1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters & Reports
3. Hearings & Markups
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

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New episodes of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast:

• 9/8/26: Six Months into the Iran War, ft. FMEP fellow Peter Beinart in conversation with Negar Mortazavi about the developments & dynamics around the now six-month old war in Iran. They discuss what the U.S. got wrong in its expectations for the war, why the MOU between the U.S. & Iran broke down, and how the economic warfare of sanctions is working. They also look at what is happening on the ground in Iran, including with the possibility of real opposition to the regime, and how the Iranian diaspora is navigating the war, opposition to the regime, and divisions in the diaspora.
• 9/4/26: The Jewish Vote in Michigan, Florida, and Beyond, ft. FMEP fellow Ahmed Moor in conversation with journalist Alex Kane (Jewish Currents) about the role that Palestine/Israel is playing in different elections around the country, the Jewish vote in Michigan and Florida, and how to think about the differences, similarities, and impacts of AIPAC versus J Street.

Also see: Look for Lara Friedman on Debra Shushan’s podcast, The Debrief — 9/11/26: Efforts to Quash Dissent on US Campuses and Beyond [to be published 9/13/26]

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1. Bills & Resolutions

(PROTECTING HIGHER ED FROM IRS TARGETING) HR 10330 [bill text]: Introduced 9/10/26 by Hernandez (D-NC) and 17 cosponsors (all Democrats), the “Higher Education Oversight for Nonprofits Ensuring Standards and Transparency Act (HONEST Act).” Referred to the  House Committee on Ways and Means. Also see: Press release 9/10/26: Reps. Adams, Raskin Introduce HONEST Act to Protect Colleges from Politically Motivated IRS Investigations; One-pager explaining the bill:

(PROTECTING AMERICANS FROM FOREIGN CENSORSHIP LAWS) HR 10309: Introduced 9/8/26 by Davidson (R-OH) and 4 cosponsors (all Republicans), “To amend title 28, United States Code, to limit the recognition and enforcement of foreign censorship laws in the United States, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Also see:  press release 9/8/26: Davidson Introduces Bill to Block Enforcement of Foreign Censorship Orders Against Americans. NOTE: This bill is clearly focused on the UK, but potentially has implications for Israel, which maintains strict military censorship over media – see: Under the radar: Israel steps up censorship and suppression of independent reporting (Committee for Protection of Journalists 12/11/25)]. Also see: Davidson X-post 9/8/26: “Foreign governments are threatening Americans with fines for speech our Constitution protects. They have no business policing what Americans say. I introduced the HOMEFRONT Act today to bar our government from helping enforce their censorship orders. It also gives Americans the right to fight back by suing foreign censors for damages in U.S. courts.”

(LEGISLATING IRS GRACE FOR AMERICANS HELD HOSTAGE) HR 9496: Introduced 6/29/26 by Tenney (R-NY) and 2 cosponsors (both Democrats), the “End Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act.” Passed by the House Ways and Means Committee 7/1/26 by a vote of 40-0; reported out of committee 9/8/26 (Report #119-797) and placed on the Union Calendar (meaning it can come up for a vote anytime). NOTE: This legislation was first introduced after the 10/7/23 Hamas attacks and hostage-taking. Since then, the IRS has repeatedly implemented special tax relief for the broad categories of “taxpayers affected by terroristic action in the State of Israel throughout 2024 and 2025,” “taxpayers affected by the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks in Israel” and “taxpayers affected by terroristic action in Israel throughout 2023 and 2024.” Taken together, these policies have (so far) postponed tax payments/filings for affected individuals (going well beyond those taken hostage to include potentially a huge number of Israelis) for three years.

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Reporting/posts on previously-introduced legislation

HR 4795 – Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026 [which was passed by the House on 9/3/26 by a vote of 237-169; see last week’s Round-Up for details]

• Floor consideration of the bill 9/3/26 – including statements for and against the measure – is here.
• Franklin (R-FL) 9/10/26: X-post – “Antisemitism has no place on our college campuses. They should be places of learning, not hatred or discrimination. Last week, I voted for @virginiafoxx’s Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act to hold federally funded universities accountable, protect academic freedom and stand with Israel.”
• Khanna (D-CA) 9/9/26: X-post w/ video clip – “237 House members, including 33 Democrats, voted to strip federal funding from universities where students speak out against the Israeli government. This is an assault on the First Amendment. We need to stand with students with the courage to call out the genocide in Gaza.”
• Edwards (R-NC) 9/9/26: X-post – “Antisemitic incidents on college campuses are nearly three times higher than they were in 2021, and a 2026 survey found 42% of Jewish college students report experiencing antisemitism firsthand. I voted in support of H.R. 4795, which says colleges that turn anti-Israel activism into official policy, commercial boycotts of Israel, blacklisting Israeli students and scholars, risk losing federal student aid eligibility. This isn’t about campus debate or free speech. It’s about taxpayer dollars not subsidizing institutional discrimination.”
• Tlaib (D-MI) 9/8/26: X-post w/ video clip – “Congress voted to punish students who are boycotting a foreign government, Israel, by cutting federal student aid. Students should be able to boycott genocides, wars and apartheid regimes.”
• South Florida Sun Sentinel 9/8/26: US House passes bill stripping federal funds from universities that boycott Israel
• Algemeiner 9/8/26: Jewish Groups Praise US House for Passing Bill to Cut Aid From Colleges Promoting BDS, Antisemitism
• FIRE 9/4/26: X-thread – “Yesterday, the U.S. House passed H.R. 4795, which seeks to crackdown on boycotts of Israel by prohibiting colleges receiving federal funding from boycotting Israel or Israeli entities—threatening First Amendment rights. FIRE strongly opposes this bill. Political boycotts sit at the intersection of speech, petition, assembly, and association. On campus, vendor, contract, or investment decisions often flow from protected student and faculty advocacy, as well as institutional expression and association. Calling these disputes “nonexpressive commercial boycotts” does not fix the problem. Campus boycott debates are rarely just procurement fights. They often involve political advocacy, faculty governance, public criticism, and institutional expression. The bill also addresses student and faculty participation in academic programs involving Israeli institutions. FIRE supports the academic freedom rights of students and faculty to engage in educational activities across borders. But protecting students and faculty only against boycotts of Israeli institutions, and not institutions in any other country, raises its own First Amendment concerns. Congress should protect academic freedom without singling out one political dispute. FIRE is watching this bill closely. The Senate must not pass this bill in its current form.”
• Davidson (R-OH) 9/4/26: X-post – “I strongly disagree with efforts to boycott, divest, or sanction Israel.” said Rep. Davidson. “Nevertheless, the 1st Amendment protects freedom of association, including the right to make lawful decisions people find personally offensive. We can’t restore a government small enough to fit within the Constitution by ignoring the Constitution.”
• Columbia Spectator 9/4/26: House passes bill to withhold funding from universities that boycott Israel after Columbia rejected divestment proposals
• Davidson (R-OH) 9/4/26: X-post – “‘I strongly disagree with efforts to boycott, divest, or sanction Israel.’ said Rep. Davidson. ‘Nevertheless, the 1st Amendment protects freedom of association, including the right to make lawful decisions people find personally offensive. We can’t restore a government small enough to fit within the Constitution by ignoring the Constitution.’”
• Omar (D-MN) 9/4/26: X-post – “This week I voted NO on a bill to block universities who boycott Israel from receiving federal funding. No university or student should be punished for refusing to support a foreign nation and a genocide.”
• NewsGram 9/4/26: 33 Dems Help Pass House Bill That Would Strip Funds From Colleges That Boycott Israel
• Reason 9/3/26: Congress Is Trying (Again) To Ban Boycotting Israel [“The bipartisan bill, which passed the House, takes aim at university boycotts of any ‘major strategic partner.‘”]
• Responsible Statecraft 9/3/26: House to universities: Don’t you dare boycott Israel
• Common Dreams 9/3/26: 33 Dems Help Pass House Bill That Would Strip Funds From Colleges That Boycott Israel
• Ground News 9/3/26: US House passes bill to crack down on university boycotts of Israel
• Mondoweiss 9/3/26: The Shift: House passes bill blocking schools from boycotting Israel
• Jewish Insider 9/3/26: House passes anti-BDS measure, even as most Democrats voted against it
• AIPAC X-post 9/3/26: “Thank you @RepJoshG and @virginiafoxx for leading this important bipartisan effort to counter the dangerous BDS campaign and safeguard academic engagement with Israel. This legislation helps protect pro-Israel students from discriminatory boycotts and efforts to deny them the ability to study in Israel or learn from Israeli professors, while fully protecting First Amendment rights. We urge the Senate to take up and pass this bipartisan bill when it returns from recess.”
• Massie (R-KY) 9/3/26: X-post – “Congress did one and only one thing today. The House passed a bill to withhold money from universities if they don’t play nice with Israel. I voted No. It’s not proper for our federal government to coerce universities into engaging with any particular foreign country.”
• Foushee (D-NC) 9/3/26: X-post – “I voted against the bill to block universities from receiving funds if they are engaging in boycotts of Israel. Refusing to support a genocide, or refusing to support a foreign nation, should not result in the loss of federal funding for a university.”
• Castro (D-TX) 9/3/26: X-post – “Israeli settlers are committing record levels of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Instead of confronting them, the House of Representatives just passed a bill that would threaten the education of American citizen’s to protect Israeli settlements. I voted No.” Also see video clip.
• Foxx (R-NC) 9/3/26: X-post – “The House just passed my bipartisan bill, the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act, that takes a strong stand against the BDS movement on college campuses across the nation. Thank you, @RepJoshG, for your partnership in helping lead this legislation alongside me. This legislation has true teeth and completely severs any possible taxpayer support of these concrete campaigns of antisemitism in the form of BDS and academic boycotts of Israel. The Senate should take it up immediately!”
• McClain (R-MI) 9/3/26: X-post – “This House just passed the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act — and it’s about time. Taxpayers should NOT fund schools that single out Israel or shut students out of academic opportunities for political reasons. Colleges and universities should be places where ideas are debated, not where discrimination becomes institutional policy.”
• Harris (R-NC) 9/3/26: X-post – “Amid the rise of antisemitism, we must protect Jewish students and ensure taxpayer dollars don’t reward colleges hostile to Israel. Our campuses must remain a place where EVERY student’s right to free speech and discrimination-free learning is protected.”
• Haaretz 9/3/26: House Passes Bill to Restrict University Boycotts of Israel
• The Guardian 9/3/26: US House passes bill penalizing universities that participate in boycott of Israel

