Hakeem Jeffries says he will oppose bid to cut off Israel aid

[demmiblue]

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told fellow Democrats Tuesday he will oppose an amendment aimed at cutting off U.S. aid to Israel, wading directly into a contentious issue that is dividing the party.

Jeffries announced his position in a “Dear Colleague” letter circulated Tuesday and later spoke about his opposition during a morning caucus meeting.

The amendment to the fiscal 2027 spending bill for the State Department and overseas programs was introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and could come up for a vote in the coming days. It has sharply divided the party for weeks, with progressives calling for an end to America’s financial support for Israel as leadership-aligned members warned that the measure could also cut off aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

Jeffries said the amendment is “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 U.S. Embassy operations.” He added that the measure would also restrict U.S. capabilities to “confront Hamas.”

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/07/14/congress/hakeem-jeffries-israel-aid-00996273

[walkingman]

1. Any further funding by the US should include strict conditions....

among them to reduce civilian casualties, follow international law, and move toward a two-state solution.

[yardwork]

21. That is the best solution.

Cutting off all aid "to Israel" is overly broad and, if implemented, would probably guarantee the annihilation of millions of people of all faiths and cultures. It would probably mean the annihilation of everybody in Gaza, too. It would hand control of an entire region to authoritarian monarchies with horrible human rights policies.

On the other hand, giving aid to Israel can definitely come with some strings. Way more strings than TrumpCo is currently imposing.

[Ritabert]

2. To be expected from Jeffries.

[PSPS]

3. Is he on the hook to AIPAC?

[Rob H.]

18. Yes, to the tune of $1.5 million from AIPAC and other pro-Israel PACs nt

[Quiet Em]

4. Many Congresspersons have said it is poorly written and could unintentionally prevent humanitarian aid to the region

It needs to be more carefully rewritten.

[fujiyamasan]

7. If it's written by Massie that's likely intentional

[yaesu]

5. This will really help voter turnout this November, you betcha

it has zero chance of passing no matter how many times it's revised, too much Israeli bribe money flooding Congress.

[leftstreet]

6. LOL n/t

[dem4decades]

8. Time to get the leadership away from NY politicians.

[AloeVera]

9. Straight from the mouth of Netanyahu.

"If you don't give me money I'll make the Palestinians suffer more".

Empty threat anyway. Israel does fuck-all to help Palestinians or engage in "peace building". Lol.

Quelle surprise.

[Buckeyeblue]

10. I don't think completely cutting off Isreal is the right policy either

Unfortunately we don't have a strong state department right now to really negotiate with Isreal.

[yardwork]

22. That's the understatement of the century!

[Ars Longa]

37. Israel needs New, and more Moderate Leadership- that does not look like

it is on the horizon!!

[Autumn]

11. Does Israel need assistance with initiatives related with humanitarian aid, and refugee resettlement?

As for "peace building"? That's a fucking joke. Please enlighten me Mr. Jeffries.

[EdmondDantes_]

17. The definitely do, starting with learning what those words mean

Granted our current administration isn't able to properly define those terms either, but Israel definitely needs some help on that front.

[David__77]

12. US aid helps create refugees and facilitates Israeli settlement.

[RT Atlanta]

13. idiots...

turn off the damn spigot to the israeli government

[Emile]

14. Israel doesn't need aid. They have Universal Healthcare, we don't!

[yardwork]

25. We could easily afford universal healthcare.

It's not cost that is stopping us. In fact, universal healthcare would save us billions in administrative costs alone. Factor in the value of having a healthier population - especially healthier children - and the savings would reach trillions.

Health economists have been saying this for 60+ years but we don't do things in the U.S. just because they're supported by science and math.

Far from it, these days.

Cutting off aid to the middle east will not bring us universal healthcare any more than Brexit brought Britain more money for their healthcare system. The promises about Brexit were calculated lies. Don't fall for it here.

[3_Limes]

15. I wish I undersood every little nuance of this issue but I don't.

So I don't want to take a "cut it ALL off, now!" stance. But I'm just not there. I have ZERO patience left for these butchers and I don't want them getting one fucking dollar for ANYTHING! They've repeatedly shown themselves to be unworthy of our support and I want that support withdrawn today

I wish I could be more circumspect about this, but genocide can't be supported in any way. I want the perpetrators cast out of society and starved.

[yardwork]

23. This bill would not achieve peace or stop any butchery.

Since Trump was reelected we have fewer options than ever, and this is not a good one.

[mike_c]

31. but it would limit our direct complicity in that butchery

That's a foundational condition we need to have for our elected leaders. No more military aid for apartheid and genocide. No more military assistance for land theft from Palestinians. No more military aid to support ethnic cleansing, in Israel or anywhere else!

[yardwork]

32. No. It would not accomplish any of those goals.

[AloeVera]

33. It would stop the butchery of bombing.

That's all Israel does. Bomb, bomb, bomb.

And guess what? Israel does not make its own bombs but relies on the U.S.

So unless you think indiscriminate, widespread bombing of cities and civilians is NOT butchery, your claim is false.

[yardwork]

34. No.

[dalton99a]

16. Let Netanyahu pay for his own wars.

[Jack Valentino]

19. and how much of this aid does Israel redirect to building BOMBS to continue their GENOCIDE in GAZA ?

Whatever aid we give them that actually goes to good purposes, enables them to build more bombs with other money they have....

I am against continuing any financial aid to Israel for ANY purported purpose,
for the time being---- so this statement from Jeffries lessens him, in my personal opinion...

Better for him to just keep his mouth shut. Vote against it, fine---
but to announce his opposition as such, in an attempt to steer Democratic House members,
lessens my support for him as the next House Speaker,
presuming we WILL win House control this year...

[AloeVera]

24. All of the 3.8 B aid goes to purchasing weapons from the U.S..

3.3b for offensive weapons including bombs and 500m for Iron Dome.

Jeffries' statement is revealing indeed and raises a lot of questions. See post #20.

[Jack Valentino]

26. Thank you!

[AloeVera]

20. None of the $3.8 billion in annual aid us earmarked for humanitarian aid etc

It's all for purchase of WEAPONS.

Is Jeffries saying that unless the U.S. continues giving weapons to Israel, Israel will jeopardize initiatives benefitting Palestinians it doesn't even pay for?

That's a form of blackmail and submitting to it is a terrible look.

And what "refugee resettlent" is he talking about? The rebuilding of Gaza falls under the Gaza Peace Plan, to be paid for mostly by Arab nations. Israel has not been asked to pay a dime, as far as I know. Is there something we don't know about? Where will Palestinians be "resettled"?

[mike_c]

27. that's why we need new, better repesentation

At this point, Jefferies is more deeply committed to Israel and the military industrial complex than he is to American democratic values. Clue: apartheid and genocide are not democratic values.

[sop]

28. Conditions? Netenyahu wouldn't abide by them, and Trump wouldn't hold him to them.

[LuvLoogie]

29. His stated reasons are bullshit.

Cutting off aid to Israel wouldn't impede the U. S.' ability to do any of those things separately.

WTF

Stand for Justice. It's not that complicated.

[Boo1]

30. Good

Cutting off Israeli aide, especially weapons sales, would be foolish.

[sarisataka]

35. Well that answers the question

How do you get progressives to support a Republican's initiative?

Once again Palestinians are caught in the middle as pawns everyone is willing to sacrifice

the measure could also cut off aid to Palestinians in Gaza

"because Israel"

[Beringia]

36. Looks like another dilemma for the Democrats and AIPAC