Post

NN
NYT News

Jeffries Says He Will Oppose Proposal to Cut Off U.S. Aid to Israel

The New York Democrat and minority leader indicated that he would not seek to persuade other Democrats to vote against the measure, which has divided the party amid a deep rift over support for Israel.

Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the minority leader, told fellow House Democrats on Tuesday that he plans to oppose a measure to eliminate United States aid to Israel but called for a “major reset” between the two nations, weighing in on a debate that has bitterly divided his party.

The proposal, which the House is expected to vote on as early as Wednesday night, will mark House Democrats’ first up-or-down vote in this Congress solely on the issue of cutting taxpayer subsidies to Israel. It comes as the United States and Iran have restarted their war, which Mr. Trump entered with Israel’s urging.

The measure has highlighted an intense rift among Democrats over support for the Jewish state, which has become a major liability with young and left-leaning voters who are an important constituency in the party. Dozens of Democrats are expected to vote for the amendment, which would eliminate all $3.3 billion the United States provides to Israel, and many are struggling on a personal level over how to vote on a sensitive and delicate issue.

Mr. Jeffries announced his position in a letter to Democrats that underscored the squeeze. He made clear that he opposed the measure, calling it “overly broad,” but said he would not seek to persuade other Democrats to vote against it. And he hinted that Democrats would insist that any future security aid to Israel be contingent on reining in human rights abuses against Palestinians.

“There are good faith reasons that will result in members voting in a variety of different ways with respect to the amendment,” Mr. Jeffries wrote, asserting that because of the actions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, “a major reset is necessary.”

Tweet media