DeLauro Statement on US Aid to Israel
Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement regarding her vote against a Republican amendment to the 2027 State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS) Appropriations Bill that would restrict all financial support to Israel, for both military and civilian purposes:
“I have been a leader in Congress calling for a major surge in humanitarian aid to Gaza, and in advocating for a two-state solution that provides long term security for the Israeli and the Palestinian people. This amendment would put both of those goals in jeopardy.
“Its vague wording gives the Trump Administration broad leeway to determine which programs are defunded and how. Based on the Trump Administration’s failure to meaningfully progress the 20-point peace plan and their track record of defunding international aid programs and diplomatic engagement, I have no doubt that the first programs they choose to cut will be longstanding initiatives that support peace-building activities, facilitate exchanges for students and scholars, assist with refugee resettlement, and provide for scientific and technical cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian organizations. The amendment is so broad that it could even potentially restrict essential U.S. embassy operations, threatening the safety of American citizens in the region.
“I share the concerns of many Americans about U.S. support to Israel’s military operations, and successfully introduced an amendment to the 2027 Defense Appropriations Bill requiring reporting on the use of American weapons by Israel that could be in violation of the ceasefire. My amendment was designed to create transparency—this one does the opposite. The amount of discretion this amendment would provide to the Trump Administration in all aspects of this important relationship is unwise.
“With the expiration of the current 10-year Memorandum of Understanding signed by President Obama and the state of Israel, it is time for a major realignment. Israel is a developed nation that is capable of procuring advanced weapons without US support. Therefore, we must ensure that any future security relationship with Israel is structured similarly to defense agreements with our Western and democratic allies. Maintaining Israel’s security in the region with countries like Iran still requires that we support Israel’s security with defensive systems like Iron Dome, Arrow, and David’s Sling. A new defense agreement must be based on respect for human rights and allow for a route to Palestinian sovereignty.
“To that end, the United States must use our influence to both increase humanitarian aid and restrain Israeli violations of the existing ceasefire. This amendment does neither, and would remove every last source of leverage Congress has to influence Israel’s government. For these reasons, I voted no.”