Some key House Democrats on Wednesday announced that they will vote to end all military aid to Israel, in a sign of the growing disconnect between the Democratic establishment, with its long-standing support for the U.S. ally, and the party’s left wing.
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In a statement, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (Massachusetts), the No. 3 House Democrat, said she will vote in favor later Wednesday of an amendment introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) to an appropriations package for the State Department.
“It is clear that the status quo is not tenable,” Clark said. “We should not provide a blank check for military aid to any country that does not comply with U.S. law, interests, and values. The Netanyahu government has failed to meet that standard.”
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Like Clark, Reps. Greg Casar (D-Texas) and Robert Garcia (D-California) have indicated they will also support Massie’s amendment. In a letter obtained by The Washington Post, Casar, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, urged fellow members to vote for the measure. And Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said in a statement that Netanyahu “is a corrupt authoritarian who should face criminal courts — not receive billions more for weapons.”
Massie’s amendment is largely symbolic and, despite growing Democratic support, is likely to fail in the Republican-led House. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) has said he will vote against it.
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