This was a protest vote and a clear indications the behavior of Israel in regard to Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon is not appreciated. There are a growing number of legislators seeking a change in the relationship with Israel. It isn't about national security or the sovereignty of Israel, is is about raw aggression and the killing of so many people.
This is not antisemitism although it will be exploited politically as if it is. This is about getting Israel's attention and it's outrageous expansionism with the help of the Trump White House.
By Anne Karni
The House on Wednesday (click here) rejected a measure to eliminate U.S. aid to Israel, but almost half of Democrats supported the move, reflecting a rapid and dramatic shift within the party away from decades of unequivocal support for the Jewish state.
The measure, which sought to cut all $3.3 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Israel from a foreign affairs spending bill, failed by a vote of 104 to 314, with 10 voting “present,” and all but one Republican, Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a sponsor, voting no.
But more Democrats supported it than opposed it, including many who said they voted in favor despite their opposition to the cuts to humanitarian aid. It was the latest and starkest evidence of a major divide over backing Israel within the Democratic Party, which is grappling with a groundswell of hostility in its ranks toward Israel and its conduct of the war in Gaza....
It is estimated 73 thousand Palestinians are dead. That is about 4 percent of the Palestinian population in Gaza. The destruction is unprecedented. The recognition of this tragedy and inhumane circumstances has to be understood to be important enough for Congressional members to register a vote to defund the monies to Israel.
The Occupied Palestinian Territory (click here) faces a protracted protection and political crisis characterized by more than 56 years of Israeli military occupation, 16 years of the Gaza blockade, internal Palestinian divisions, lack of adherence to international humanitarian and human rights law, and recurrent escalations of hostilities between Israeli security forces and Palestinian armed groups. The hostilities which commenced in October 2023 resulted in unprecedented levels of destruction and suffering, including tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties, hundreds of Israeli casualties, and over 240 hostages from Israel. Nearly all of Gaza’s current population of 2.1 million people has been displaced, lacking access to sufficient shelter, food, life-saving medical services, clean water, education and livelihoods....
Peace in the Middle East has to start somewhere and this vote definitely established the understanding Israel needs to stop destroying the region and killing the people.
