More than half of House Democrats voted to cancel the $3.3 billion annual security aid package to Israel, according to reports. The vote signals a growing divide within the Democratic Party over support for Israel as progressive influence rises.
At 20:49 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reports that more than half of House Democrats voted to cancel the $3.3 billion annual security aid package. This update refines earlier reports, which placed the number at 103 Democrats. The broader House vote rejected the amendment by a margin of 314-104, but the Democratic caucus vote shows a majority in favor of the cut.
The Zioneer has been tracking this story since just after midnight Thursday, when initial reports from Amichai Stein (i24NEWS) indicated 103 House Democrats voted for an immediate halt to security assistance. Subsequent reports at 00:09 Jerusalem from Abu Ali Express confirmed the 314-104 vote, with 103 Democrats and one Republican supporting the measure. A New York Times poll cited in the same timeframe showed 74% of Democratic voters oppose additional aid to Israel, reflecting a significant shift in the party's base.
The vote comes amid a broader realignment in Democratic Party positions on Israel, as The Zioneer reported on July 15: a new consensus against providing military aid is emerging among Democrats. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) indicated he would vote against the cut but would not pressure colleagues, a stance that stood out amid growing calls within his party to restrict aid. Additionally, earlier reports from The Zioneer on July 10 noted that Democratic lawmakers sought to block the defense budget until a discussion on relations with Israel was held.
The exact number of Democrats who voted for the cut remains unconfirmed by official sources; the initial figure of 103 may be revised as additional vote tallies emerge. The long-term implications for the traditional US-Israel aid framework are still uncertain.
5 developments
- DevelopingReport: New Democratic Consensus Forms Against Israel Aid, Arms Sales Now Questioned
- DevelopingTop Democrat Jeffries says he'll vote against Israel aid cut bill, won't pressure colleagues
- DevelopingUS House Expected to Vote This Week on Amendment to Cancel Security Aid to Israel
- DevelopingBernie Sanders demands end to U.S. aid to Israel, shares Ben-Gvir tweet
Source and signal
- Internal intake