Other stuff:

• [HR 9211] Goldman (D-NY) 9/3/26: X-post – “My bipartisan, bicameral Jewish American Security Act would increase the non-profit security grant program to $1 billion — and it is available to any non-profits with security concerns. It also provides guidance, processes and training for educational institutions to combat antisemitism, and requires transparency from social media companies about antisemitism online. Let’s pass this narrowly targeted bill before year-end.”
• [HR 8800 // S. 4784] Reuters 9/3/26: Rights groups urge US lawmakers to drop provision to deepen defense ties with Israel

2. Letters & Reports

• (SAVE THE WEST BANK ECONOMY & THE PA FROM COLLAPSE DUE TO ISRAELI POLICIES LITERALLY DESIGNED TO DESTROY THEM) 9/9/26: Schneider, Goldman Lead Bipartisan Effort Urging Secretaries Rubio and Bessent to Prevent Further Middle Eastern Instability by Protecting the West Bank Economy [letter text]. Also see: Bipartisan House group warns PA fiscal collapse could strengthen Hamas, Iran-backed groups (Jerusalem Post 9/9/26)
• (SANCTION UK & OTHERS FOR SANCTIONING ISRAEL] 9/9/26: Congresswoman Tenney Urges Treasury Review of UK-Led Israel Boycott Under U.S. Anti-Boycott Law [letter text].  Also see: Tenney calls on Treasury to weigh anti-boycott penalties for U.K., countries sanctioning Israeli settlements (Jewish Insider 9/9/26); US Lawmaker Urges Trump Administration to Take Stand Against British Sanctions on Israeli Settlements (Algemeiner 9/10/26)
• (US MUST HELP DR HUSSAM ABU SAFIYA) 9/8/26: Dexter, Ruiz Condemn Lack of Due Process for Imprisoned Palestinian Pediatrician Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya and Demand His Release by Netanyahu’s Government [letter text]. Also see: Quigley (D-IL) 9/10/26: X-post – “Dr. Abu Safiya is a Palestinian pediatrician and longtime director of a Gaza hospital. Nearly two years ago, Israeli authorities detained him without charge or trial. Now, his lawyer says his physical condition is ‘near death.’ I’m joining @RepDexterOR and nearly 70 of our colleagues in demanding Marco Rubio and the Trump administration do everything they can to free Dr. Abu Safiya before he dies in custody.” 69 members of Congress call on Rubio to help secure release of prominent Palestinian doctor (ABC News)
• (SUDAN SANCTIONS, INCLUDING RE: UAE) 9/4/26: Murphy, 7 Democrats Call On Security Council to Pass Sanctions on Sudan to Cut Off Conflict Cash Flows [letter text]

3. Hearings & Markups

None.

