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Congressional Democrats are trying to distance themselves from the party’s far-left House members who have taken an aggressive pro-Palestinian stance, highlighting the growing divide in the party over the Middle East conflict.
More than a dozen House lawmakers, all but one of whom are Democrats, opposed a resolution condemning Hamas’ deadly terrorist attack on Israel and reaffirming U.S. support for the Jewish nation. That group included members of the “Squad,” some of whom have weathered intense criticism for anti-Israel sentiments.
“The collection of members that voted against the resolution are typically not supportive of anything related to Israel,” said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Shultz, a Florida Democrat who is Jewish. “It’s one thing to oppose Israel or any nation based on policy, but everyone should be against slaughter.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Democrat, acknowledged that the “far-left fringe” of his party has “reservations about supporting Israel” but said it was akin to the “extreme fringe” on the right who oppose more Ukraine aid to combat Russia.
“But the main point here is there’s strong bipartisan support,” Mr. Blumenthal said.
The House’s nonbinding resolution cleared 412-10 last week, marking the first legislative business after the swearing-in of Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican. Nine Democrats and Rep. Thomas Massie, Kentucky Republican, voted no. Another six Democrats voted “present.”
A similar pro-Israel resolution passed the Senate unanimously last week on a 98-0 vote.
Sen. Tim Kaine, Virginia Democrat, defended his anti-Israel colleagues’ right to hold a minority view on the issue.
“We’re the United States Congress, and there’s no unanimity on a Mother’s Day resolution,” he said. “This is a very tough and very emotional issue, so there’s some different points of view. I get it. But if you look at where the throw weight is, there is a significant bipartisan majority.”
The House resolution condemned Hamas’ “brutal” and “barbaric” Oct. 7 attack that killed at least 1,400 people in Israel and demanded the release of the estimated 220 hostages held by Hamas.
The House Democrats who voted against the resolution were Jamaal Bowman of New York, Cori Bush of Missouri, Andre Carson of Indiana, Al Green of Texas, Summer L. Lee of Pennsylvania, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Delia C. Ramiez of Illinois and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.
The House Democrats who voted present were Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Gregorio Casar of Texas, Jesus Garcia of Illinois, Joaquin Castro of Texas, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Nydia Velazquez of New York.
Rep. Michael Lawler, New York Republican, said anyone who opposed the measure “should resign in disgrace.”
Rep. Haley Stevens, a Michigan Democrat who co-chairs a congressional task force that aids in hostage situations involving Americans, highlighted the broad U.S. support for Israel rather than the few defectors in her party.
“My message to the American people is that 412 members of Congress support, in a bipartisan way, our great ally Israel,” she said.
Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat and former majority leader, said there are “proper” concerns about innocent Palestinians becoming collateral damage and being used as shields for Hamas. He argued there is “universal, total unanimity among all members of Congress — and hopefully all people — that condemn the carnage that was visited by Hamas on innocent civilians,” including among those with pro-Palestinian views.
Congress’ only Palestinian American, Ms. Tlaib, is among the members who have stirred uproar over anti-Israel comments. She has doubled down on blaming Israel for bombing a Gaza hospital despite evidence corroborated by the U.S. and other countries that the damage was inflicted by a missile from a Hamas-aligned Islamist group.
“I cannot uncritically accept Israel’s denials of responsibility as fact, especially in light of confirmation from the World Health Organization that Israel has bombed numerous medical facilities in Gaza and reports from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society of ongoing threats from the Israeli military to evacuate hospitals,” Ms. Tlaib said. “Both the Israeli and United States governments have long, documented histories of misleading the public about wars and war crimes … and cannot clear themselves of responsibility without an independent international investigation.”
Ms. Tlaib is the subject of a censure resolution from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia Republican, for promoting “antisemitic activity, sympathizing with terrorist organizations and leading an insurrection” at the U.S. Capitol.
Ms. Tlaib was involved in a pro-Palestinian demonstration on Oct. 18 featuring hundreds of protesters who flooded the Cannon House Office Building and called for a cease-fire.
Not all Democrats are trying to distance themselves from their anti-Israel colleagues.
Sen. Bernard Sanders, an independent from Vermont who caucuses with Democrats and is aligned with the Squad, declined to comment about the anti-Israel sentiments. Mr. Sanders, who is Jewish, instead directed The Washington Times to a Senate floor speech in which he condemned Israel for civilian deaths from its counterattacks and advocated a humanitarian pause so that critical aid such as food, water, fuel and medical supplies could reach Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
“Israel suffered a major attack and has, as do all other countries under similar circumstances, the absolute right to defend itself,” Mr. Sanders said. “But having the right to defend your country against a terrorist attack and a terrorist organization like Hamas does not mean having the right to violate international law and wage indiscriminate warfare against innocent men, women and children in Gaza.”
• Alex Miller and Mallory Wilson contributed to this report.
• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.
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