Democrats in Congress are breaking with Israel like never before
Some of Israel’s staunchest Democratic supporters on Capitol Hill are wavering like never before as progressives grow more emboldened in their defense of the Palestinian cause.
Why it matters: The humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza has soured U.S. public opinion on Israel, and while members of Congress have been something of a lagging indicator, they are now shifting as well.
- Centrist Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) told Axios’ Barak Ravid at an Axios event on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday that he is open to voting to limit the sale of U.S. weapons to Israel.
- “If there is no change in direction from the Israeli administration, for the first time I would seriously consider that,” said Coons, who added that he has never “voted to withhold weapons from Israel, from the IDF.”
- Coons’ comment comes just a month after House Armed Services Committee ranking member Adam Smith (D-Wash.) called to “leverage” arms sales to Israel to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
By the numbers: A staggering 178 of House Democrats’ 212 members signed onto a Thursday letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying they are “deeply opposed” to Israeli annexation of territory in the West Bank.
- “Such a move would not only violate international law but undermine decades of bipartisan U.S. policy and threaten the progress of the Abraham Accords,” the lawmakers wrote.
- The House Democrats noted that they are “long-standing supporters of the U.S.–Israel relationship” and argued annexation would further jeopardize Israel’s security.
- The letter, led by staunchly pro-Israel Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), was signed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Democratic Caucus chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.).