Israel/AIPAC (and more PIKER-MANIA) in US elex & politics – GENERAL

• Arab Center Washington DC 9/11/26: The Democrats’ Divide Over Israel Comes to the House Foreign Affairs Committee
• Haaretz 9/11/26: At Two Jewish Conferences, Speakers Turn Fears of Antisemitism Into Attacks on Islam
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 9/11/26: J Street goes on the offensive against AIPAC-backed candidates
• Mondoweiss 9/11/26: Democrats are in a ‘death match’ with the Left over Israel. How will it impact the midterms?
• Washington Post 9/10/26: Rival pro-Israel group to spend millions to target AIPAC-backed candidates [“The super PAC of J Street, a liberal pro-Israel group, is spending $3 million on ads against Republicans backed by AIPAC.“]
• Politico 9/10/26: ‘Waste of energy’: Senate Democrats are sitting out the John Fetterman pile-on
• Axios 9/9/26: Scoop: J Street super PAC spends $3M to defeat AIPAC-backed Republicans
• The Hill 9/9/26: Why conservatives have shifted on Israel
• Afkar (Qatar) 9/9/26: Will AIPAC’s Declining Electoral Influence Shift U.S. Foreign Policy? [“Will the defeats of candidates backed by the pro-Israel lobby in the U.S. begin to influence and reshape Washington’s foreign policy—particularly regarding Palestine, Iran, and Gulf security?“]
• Jewish Insider 9/8/26: Rep. Jared Moskowitz: Pro-Israel Democrats are being ‘ostracized’ in the Democratic Party  [Matt Duss (CIP) X-post 9/9/26: “What do you do after you’ve just been handed leadership of a key foreign affairs subcommittee? Obviously, run to the nearest reporter and complain that your views are being ‘ostracized.’”]
• KQED 9/8/26: AIPAC Is Spending Millions to Reshape the Democratic Party. Is It Working? [“AIPAC is pouring millions into this year’s midterm elections, attempting to shape the Democratic Party.“]
• Jewish Insider 9/8/26: Sen. Rick Scott urges Trump to pave pathway for Canadian Jews to emigrate to U.S. [“The Florida Republican cited rising antisemitism in Canada as reason for the emergency measure”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 9/9/26: Even as Democrats nominate anti-Israel candidates, poll suggests 67% of Jewish voters plan to cast ballots for Dems in November
• Voz Iz Neias News 9/9/26: Stefanik, Gottheimer Launch Bipartisan Caucus To Combat Campus Antisemitism
• Jewish News Syndicate 9/8/26: Stefanik, Gottheimer announced bipartisan congressional caucus to tackle Jew-hatred on campus
• NBC News 9/7/26: Jewish voters have long backed Democrats. Key midterm races are testing that support.
• Arutz Sheva (Israel) 9/6/26: Why is the Democratic Party condoning antisemitism? How can the Democrat Party be so blatantly ant-Israel? Opinion
• Financial Times 9/5/26: Pro-Israel groups fight to help Republicans keep control of Congress
• Jerusalem Post 9/5/26: Are we seeing the end of Jewish politicians in the Democratic Party? – opinion
• Zeteo 9/4/26: First Draft: Will Republicans Be Asked to Disavow Elon Musk Over His Latest Creepy Antisemitic Post? [“Amid the never-ending frenzy over Hasan Piker, the GOP’s top donor just posted a bizarre pseudoscientific statement about Jews, DNA, and white identity. Plus: Congress says you have to like Israel.”]
• Scheerpost 9/4/26: Democratic Voters Say They Want Change, But the Party Just Elevated More Hawks
• Judge Street Journal; 9/4/26: Six Rabbis and a Republican Walk into the Oval Office
• The Donor Class 9/4/26: SCOOP: Longtime Democratic donors hold New York fundraisers for Republican candidates [“Dem donors are quietly organizing for MI Sen. Candidate Mike Rogers, soon after fundraising for NY Gov candidate Bruce Blakeman – a growing backlash to Abdul El-Sayed & Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s policies”]
• The Nation 9/4/26: Hasan Piker and the Democrats’ Edgelord Dilemma [comparing Piker to Hitler: “Piker was not in any way threatening Jews himself; he was warning Zionist Jews that their views would provoke people who would. But his broadside gave new life to the age-old trope that Jews bring their own oppression on themselves. Variations of it have come from Richard Wagner, Father Charles Coughlin, Hitler, FDR, and Roald Dahl.”]
• Truthout 9/3/26: Democratic Voters Say They Want Change, But the Party Just Elevated More Hawks
• Wall Street Journal 9/3/26: Behind Closed Doors, John Fetterman Shows Little Interest in the Work of a Senator [“Poised to be a possible swing vote in a divided Congress, he churns through staff as he dodges constituents, alienates fellow Democrats and courts Israel lobby“]
• The Atlantic 9/3/26: The Hasan Piker Question
• Times of Israel (blog) 9/3/26: J Street is fueling anti-Israel extremists
• Haaretz 9/3/26: Top Democratic Senator Slams ‘Confirmed’ Israeli Plan to Ethnically Cleanse Gaza [“Senator Chris van Hollen criticized Israeli Defense Minister Katz’s recent comments on the transfer of Palestinians from Gaza, calling it a confirmation of his report from last year on Israel’s ‘Plan to Ethnically Cleanse Gaza of Palestinians’”]
• Zeteo 9/2/26: Why Won’t Mainstream Media Talk to Hasan Piker?

Settlement-Related Boycotts

• Common Dreams 9/9/26: Progressive Democrats Urge US to Join Ban on Products From Illegal Israeli Settlements
• Washington Reporter 9/9/26: SCOOP: Top lawmakers condemn anti-Semitic boycotts of Israel by United Kingdom, France, Canada, and other western countries
• Jerusalem Post 9/8/26: UK’s Israel boycott could cost British businesses billions, Florida Congressman Randy Fine warns

Free Speech/Right to Protest

• Jewish Insider 9/3/26: Liberal leaders who protested Mahdawi’s deportation silent about his antisemitic, pro-terror posts [Excellent commentary from X account @rach3lburn3tt: “when deportation becomes acceptable for speech one finds offensive, whether supporting palestinian rights or expressing genuine bigotry, we enter into dark, mccarthyist territory. civil liberties must be for everyone, unconditionally, or eventually they will protect no one. stories like these are exactly why i felt so torn up about the way that so much of the defense for mohsen’s civil liberties centered around his work as a peace activist, his thoughtfulness, and his compassion. because on the one hand that is truly the way in which he moves through the world, and it hurts to see someone you know being abused by this cruel administration. but on the other hand, this fight should never have been about putting his character on trial. as one of the ACLU lawyers wrote on skokie: ‘if the government can prevent lawful speech because it is offensive and hateful, then it can prevent any speech that it dislikes. in other words, the power to censor nazis includes the power to censor protesters of all stripes…’ while i appreciate everyone who has spoken out against this miscarriage of justice because it is happening to someone who exudes compassion for all, we need to be prepared to stand up for the principles of liberal democracy and civil rights protections for all, no matter what.”

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Florida

• Washington Reporter 9/6/26: INTERVIEW: Scott Singer explains why Rep. Jared Moskowitz needs to go

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Georgia

• Punchbowl News 9/8/26: Mike Collins targets Jon Ossoff, and mail-in ballot battle ignites

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Michigan

• Jewish News Syndicate 9/9/26: “Non-negotiables” unveiled by progressive Jewish leaders as they push El-Sayed to stop throwing flames
• YNet (Israel) 9/8/26: Michigan rabbis tell El-Sayed to change Israel rhetoric, warn Jews don’t feel safe
• Jewish Insider 9/8/26: Coalition of Michigan Jewish leaders sets out ‘nonnegotiable’ demands for El-Sayed, Democrats [“The group called for Democratic candidates to affirm principles including Jewish safety, the Jewish right to sovereignty in Israel and the right of all Jews to participate in the political process”]
• New York Times 9/8/26: Read the “Nonnegotiable” petition [“A coalition of Michigan rabbis and Jewish leaders is launching a petition drive aimed at Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate nominee”]
• Jewish Insider 9/3/26: ‘Jews for Abdul’ co-founder acknowledges El-Sayed’s weaknesses with Jewish voters

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New Hampshire

• Jewish News Syndicate 9/9/26: New Hampshire Dems with AIPAC backing easily win primaries against far-left candidates
• YNet (Israel) 9/9/26: AIPAC, Netanyahu and Israel take center stage in New Hampshire Democratic primaries
• Punchbowl News 9/9/26: Stefany Shaheen tops Maura Sullivan after nasty NH primary
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 9/8/26: New Hampshire congressional candidates compete to out-criticize one another on Israel, AIPAC
• The Hill 9/8/26: Shaheen wins Democratic primary for New Hampshire House seat left open by Pappas
• Jewish Insider 9/6/26: Stefany Shaheen’s anti-AIPAC attacks haven’t boosted her fortunes in New Hampshire
• Jewish Insider 9/6/26: Pappas leads, but faces an unexpectedly competitive race in New Hampshire Senate primary
• New Hampshire Public Radio 9/4/26: Outside money pours into NH’s 1st District Democratic race, fueling bitter attacks

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Texas

• The Mary Sue 9/10/26: Texas senate race takes a stunning turn as Dem Star candidate James Talarico surges ahead without AIPAC money

Other stuff

• Jewish Insider 9/10/26: Mast ‘likely’ to support administration’s nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia
• Daily Signal 9/3/26: GOP Congressman to Introduce Resolution Condemning Sharia Law, Wants House Vote Before Midterms

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters & Reports
3. Hearings & Markups
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

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New episodes of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast:

• 9/1/26: Navigating Bad-faith Accusations of Antisemitism, featuring FMEP fellow Peter Beinart in conversation with Ben Lorber, Senior Research Analyst at Political Research Associates, about the “bad-faith disinfo[rmation] attacks” against Hasan Piker and others, which cast critiques of Israel as antisemitism.

