On Thursday, a resolution condemning Iran's airstrikes on Israel passed overwhelmingly in the House of Representatives with a vote of 404 to 14. The resolution also affirmed U.S. support for Israel to respond to the attack as deemed necessary. Notably, only one House Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie, voted against the bill.
Among the 14 dissenting votes were 13 House Democrats, including prominent members of the 'Squad' such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and others. The Progressive Caucus Chair, Pramila Jayapal, also opposed the resolution.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer criticized the Democrats who voted against condemning Iran, accusing them of prioritizing terrorists over supporting Israel, the U.S.'s strongest ally in the Middle East.
The tensions between Democrats and Republicans over Israel have been exacerbated by recent events, including Iran's rocket attacks on Israel in retaliation for an Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic facility in Syria. The escalation of hostilities marks the first direct attack on Israel from Iranian soil.
The dissenting Democrats are part of a growing faction critical of the U.S.'s close ties to Israel, particularly following Israel's military actions in Gaza. The conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with Hamas claiming over 30,000 Palestinian deaths since the invasion of southern Israel.
House Republicans have capitalized on the Democratic divisions over Israel by reaffirming their support for the longstanding relationship with Israel. In response to the Iran attack, House GOP leadership introduced 17 bills affirming U.S. support for Israel and condemning Iran.
Ocasio-Cortez criticized the Republican efforts, accusing them of escalating tensions in the Middle East and distracting from real leadership. She vowed to oppose any actions that could further inflame tensions and hinder the path to peace in the region.
