Top Democrat in US House says he won’t support bill to cut off US aid to Israel

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries tells fellow Democrats that he will vote against an amendment that aims to cut off US aid to Israel.

While the amendment to the fiscal 2027 spending bill for the State Department and overseas programs is certain to fail given overwhelming Republican support, it is being seen as another bellwether of the Democratic Party’s rapidly waning support for Israel.

A vote on the legislation could be held as early as tomorrow.

In explaining why he can’t support the amendment, the moderate Jeffries faults it as “overly broad in that it prohibits or would limit the use of funds for longstanding initiatives related to humanitarian aid, refugee resettlement, peace-building and US Embassy operations.”

He argues in a letter to colleagues that the amendment submitted by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie would “restrict our country’s ability to confront Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations in the region who are sworn enemies of both the United States and Israel.”

However, Jeffries says that House leadership will not whip members to join him in opposing the amendment because there are “good faith reasons that will result in Members voting in a variety of different ways.”

Moreover, Jeffries says a “major reset” in US-Israel ties is needed due to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government’s policies over the years.