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1. Bills & Resolutions

(UNIVERSITIES MUST COOPERATE WITH GREATER ISRAEL – OR ELSE!) HR 4795: Introduced 7/29/25 by Foxx (R-NC) and Gottheimer (D-NJ), “To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit an institution that participates in a nonexpressive commercial boycott of Israel from being eligible for certain funds under that Act, to require an institution that participates in certain programs under that Act to certify that students are not unreasonably obstructed from participating in academic programs in Israel, and for other purposes.” As previously reported in the Round-Up, HR 4795 was passed by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce 6/25/26, and reported out of the Committee on Education and Workforce on 8/27/26 with a report – H. Rept. 119-780. PASSED BY THE HOUSE 9/3/26 by a roll call vote of 237-169, with 33 Democrats voting YES and 2 Republicans voting NO. 

• Foxx (R-NC) X-post celebrating passage of the bill 9/3/26: “The House just passed my bipartisan bill, the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act, that takes a strong stand against the BDS movement on college campuses across the nation. Thank you, @RepJoshG, for your partnership in helping lead this legislation alongside me. This legislation has true teeth and completely severs any possible taxpayer support of these concrete campaigns of antisemitism in the form of BDS and academic boycotts of Israel. The Senate should take it up immediately!”
• Gottheimer press release celebrating passage of the bill: House Passes Gottheimer, Foxx Bipartisan Bill to Hold Higher Education Accountable for Hate-Driven BDS Activity that Targets Jewish Students and Professors — BDS Attacks Academic Freedom; Legislation Protects Free Speech
• Republican Jewish Coalition X-post celebrating passage of HR 4795: “We commend the Republican-led House of Representatives for passing @virginiafoxx’s H.R. 4795, the Protecting Academic Freedom Act of 2026. For years, the “Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions” (BDS) movement has singled out and targeted Israeli products and Israeli academics in an antisemitic effort to vilify and ultimately destroy the world’s only Jewish State. With this vote, the House affirmed that no taxpayer dollars should support colleges that boycott Israel.  Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of Democrats in the House chose to stand with the haters of Jews and Israel, and opposed H.R. 4795. This is yet another reminder that the Republican Party is the ONLY party that unequivocally stands with the American Jewish community and Jewish students who seek higher education free from antisemitic hate.”
• My short comment on passage of this bill: “…The road to erasing US right to free speech/protest of ANYTHING in the US is quite literally being paved with laws to protect/promote Greater Israel/Israeli impunity.”

What’s the big deal about HR 4795?

As reported in the 8/1/25 edition of the Round-Up, under this bill, US universities MUST work with Israel/settlements or they will be punished for boycotting, even if they do not have a policy of boycotting.  To review:

• Forcing Universities to Normalize West Bank Settlements: This language of this legislation – which mirrors language developed in connection with state-level anti-BDS legislation – is clearly designed to apply not only to Israel but also to Israeli entities in settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights (and perhaps some day in Gaza, when Israel starts re-settling there). This is accomplished via the language defining the term “a major strategic partner” to include not only key countries but “an entity licensed or regulated by, or organized under the laws of, such a country.“
• Forcing Universities to Prove a Negative: This legislation sets up an situation in which the alleged absence of engagement with any Israeli partner/party, including in settlements, will become the basis for an accusation of boycott, putting universities in the position where, if they universities want to avoid being accused of boycotting Israel/settlements, they will need to adopt an affirmative policy of prioritizing maximal engagement/partnership with Israeli entities (including in settlements).
• Setting Up a Cause for Legal Action: The requirement that universities certify they are not boycotting Israel/settlements leaves universities vulnerable to attacks by ideologically motivated private parties using the False Claims Act [i.e., those parties will search for and point to the absence of some relations with Israel to allege that a university lied in that certification, with the potential for massive financial judgments against the schools, of which they will receive a substantial portion].
• Cementing in law the dismantlement of any US right to boycott: The Report published by the committee explicitly uses, as the anchor for its logic, a previous ruling on an anti-BDS law. This is the 2022 ruling by the 8th Circuit (en banc), which holds that while the First Amendment protects “expressive” elements of boycott (e.g., calling for boycotts, holding up or posting signs in support of boycotts, stating that one supports boycotts), the actual ACT of boycotting constitutes “non-expressive” conduct that is NOT protected by the First Amendment. Under this ruling — which was celebrated as a victory for Israel and largely overlooked by anyone not focused on Israel/BDS — Americans’ right to boycott ANYTHING based on their deeply held views is dismantled. As I wrote in an analysis for the University of the Pacific’s Law Review: this ruling “is based on an alarming and novel interpretation of the Supreme Court’s prior decisions upholding the right to boycott. According to this interpretation, the Constitution protects a right to call for or express support for boycotts but does not protect the right to actually boycott anything, viewing the act of boycotting not as expressive political speech but as an unprotected economic action. This re-interpretation of Supreme Court precedent, in effect, renders the whole notion of a ‘right to boycott’ meaningless, with alarming implications going far beyond Israel-Palestine issues.”  This dismantling of a core free speech right — undoing what until the 8th Circuit’s 2022 ruling was, since the civil rights era, considered settled law that boycotts are protected free speech — is the foundational justification for HR 4795, and it is the legal principle that HR 4795 is now seeking to cement in U.S. law.

What’s Interesting About the Way HR 4795 Got to the Floor for a Vote?

On 8/28/26, the House Majority Leader published the House schedule for the week of 8/1/26; and included on it a list of measures, including HR 4795, to be considered under suspension of the Rules [reminder: passage of legislation on by the House under suspension of the Rules requires a 2/3 majority]. But then things got even more interesting: on 8/31/26, the House Rules Committee passed H. Res. 1499 – a Rule that to bring HR 4795 (as well as other measures, including a resolution denouncing the DSA) to the floor for votes under normal order (enabling their passage via a simple majority). Republican leaders then brought H. Res. 1499 to the floor, where–in a political shocker that calls into question the current Democratic leadership’s ability to lead–it passed 9/1/26 by a vote of 210-208, thanks to two Democrats, Golden (D-ME) and Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) voting against their party to support the Republican rule (votes that were decisive because 5 Republicans voted “no”).

With the passage of H. Res. 1499, only a simple majority was now required to pass HR 4795 (and the other measures covered by the Rule). This is a very big deal, given that the final vote of HR 4795 was 237-169 — meaning that if the bill had been brought to the floor under suspension of the Rules, it would have FAILED (a 2/3 majority would have meant it needed 270 votes to pass).

