ZOA Condemns Thomas Massie Amendment And 103 House Democrats Who Voted To Eliminate U.S. Military Aid To Israel

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Zionist Organization of America has sharply criticized Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and 103 Democratic members of Congress who voted in favor of eliminating all fiscal year 2027 U.S. military assistance to Israel, arguing that the proposal would have endangered both American and Israeli security interests. The amendment was defeated in the House of Representatives by a vote of 314 to 104.

The amendment, designated H.Amdt.235, sought to remove approximately $3.3 billion in military assistance to Israel included in the fiscal year 2027 State Department appropriations legislation. It received support from Rep. Massie and 103 Democratic lawmakers while drawing opposition from nearly all House Republicans and 98 Democrats. Ten Democratic members voted present.

The vote highlighted continuing divisions within the Democratic Party regarding U.S. support for Israel amid the ongoing regional conflict. Democratic leadership was split on the amendment, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries voting against it while Minority Whip Katherine Clark voted in favor.

ZOA Criticizes Proposal to Eliminate Aid

In a statement released following the vote, ZOA National President Morton “Mort” Klein described the proposal as dangerous and misguided.

“ZOA is outraged by the votes of Rep. Thomas Massie and 103 Democratic Congressmembers to eliminate all $3.3 billion in U.S. military assistance to Israel while ignoring the $2 billion in U.S. aid to the Islamic country of Egypt or the $1.5 billion in U.S. aid to the Islamic country of Jordan,” Klein said.

Klein further argued that the proposal failed to recognize the historical agreements that underpin portions of the American assistance package provided to Israel.

According to ZOA, approximately $2.5 billion of the annual assistance stems from commitments made as part of the 1978 Sinai Accords involving Israel, Egypt, and the United States. The organization noted that Israel relinquished control of the Sinai Peninsula, including developed oil fields, as part of the peace agreement with Egypt.

The remaining assistance for fiscal year 2027 is included within the ten-year Memorandum of Understanding signed between the United States and Israel in 2016 covering fiscal years 2018 through 2027. Under the agreement, the military assistance provided to Israel must be spent in the United States, supporting American defense industries and manufacturing jobs.

Future Defense Cooperation

ZOA also noted that discussions are currently underway regarding future defense cooperation mechanisms beginning in fiscal year 2028.

According to the organization, both governments envision a framework based increasingly upon jointly funded defense initiatives and cooperative projects that may gradually reduce reliance upon the existing military assistance model over time.

Military assistance to Israel has historically differed from assistance provided to many American allies. Funding mechanisms for countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom are frequently embedded within broader defense appropriations legislation and therefore are not typically subject to separate votes concerning individual aid packages, according to ZOA.

Growing Political Divisions

The House vote reflects broader political changes surrounding support for Israel within Congress.

Reuters reported that nearly half of House Democrats supported the amendment, underscoring growing divisions over American policy toward Israel and the ongoing war against Hamas. Progressive lawmakers have increasingly advocated conditioning or ending military assistance to Israel, while others maintain that such assistance remains an important component of American foreign policy and regional stability.

Some Democratic lawmakers who supported the amendment stated that their votes were intended to express opposition to the continuation of the war and aspects of Israeli government policy. Other opponents of the measure argued that eliminating military assistance would weaken both American strategic interests and Israel’s ability to defend itself against regional threats.

Klein rejected suggestions that Israel alone bears responsibility for the continuing conflict.

“The wars were started by and continue to be pursued by the Iranian regime and its proxies, including Hezbollah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad,” he said.

“If there were no tens of thousands of rockets fired at Israel, no terrorist massacres of innocent Jews, no kidnappings, and no continuing threat to Israel’s existence, there would be no war.”

Implications Beyond Israel

ZOA argues that American military assistance to Israel advances broader U.S. strategic interests through intelligence sharing, technological cooperation, and joint defense initiatives.

The organization characterized the failed amendment as harmful to both nations’ security interests.

“The 104 votes for eliminating FY 2027 assistance betray the security of the United States and of the Jewish State,” Klein said.

Although the amendment was overwhelmingly defeated, political observers have noted that the level of Democratic support it received marks a significant departure from decades of broad bipartisan consensus regarding military assistance to Israel. The vote is likely to remain an important indicator of evolving congressional attitudes as lawmakers begin considering future frameworks for U.S. and Israeli defense cooperation beyond 2027.