Democrats Divided Over Cutting Aid to Israel

The Democratic Party is divided over whether to support Israel, with party leaders deciding to take more time on the issue as some call for an end to U.S. military aid to the Jewish state.

The Democratic National Committee’s resolutions committee on Tuesday met to debate two resolutions on party policy toward Israel. 

One of these resolutions called for an end to military aid to Israel and the recognition of a Palestinian state, while another, supported by DNC chair Ken Martin, backed “unrestricted” aid to Gaza and a two-state solution. 

The panel supported Martin’s resolution unanimously, and the arms embargo resolution failed. However, Martin made the surprising decision to withdraw his resolution and put off the vote.

“There’s a divide in our party on this issue,” Martin said, when announcing the withdrawal of his resolution. “This is a moment that calls for shared dialogue, calls for shared advocacy.”

Martin additionally announced he would discuss the issue with a group “comprised of stakeholders on all sides of this to continue to have the conversation.”

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Allison Minnerly, a Florida Democrat present at the meeting, pushed back on Martin’s decision to punt the decision.

“I do think that his decision to pull his resolution now might reflect, maybe, some inner thoughts and fears that even the establishment Democratic Party, here at the DNC, is not aligned with the base and trying to avoid that conversation because it’s already created a problem with the party,” she said.

An August Economist/YouGov survey showed that a mere 5% of self-identified Democrats support increasing aid to Israel, while 54% support decreasing it, and 23% support “maintaining the same amount.”

Meanwhile, among self-identified Republican respondents, 24% support an increase in aid, with the same amount supporting a decrease, and 33% support maintaining the current amount of aid.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The Democratic Party’s broader debate on the Israel issue is playing out in Washington and across the nation. 

In late July, 27 Senate Democrats—a majority of the party’s representation in the Senate—voted for a resolution from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to block weapons sales to Israel. 

In swing state Michigan, Democrat primary voters will have the option of voting for two Senate candidates with vastly differing views on Israel—the staunchly pro-Israel Rep. Haley Stevens, and former Wayne County Health Commissioner Abdul El-Sayed, who supports an arms embargo and calls Israel’s actions in its war with Hamas “genocide.”

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