And to be clear: the decision of two Democrats to vote with Republicans on this Rule — thereby enabling the Rule to pass, thereby enabling the GOP to pass several pieces of highly controversial legislation — is both highly unusual and a Very Big Deal. As a reminder, the House is a majoritarian body, and House leadership runs the House through the Rules Committee. Membership of the Rules Committee is sufficiently lopsided to guarantee that whatever comes out of the Committee reflects the will/strategy/judgement of House leadership (the Rules Committee is currently composed of 9 Republicans and 4 Democrats). The Rules Committee holds a hearing on the bill and then votes on/approves a RULE governing how the bill will be dealt with on the House floor. The Rule covers things like: which amendments will be considered on the floor; how debate time will be divided; and pretty much anything else the House leadership, working through the Committee, wants to try to get away with. Once this Rule is adopted by the Committee, it is turned into a resolution (an H. Res. XXX), which is then brought to the House floor for a vote. No further action on the underlying legislation is possible until the Rule is passed. Members of the minority are NEVER presumed or expected to support a rule (that just isn’t how the House works). Party-line votes are common on Rules brought to the floor. A speaker who can’t pass a rule on the House floor (meaning he/she cannot corral his/her own caucus to support his/her decisions) can’t run the House.

(Belated) Opposition to HR 4795

The Report that accompanied the bill makes absolutely explicit the intent of the bill (which to be fair was clear already). Notably, while the Minority views (i.e., the views of Democrats on the Committee) included at the end of the report take a strong position on free speech/First Amendment rights, those views also boil down to the complaint that Republicans didn’t work with Democrats to ensure that the bill was formulated in a way that could have gotten bipartisan support [i.e., a formulation that does not so blatantly violate the First Amendment]. Also notably, the Minority views don’t even mention the bill’s conflation of Israel and the West Bank.

As it became clear that HR 4795 was coming to the floor for a vote, opposition to the bill belatedly began to ramp up. This includes from outside groups (including A New Jewish Narrative; MPAC & A New Policy; J Street, CAIR); Democratic Members of the House Education and Workforce Committee; and Rep. Nadler (D-NY). Read Nadler’s 9/2/26 X-post; Nadler’s full statement below. In the end, it was not enough to prevent passage (which was a foregone conclusion once the Rule was passed).

Nadler statement:

“When the House votes on H.R. 4795, I will vote no. H.R. 4795, the so-called Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act, prohibits universities from engaging in ‘non-expressive commercial boycotts,’ and requires institutions of higher education to certify they are not boycotting Israel in order to access certain federal funds.

“I strongly oppose the global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and I ardently oppose BDS as a strategy to secure change in the Middle East. I also recognize that those who advocate for BDS can veer into antisemitism if they should use antisemitic tropes or stereotypes, hold Jews collectively responsible for Israel’s actions, target or exclude Jews because they are Jewish, use opposition to Israel or Zionism as a proxy for hostility toward Jews, or advance an eliminationist vision that denies Jews in Israel equal rights, physical safety, or the ability to remain in the country as equals.

“But no matter how strongly I oppose the BDS movement, I also believe that those who engage in BDS have a First Amendment right to do so. The First Amendment right to free speech does not apply only to agreeable speech. No matter how much I may disagree with BDS, and find it strategically stupid and morally repugnant, I will always fight to protect Americans’ right to speech with which I disagree. It is the only way to ensure speech I do agree with is equally protected.

“In my view, H.R. 4795 is a direct and gross violation of the First Amendment. The proponents of this bill hide behind an inadequately defined term of ‘non-expressive commercial boycotts,’ but, as the ACLU wrote in a letter to Congress, ‘Many of those engaged in boycotts of Israel do so not for commercial reasons, but because they wish to express their political opposition to the policies of the Israeli government – matters of overwhelming public concern and debate in the present moment. HR 4795’s labeling such boycotts as ‘non-expressive’ does nothing to change this reality.’ Moreover, as the Supreme Court has noted in Chiles v. Salazar, ‘the First Amendment is no word game. And the rights it protects cannot be renamed away or their protections nullified by ‘mere labels.’’

“Additionally, the language in H.R. 4795 treats the entire West Bank as part of Israel, erasing the Green Line and undermining efforts to promote a two-state solution. The United States and Congress must recognize the difference between the State of Israel and the territory it occupies beyond the Green Line. Imposing penalties on institutions of higher education for opposing activities that advance annexation, blur that crucially important distinction, and undermine prospects for a two-state solution would establish a deeply troubling precedent.

“H.R. 4795 is the latest assault by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans on American colleges and universities. Supporting this bill does nothing to support students on campus, prevent hate, or improve the reality in the Middle East. Instead, it feeds the political arson being committed by the Trump Administration against institutions of higher education and endeavors to limit Americans’ First Amendment freedoms in service of Republicans’ partisan political agenda.”

2. Letters & Reports

• [TARGETING MAX BLUMENTHAL — AKA, TIME TO STOP ASKING WHETHER THE RED SCARE IS BACK. IT IS. AND FOLKS SHOULD RECALL HOW THAT WENT] On 8/29/26, Laura Loomer published a long post on X, opening with: “GOP Members of Congress call for State Department and DOJ to investigate Radical Left Islamic Terror Sympathizer Max Blumenthal Following His Return From Iran.” The post includes gifs (page 1, page 2) of a letter, dated 8/28/26, sent to Secretary of State Rubio and Attorney General Blanche by Reps. Fine (R-FL), Self (R-TX), and Weber (R-TX). The letter urges the Trump Administration to investigate an American journalist, Max Blumenthal, for “participating in Ali Khameni’s funeral in Iran.” The letter goes on to enumerate Blumenthal’s alleged grievous sins, including criticism of Israel and being the son of Sid Blumenthal. It concludes by characterizing Blumenthal as someone who “sympathizes with America’s enemies and is a threat to United States national security.” The letter asks the Trump officials to “promptly investigate” Blumenthal to “ensure the American public is safe from this traitor.” As a reminder: the U.S. law regarding “treason”: “Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.” [See also: Sacco and Vanzetti; Julius and Ethel Rosenberg]. Also see: response from Max Blumenthal on X: “A federal judge has clearly stated that my Fourth Amendment rights were violated through the seizure of my phones. She framed the DHS action as an attack on my First Amendment rights as well, situating it within the Trump administration’s wider assault on press freedom. Loomer and a trio of Israel First backbenchers have responded by escalating their attack on my First Amendment rights. It’s a desperate bid to silence me and The Grayzone – not for breaking any laws, but for journalism which exposes wanton corruption and war crimes. They are particularly incensed by my reporting on the crimes of a certain foreign apartheid state whose lobbying proxies guide their careers. Indeed, their letter is packed with hysterical complaints about my journalism, demanding that I be “investigated” for producing a documentary on Iran’s Jewish community and for clinically exposing official Israeli deceptions about October 7 designed to generate public support for genocide in Gaza. The letter also contains blatantly false, libelous statements. For instance, its authors claim I was “cultivated by an agent of influence by an FTO and current military adversary.” This is textbook defamation, and I don’t think it’s protected by congressional immunity. Finally, it’s impossible to ignore the irony of Randy Fine falsely accusing an American journalist of unspecified crimes just days after Fine was filmed rummaging through a private citizen’s mailbox while he was campaigning for reelection. Breaking into a mailbox is a federal crime. Journalism is not.”; House Republicans Demand Investigation Into Liberal Activist Who Attended Ayatollah’s Funeral (Daily Wire 8/29/26); Republicans Want Probe of Journalist Attending Ayatollah’s Funeral (American Faith 8/31/26); Paid by Hostile Regimes? The Foreign Funding Trail That Should Force Max Blumenthal Onto The FARA Registry (Loomered 8/31/26); MAGA trio’s new probe into journalist gets blistering response: ‘Desperate to silence me’ (Raw Story 8/29/26); The Totalitarian Israel Lobby Comes For Max Blumenthal. (The Dissident 8/29/26);

3. Hearings & Markups

September 1, 2026: The House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa held a hearing entitled, Countering Houthi Terrorism: Protecting U.S. Interests and Security in the Red Sea. Witnesses were: Nadwa Al-Dawsari, Middle East Institute (statement); and Allison Minor, Atlantic Council (statement).

