There was a time when the Democratic party could be counted on for its support of Israel, today not so much.
As tensions in Gaza continue to escalate, House Democrats rejected a recent Republican push to consider legislation that would apply sanctions on Hamas militants.
Democrats blocked a bid to bring the Palestinian International Terrorism Support Prevention Act up for consideration in a 217-209 vote along party lines. The bill, introduced by Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., would have imposed sanctions on foreign entities known to have provided financial assistance to Hamas, among other measures.
“Under my bill, the United States will sanction these groups that are supporting terrorism,” Mast said in a floor speech in support of the legislation. “Or if we do not pass this bill, we will not stand together to sanction these groups that are enabling this terrorism.”
Mast was actually reintroducing the bill, which had passed the House unanimously in 2019 but was not taken up for a vote in the Senate. Republicans brought the bill up for consideration through a procedure known as the “previous question,” which functions as a call to end debate on a measure and bring it up for an immediate vote.
Prior to the vote, Mast’s bill drew support from prominent Republicans, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. Mast had previously penned a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Gregory Meeks to expedite a vote on the bill.
“The ongoing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians show why America must unequivocally support Israel, condemn Hamas, and sanction those who fund terrorism,” McCarthy wrote on Twitter.
The Biden administration has faced intense pressure from lawmakers on its response to the crisis. Prominent Democrats, including Pelosi, have called for a cease-fire, while progressives such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have criticized Biden for not speaking against the Israeli government’s actions.
President Biden and Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib engaged in a tense, roughly eight-minute conversation on the airport tarmac Detroit after Biden’s arrival there on May 17. One can only assume it was about Tlaib’s anti-Israeli views.
Tlaib has been fiercely critical of Biden and the State Department’s handling of the recent conflict between Hamas and Israel.
“If you support a cease-fire, then get out of the way of the UN Security Council and join other countries in demanding it,” she said in a tweet directed at the president and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
Meanwhile, Republicans have pressed Biden to affirm US support for the Israeli government. A group of Senate Republicans led by Sen. Rick Scott of Florida drafted a resolution affirming Israel’s “right to defend itself against terrorist attacks.”
What do you think? Is Democratic support of Israel wavering thanks to new members of the party who fail to recognize the value of the US’s strong alliance with Israel? Please reply using the comments below!
If the “squad” is so in league with Iranian and Palestinian terrorists , perhaps they should relocate to a place where they are welcome. America has enough domestic terrorists already, and I’m sure they would better serve terrorist nations than they do American citizens.
We must support Israel from terrorists groups supported by countries like Germany and China and fools like Ilhan Omar Taib and OAC
THAT IS THE DEM FOR YOU ———-THEY WANT TO RULE BUT SEND OUR GUYS OUT TO DO THE DIRTY FIGHTING FOR THE COUNTRY BUT CAN’T DO IT DIPLOMATICALLY OR WITH PERSISTENCE TO BRING IT TO AND END. SO IN THAT SENSE THEY ARE COWARDS AND THEY DARE CALL THE REPUBLICANS COWARDS. . FIGHTING IS NOT OUR BAG BUT YOU PRESSURE US TO MUCH AND ALL HELL WILL BREAK OUT JUST LIKE PEARL HARBOR. SAME WAY GOES IN CONGRESS AND SENATE YOU BUSH US TO FAR AND YOU WILL REGRET IT.