The Guardian that "the American people are demanding an end to using taxpayer money to subsidize Israel's military." The vote is scheduled for Wednesday evening and will mark the first direct congressional vote on cutting US aid to Israel in the current session.

The New York Times reports that Democrats held two closed-door discussions on the matter recently. Although the proposal is unlikely to pass or cause immediate changes on the ground, tensions over aid to Israel have also intensified in the Senate. In April, about 75% of Senate Democrats supported measures to restrict arms sales to Israel, a significant increase from previous years. These included blocking the sale of 12 bombs worth $152 million and prohibiting the sale of bulldozers used by Israel in Gaza and Lebanon, valued at $295 million.