As Congress weighs aid to Israel, some Democrats want it to come with conditions

Democrats in Congress are clashing with each other and the Biden administration over a push from the left that would attach conditions to an emergency injection of security aid to Israel during its war with Hamas, the latest reflection of a growing division within the party over support for Israel. the Jewish state.

The debate is a striking departure from long-standing practice on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers have approved large amounts of military funding for Israel without any conditions for decades. As Israel battles Hamas in a conflict that has seen a rise in civilian casualties, a growing number of Democrats are concerned about how U.S. dollars will be used.

The issue could come to a head in the Senate as early as next week, when Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, has said the House could start working on a legislative package, including the relief measure.

Disagreements between Democrats simmered behind closed doors on Capitol Hill and in the White House on Tuesday. At the White House, Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, huddled with about two dozen Democratic senators who have expressed concerns about how Israel might use U.S. aid on the battlefield. Later, at a private celebratory lunch at the Capitol, several of the same Democrats argued to their colleagues that any aid package should increase humanitarian aid to Gaza and ensure Israel does more to prevent civilian casualties.

“We want the President to receive explicit assurances from the Netanyahu government regarding a plan to reduce the unacceptable number of civilian casualties, and we want the Netanyahu coalition to commit to fully cooperating with our efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to citizens in Gaza,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen, the Maryland Democrat leading the effort, referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. “The bottom line is that we need those express guarantees. We are now discussing how we can achieve that.”

Mr. Van Hollen led a letter to President Biden this month that was signed by half the Democratic caucus and raised concerns about whether weapons supplied by the United States would be used in accordance with international law.

The Biden administration has requested $14.3 billion for Israel’s war effort against Hamas as part of a sweeping national security package that includes additional billions to speed humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.

No Democrats have said they would not support the package. But several are concerned that, if left unchecked, Israel’s use of heavier, U.S.-supplied assault weapons, funded by a new influx of American money, could undermine efforts to minimize Palestinian casualties and provide aid. to civilians who are being bombed.

Their concerns have become the latest flashpoint in a debate within the Democratic Party over how much restraint Israel should show in its attacks on Gaza. Leaders from both parties have dismissed the calls for conditions as unnecessary and warned they would hamper Israel’s military strategy.

“There are different opinions on that,” Schumer told reporters after lunch on Tuesday. “The bottom line is that I will discuss it with the government and my group.”

Republicans, eager to highlight Democratic divisions on the issue, have been much more blunt.

“If Senate Democrats want to vote to tie the hands of Israeli soldiers as they defend their country from brutal terrorists, I welcome such a debate,” Senator Mitch McConnell, the minority leader, said in a speech. “Israel deserves the time, space and resources to restore its security, and I will support our ally 100 percent.”

Israel has been the largest cumulative recipient of foreign aid in the United States since its founding in 1948, and the $3.8 billion the country receives in annual military aid exceeds the amount given to any other country except Ukraine. Although some of these funds were authorized following peace agreements, Congress has not previously established detailed terms limiting the terms under which the weapons Israel purchases from the United States can be used.

But that could change if some Democrats push for an explicit guarantee that Israeli operations against Hamas do not violate international law in the aid package.

“These are goals that I think everyone shares, and we’re just trying to figure out the best way to do that,” said Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, who signed the letter to Mr. Biden.

The Biden administration, while initially unequivocal in its support for Israel’s efforts to drive Hamas out of Gaza, has recently urged Israel to be more surgical in its attacks, to avoid exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis worsens even further. Last week, Mr. Biden told reporters that the idea of ​​conditioning aid to Israel was “a valuable thought.”

Some leading Democrats in Congress argue that the Biden administration has already done enough to ensure that Israel conducts its operations in a way that spares the suffering of the civilian population.

“The Biden administration has had good conversations with the Israelis; I think he has had an impact on military strategy and on humanitarian aid,” said Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, a Maryland Democrat who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee. Mr. Cardin has strongly opposed limiting additional weapons for Israel.

“We are not going to condition aid on an ally, and we are not going to try to micromanage their defense,” Mr. Cardin said.

Still, the debate over Israel’s use of force has intensified in recent days as lawmakers brace for an expected resumption of hostilities in the Gaza Strip. The two sides have been in a temporary truce for almost a week to allow the release of some hostages held by Hamas and certain Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Democrats pushing for conditions say their concerns should not be seen as a backsliding in their support for Israel. They claim they are trying to prevent a worse humanitarian catastrophe and security crisis in the region.

“I support Israeli aid; I always have,” said Senator Peter Welch, Democrat of Vermont. “My big problem is not with Israeli aid, but with the Israeli bombings that are having such a devastating impact on civilians.”

He said the administration owed Congress more “transparency” about what the aid package would be used for, including why massive offensive weapons would be needed.

“There’s a lot in it for Iron Dome – that’s great. Humanitarian – that’s great,” Mr Welch said. ‘Two thousand pound bombs? Not so sure.”

The Iron Dome is a key part of Israel’s missile defense infrastructure, which has been used to neutralize incoming Hamas rockets. Israel has been criticized for using heavy bombs to hit targets in the Gaza Strip because of the damage such weapons can cause to civilians in a densely populated area.