On Wednesday, several House Democrats voted against an amendment proposed by Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, aiming to cut $3.3 billion in annual U.S. military assistance to Israel. This amendment did not achieve the necessary support to pass but highlighted the divide within the Democratic Party regarding support for Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Shifts in Democratic Views
Public opinion among Democratic voters has increasingly moved away from supporting U.S. assistance to Israel. A New York Times/Siena College poll in May showed that 74% of Democrats opposed further military and economic aid to Israel, with only 8% expressing strong support. Additionally, 48% of potential Democratic supporters felt the party was “too supportive of Israel,” while 8% believed there was “insufficient support,” and 34% thought the support level was appropriate. The poll surveyed 1,507 registered voters, with a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points.
A separate survey by Quinnipiac University in August 2025 found that 75% of Democrats opposed sending more military aid to Israel. This demonstrates growing divisions within the party over U.S. support for Israel amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Details of Massie’s Amendment
Massie’s amendment proposed eliminating $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing to Israel. This funding forms part of the fiscal 2027 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs appropriations bill. Massie, a critic of U.S. foreign aid policies, introduced the amendment in June as part of H.R. 8595.
The U.S. typically provides Israel with approximately $3.8 billion in annual military assistance, stemming from a 10-year agreement signed in 2016. This includes $3.3 billion in FMF grants and $500 million for missile defense cooperation, positioning Israel as one of the largest beneficiaries of U.S. military aid.
Outcomes of the Vote
The vote on Massie’s amendment revealed a split among House Democrats, with 103 supporting and 98 opposing it. Additionally, ten Democrats registered ‘present’ votes. Only one Republican, presumably Massie, supported the amendment, while 215 voted against it. Overall, the amendment recorded 104 yeas and 313 nays, failing to pass.
Reactions Among Democrats
Some Democrats publicly opposed the amendment before the vote. Representative Sam Liccardo criticized it as “flawed and overbroad.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries noted in a letter that House Republican leaders were exploiting an amendment they didn’t support for “partisan reasons.” Nonetheless, key figures like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed qualified support, stating, “While this amendment is ill-conceived, I vote yes for the message that it sends.” Others, such as Representative Seth Moulton, argued that unconditional assistance was endorsing an unacceptable status quo.
Changing Public Opinion in the U.S.
Over recent months, U.S. public opinion has shown increased skepticism toward overwhelming support for Israel. An AP-NORC poll in June found that 58% of Democrats believed the U.S. is too supportive of Israel, up from 45% in January 2024. Overall, 31% of U.S. adults viewed Israel’s military actions in Gaza as genocide. Among Democrats, there is a growing alignment with Palestinians, with 62% expressing that the U.S. is not supportive enough of them, up from 49% in early 2024.
Recent polling among Jewish Americans also reflects disapproval of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, with only 32% expressing favorable views.
In general, public opinion in the U.S., particularly among Democrats, continues to evolve in light of ongoing developments in the region, indicating a shift in how American voters view U.S. policy toward Israel.
Leave a Reply