Israel/AIPAC (and more PIKER-MANIA) in US elex & politics – GENERAL

• The Intercept 9/3/26: “Board of Peace” Billionaire Backs AIPAC Fund Targeting Pro-Palestine Candidates [“Marc Rowan, a Trump appointee overseeing Gaza’s redevelopment, has given $1.5 million to AIPAC’s super PAC this cycle.”]
• The Nation 9/3/26: Is the Israel Lobby Doomed? [“Pro-Israel influence over US politics is weaker than ever—but that doesn’t mean the lobby’s demise is inevitable.”]
• [NOT FROM THE ONION] FS View 9/3/26: The minuscule effect of lobbying [“Lobbying groups such as AIPAC are supporting pro-Israel candidates, not threatening anti-Israel candidates. This is where people tend to assume influence comes from.”] [worth reading just for the delicious pancake lobby analogy!]
• Counter Currents 9/3/26: The Establishment’s Panic: Why AIPAC, Republican and Democratic Party Elites Are Targeting the Democratic Socialist Movement
• Harvard Political Review 9/2/26: Democratic Socialism as Successful Campaign Strategy
• Jewish News Syndicate 9/2/26: Former aide to Bernie Sanders warns of growing Jew-hatred on the left
• Zeteo 9/2/26: Why Won’t Mainstream Media Talk to Hasan Piker?
• Jerusalem Post 9/2/26: Pro-Israel Dem. Haley Stevens says anti-Zionism has become a hate movement in America -interview
• Prospect Magazine (UK) 9/2/26: How Israel lost America [“Once-solid bipartisan US support for the Jewish state is no more. The consequences for Israel will be enormous“]
• Al Quds 9/2/26: The Jeffries-Kushner Meeting and the Battle for the Democratic Party
• Bloomberg 9/2/26: Florida Lawmaker Asks Whether Democrats’ Big Tent Still Includes Pro-Israel Jews
• Arab Weekly 9/2/26: Undaunted by pro-Israel financing,US progressives seek to win over black voters
• Rolling Stone 9/2/26: Rahm Emanuel: ‘You Don’t Like My Ideas? Show Me Yours’
• Haaretz 9/2/26: U.S. Senator Calls Ben-Gvir ‘Piece of Shit,’ Urges U.S. Ban After Emaciated Prisoner Video [“The since-deleted video by the far-right national security minister shows overweight Palestinian prisoners entering an Israeli jail and emerging emaciated and in tears, drawing accusations that it invokes concentration camp imagery“]
• Vox 9/2/26: Moderates have one goal: Make Hasan Piker a 2028 liability
• Alex Jones Live 9/2/26: VIDEO: Israeli Operative Randy Fine Brags “We Kicked His Ass” About Thomas Massie, When Massie Is Introducing The Epstein Transparency Act II
• New York Magazine 9/2/26: The Establishment Strikes Back – Neera Tanden returned to CAP to fight Trump. She’s spent much of her time fighting her left flank instead.
• Jacobin 9/1/26: The Israel Lobby Is Out of Control
• Joe Write 9/1/26: Reactionary Centrists Sabotage Abdul El-Sayed
• UnHerd 9/1/26: The Right’s attacks on Abdul El-Sayed reek of desperation
• Ken Klippenstein 9/1/26: What the Hasan Piker Freakout Is Really About
• Jewish Insider 9/1/26: Sheehy warns of ‘red-green alliance of convenience’ between left and Islamists
• Inside Telecom 9/1/26: AIPAC Spending Tests US-Israel Influence in Political Technology 
• Fox News 9/1/26: Democratic Socialists of America backs ‘our Twitch streamer’ Hasan Piker, rips anti-socialism House resolution
• Jewish Insider 9/1/26: Rahm Emanuel demands Democrats stop hedging on Hasan Piker’s antisemitism [“‘I can give him a two-by-four upside his head because of what he said,’ Emanuel said in a CNN interview on Monday…”]
• Forbes 8/31/26: El-Sayed Explains Why He Hasn’t Condemned Hasan Piker: ‘We Gotta Stop With The Cancel Culture’
• Fox News 8/31/26: Far-left streamer Hasan Piker equates Israel’s ‘right to exist’ to Nazi Germany
• Washington Post 8/31/26: The politics of the company you keep
• The Forward 8/31/26: Randy Fine denounces ‘rise of Islam in America’ in address to Republican Jewish confab
• Jewish Insider 8/31/26: Michigan AG Nessel tells Jewish Democrats to put ‘needs of world’ ahead of ‘our own survival’
• Yahoo News 8/31/26: El-Sayed: Criticism of Israel Isn’t Criticism of Jews, I’ll Be the “Loudest Critic of the Egyptian Government”
• Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 8/30/26: Abdul El-Sayed and Jamie Raskin sidestep Hasan Piker, and Israel, in Michigan campaign stops
• Washington Examiner 8/30/26: Chuck Schumer’s many compromises to maintain political power
• Jacobin 8/29/26: Centrist Dems Are at War With Their Own Voters on Israel
• Zeteo 8/29/26: Elected Democrats Are Busy Condemning Hasan Piker While Giving Right-Wing Extremists and Islamophobes a Pass. We Have the Receipts
• Mediaite 8/29/26: Dem AG Warns Jewish Democrats Are Being Pushed Out of the Party: ‘Off Putting and Offensive’
• Jerusalem Post 8/29/26: Hasan Piker incites millions against Jews, and the silence is deafening

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – California

• Mercury News 8/29/26: Democratic leader condemns AIPAC-linked ads and party opposition to Wahab

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Florida

• Bloomberg 9/2/26: Why Florida Rep. Moskowitz Isn’t Running Away From AIPAC
• Bloomberg 9/2/26: Rep. Moskowitz on What the DSA Gets “Dramatically Wrong”

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Georgia

• Jewish Insider 8/31/26: Rep. Mike Collins calls former staffers’ antisemitic views ‘abhorrent,’ offers no vetting changes

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Massachusetts

• The Foward 9/2/26: Sen. Markey, a progressive critic of Israel, projected to win Massachusetts Democratic primary in a landslide
• The Algemeiner 9/2/26: Anti-Israel Insurgents Fall Flat in Massachusetts Democratic Primaries
• Jewish Insider 9/2/26: Markey’s victory caps strong night for Massachusetts progressives
• Fox News 9/1/26: House Democrat survives left-flank challenge as Bernie volunteer mounts insurgent bid
• The Atlantic 9/1/26: The Guard That Won’t Be Changing – Massachusetts Democrats chose progressivism over relative youth.
• WFMD 9/1/26: Top Democrat survives double-barreled challenge as party’s Israel divide hits home
• Fox News 9/1/26: Top Democrat survives double-barreled challenge as party’s Israel divide hits home
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 9/1/26: Markey wins Massachusetts Democratic primary, calls to stop Gaza bombing
• Semafor 9/1/26: Markey leads incumbent sweep in Massachusetts
• The Forward 9/1/26: Massachusetts progressive Markey, a longtime Israel critic, expected to rout centrist challenger
• Legis1 9/1/26: Will Massachusetts Dems Choose Generational Change?
• Working Mass 8/30/26: Tram Nguyen Gets $500K in AIPAC-Linked Ad Money as TrackAIPAC Faces Scrutiny in Record MA-6 Race
• The Marblehead Independent 8/30/26: Democrats close ranks behind Nguyen as PAC spends $500K in her favor

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Michigan

• Crains Detroit 9/2/26: Democratic donors break with party to back Rogers over El-Sayed in Senate race
• Fox News 9/2/26: Jewish Democrats abandon El-Sayed for GOP rival in all-important battleground state
• Bloomberg 9/2/26: El-Sayed Should Pull an Obama to Repel Republican Attacks
• Jewish Currents 9/1/26: Could Jewish Democrats Actually Cost Abdul El-Sayed a Senate Seat?
• The Bulwark 9/1/26: 10 Jews, 1,000 Opinions, 1 Abdul El-Sayed [“How the Michigan progressive is trying to forge a relationship with the state’s Jewish Democrats, and what it means for the future of the party.”]
• So What/Chris Cillizza 9/1/26: What the *hell* is Abdul El-Sayed doing? The Hasan Piker problem
• Politico 9/1/26: Bernie Sanders: Some Dems would rather lose the Senate than support El-Sayed
• Politico 9/1/26: Dems push back on Sanders’ comments that ‘a few’ want El-Sayed to lose
• Wall Street Journal 8/31/26: Chuck Schumer and Hasan Piker [“Abdul El-Sayed’s pal may cost Democrats a Senate seat. Any thoughts, Senator?“]
• The Forward 8/31/26: Republican Mike Rogers is the Senate candidate Democrats need to save their party
• Axios 8/31/26: El-Sayed courts Jewish Democrats but won’t dump Piker
• Jewish Journal 8/31/26: Michigan Rabbi Says El-Sayed’s Apology is a Non-Apology
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 8/31/26: What happened in the room where El-Sayed spoke to Jewish Michigan Dems
• Jewish Insider 8/31/26: Vance slams Senate hopeful El-Sayed as ‘very, very evil’ at Michigan rally
• New York Times 8/31/26: How El-Sayed Could Dispatch His Hasan Piker Problem
• The Forward 8/31/26: ‘All of us have to bring down violence wherever we see it,’ El-Sayed says following address to Jewish Democrats
• Jewish Insider 8/30/26: El-Sayed’s apology to Jewish Democrats draws mixed response
• Politico 8/30/26: Trump won the heart of Michigan’s Arab American community. They’re moving away from Mike Rogers.
• i24 News (Israel) 8/30/26: ‘Hurt people hurt people’: El-Sayed apologizes for offering ‘broader perspective’ on attack targeting Jews
• New York Times 8/29/26: ‘I Made a Mistake’: El-Sayed Apologizes for Comment About Synagogue Attack
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/28/26: El-Sayed’s antisemitism is the issue; not Hasan Piker
• The Atlantic (Jonthan Chait) 8/28/26: The Crisis for Democrats in Michigan [“In Michigan, Democrats are trying to avoid handing Republicans their first Senate win in the state in more than three decades. But if El-Sayed wins, he would throw open the doors of the party to a strain of militant politics that many Jews justifiably consider dangerous. The Democratic Party is now divided between those who are trying to force El-Sayed to stop encouraging left-wing anti-Semites and those who give him their unconditional support.” And concluding with: “It is true that losing elections is hard. Losing your moral principles, on the other hand, can be surprisingly easy.“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New Hampshire

• Monadnock Ledger-Transcript 9/3/26: Democratic candidates for Congress highlight affordability, new approach to Israel in NH’s second district
• Roll Call 9/2/26: Democratic race for Pappas seat in New Hampshire grows increasingly bitter
• New York Times 9/2/26: Will the Nepo-Baby Attack Work in the Midterms?
• New Hampshire Journal 8/31/26: Dodging AIPAC, Embracing Harris, Pappas Scrambles as Manzur Gains

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New York

• Washington Examiner 9/3/26: Brad Lander thought he was an ally. The mob just saw a Jew
• Jewish Insider 8/31/26: Lander ‘honored to be invited’ to rally where he got heckled as a Zionist
• Jerusalem Post 8/30/26: ‘Ballsack Zionist’: Jewish politician Lander insulted while protesting NYC Hindu nationalist event

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Ohio

• Jewish Insider 8/31/26: As Brian Poindexter surges against Miller in Ohio, his Israel stance remains unclear

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Big Changes on HFAC
3. Letters & Reports
4. PIKER-MANIA is BAAAAAACK
5. Hearings & Markups
6. Selected Members on the Record
7. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

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1. Bills & Resolutions

(ISRAEL HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES) S. Res. XXX [resolution text]: On 8/27/26 Sen. Van Hollen (D-MD) issued a press release – Van Hollen, Kaine, Sanders Announce Privileged Resolution Seeking Answers on West Bank Violence. Additional original cosponsors are: Merkley (D-OR), Hirono (D-HI), Heinrich (D-NM), Warren (D-MA), Markey (D-MA), Smith (D-MN), Luján (D-NM), and Welch (D-VT). Also see: Democrats to Force Senate Vote on Israel’s Human Rights Practices (New York Times 8/27/26); Senate Resolution Will Demand Answers on Extremist Israeli Settler Violence Against US Citizens (C0mmon Dreams 8/27/26); Senators Look to Compel Vote to Get Report on West Bank Violence (Bloomberg 8/27/26); Van Hollen, Kaine, Sanders to introduce resolution on ‘violent Israeli settlers’ (Jewish News Syndicate 8/27/26); Van Hollen (D-MD) 8/27/26: X-post w/ video clip – “In just over 4 years, 9 Americans have been killed in the West Bank with 0 accountability. It’s past time we get answers about their deaths & the constant injustices Palestinians face from the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. I’m introducing a resolution requiring the State Dept to begin to answer these questions & I’ll be bringing it to a vote when Congress returns.”; Fine (R-FL) 8/27/26: X-post – “Democrats care more about protecting Hamas terrorists than putting the American people first. They should be ashamed of themselves.”

(TARGETING FOREIGN INFLUENCE ON US SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS) HR 10166 [bill text]: Introduced 8/27/26 by Luna (R-FL) and 15 cosponsors [13 Republicans plus Moskowitz, D-FL, and Gonzales (D-TX)]. “To amend the Foreign Agents Registration Act to require social media influencers to submit registration statements, and for other purposes,” ake that “Foreign Propaganda Disclosure Act.” The bill defines a “social media influencer” as any person who has a monetized social media account on a social media platform.  Also see:

• Luna press release 8/21/26 – Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Introduces Bipartisan Bill Requiring Influencers to Disclose Payments by Foreign Governments; Luna (R-FL) 8/27/26: X-post – “It doesn’t matter who is paying or what message they’re pushing, if a foreign government is buying off influencers to manipulate Americans, it needs to be DISCLOSED. This is happening on BOTH SIDES and it needs to STOP.”
• Luna’s influence operation;  (Politico 8/21/26); Bipartisan group introduces bill to make influencers register under FARA (Jewish Insider 8/24/26); Congress Moves To Crack Down On Influencers Selling Out To Foreign Countries (Daily Wire 8/24/26); Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Hit With AIPAC Questions Over Foreign Influence Bill: ‘She Should Stop Taking AIPAC Money First’ (Nerd Stash 8/28/26);

(UNIVERSITIES MUST COOPERATE WITH ISRAEL – OR ELSE!) HR 4795: Introduced 7/29/25 by Foxx (R-NC) and Gottheimer (D-NJ) and passed by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce 6/25/26, the “Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act” aka “To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit an institution that participates in a nonexpressive commercial boycott of Israel from being eligible for certain funds under that Act, to require an institution that participates in certain programs under that Act to certify that students are not unreasonably obstructed from participating in academic programs in Israel, and for other purposes.” As reported in the 8/1/25 edition of the Round-Up, under this bill, US universities MUST work with Israel/settlements or they will be punished for boycotting, even if they do not have a policy of boycotting. On 8/27/26, HR 4795 was reported out of the Committee on Education and Workforce with a report – H. Rept. 119-780 [not online yet as of 9am 8/28/26; will eventually show up here), and placed on the Union Calendar (meaning it can be brought to the floor for a vote at any time).

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Reporting/posts on previously-introduced legislation:

• Fine (R-FL) 8/26/26: X-post – “I have a bill to tackle the rise of Sharia Law in America, President @realDonaldTrump. My No Sharia Act would ensure that no U.S. court, public agency, or legal institution can ever enforce or legitimize Sharia law in our country.”
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/26/26: Gottheimer asks House leaders to sign onto bipartisan measure decrying Jew-hatred in both parties
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 8/25/26: X-post – “In April, @RepMikeLawler and I introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning antisemitic rhetoric from online personalities like Hasan Piker and Candace Owens. Piker just proved exactly why we need it. Telling millions of Americans that Jews who support the US-Israel relationship bring violence on themselves is sick, wrong, and straight out of the Nazi playbook. Republican leadership should to bring our resolution to the floor for a vote next week!” Also see Gottheimer press release – Gottheimer Calls on Republican Leadership to Bring Bipartisan Resolution to Floor Next Week Condemning Bigot Streamers Hasan Piker & Candace Owens
• Jerusalem Post 8/25/26: Fringe rabbis recruit Jewish clergy to lobby against US military aid to Israel, halt weapons sales
• Cruz (R-TX) 8/23/26: X-post – “The First Amendment guarantees every American the right to freely exercise their faith, and Congress has a duty to ensure that guarantee is met. In recent years, we have seen organized acts of hate meant to disrupt and deny that right, which have been untenably defended as speech. That is why I am introducing the Right to Worship Act, and I urge my colleagues to support it.” Boosting 8/22/26 op-ed in the Hill be the ADL’s Jonathan Greenblatt: The right to worship shall not be infringed — an op-ed supporting new legislation to create protest-free buffer zones around houses of worship to prevent the disruption/obstruction of worship (which the ADL’s press release on introduction of the bill make clear is intended to be interpreted so broadly as to block protests over wholly non-religious events — like mid-week settlement real estate sales held in synagogues). For more details see the 8/7/26 edition of the Round-Up. Also see: Seven Arizonans advocate for legislation combating antisemitism in Washington, D.C. (Arizona Jewish News 8/27/26)

2. Big Changes on HFAC

On 8/25/26, House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Minority Member Meeks (D-NY) announced changes on the Committee. Most important, Democratic House leaders have made AIPAC-supported/aligned Moskowitz (D-FL) — arguably the House Democrat who is the most hardline pro-Israel, the most hostile to Palestinians, and the most hawkish on Iran (and pro-Iran War) — the new Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee.

This means that, in the event that Democrats win back the House in midterms, Moskowitz will become chairman of the key House decision-making body dealing with Israel/Palestine/Iran.

And in that same vein, Meeks announced that two other strongly pro-Israel/AIPAC-aligned Democrats were being added to the committee: Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Bell (D-MO). Also joining the Committee is Pocan (D-WI), who is a strong defender of Palestinian rights. Meeks also named Jackson (D-IL) as Ranking Member of the Oversight and Intelligence Subcommittee. Also see:

Media & journalists coverage/comments:

• Florida Sun Sentinel 8/28/26: Democratic leaders give Moskowitz role in Middle East policy — and potential election-season boost among Jewish voters
• New Y0rk Times 8/27/26: Progressives Condemn Pick of Pro-Israel Democrat Atop House Panel [“Outrage over making Representative Jared Moskowitz, who is vocally pro-Israel, the top Democrat on a Middle East policy subcommittee reflected the party’s rift over Israel.“]
• Re-Thinking Foreign Policy 8/27/26: Democrats Appoint Three AIPAC Shills To HFAC. What Does That Mean For Progressives?
• Prem Thakker/Zeteo 8/26/26: X-post – “After new polling shows Democrats in all six of the first 2028 primary states overwhelmingly in support of sanctioning & cutting weapons to Israel, Hakeem Jeffries elevates one of the most pro-Israel Democrats in Congress to lead the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee:”
• The Tennessee Holler 8/26/26: X-post – “So as Democratic voters completely oppose the war and aiding Israel, @HouseDemocrats are putting AIPAC-backed @RepMoskowitz — who is ‘to the right’ of Vance on the war and Israel, in a key position. And they wonder why the DSA is gaining steam?”
• The Tennessee Holler 8/26/26: X-post – “In naming @RepMoskowitz ranking member of this subcommittee the @HouseDemocrats are again showing they don’t care that their voter base is overwhelmingly done supporting Israel’s genocide”
• The Hill 8/26/26: House Foreign Affairs Committee adds pro-Israel Democrats
• House Dems’ pro-Israel wing gains power on key panel (Axios 8/25/26) [“A trio of vocally pro-Israel House Democrats were given powerful posts on the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, with one taking the reins of the subcommittee that oversees U.S.-Middle East policy. Why it matters: It is a substantial win for the party’s pro-Israel wing despite growing pro-Palestinian sentiment among the party’s grassroots. And it could have global ramifications, with Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) indicating that, if he becomes chair of the Middle East and North Africa subcommittee next year, he will use the position to shore up U.S. support for Israel. ‘If Democrats take control of the House, I’ll be in a position to help steer U.S. policy on Israel and the Middle East,’ he told Axios.”]
• Florida Politics 8/25/26: Jared Moskowitz named Ranking Democrat on House Middle East Subcommittee [“I will use this position to strengthen the unbreakable relationship between the United States and Israel.”]
• Common Dreams 8/25/26: ‘Political Malpractice’: Israel Hawk Moskowitz Picked for Key House Mideast Post [“‘How much damage will Democratic leaders cause to their own brand and party for AIPAC money?’ asked one critic.“]
• Moskowitz to take over as top Democrat on Middle East subcommittee [“The move strengthens the pro-Israel presence within the Democratic Party, and helps Moskowitz make the case for reelection in a GOP-leaning district“] (Jewish Insider 8/25/26)
• Washington Examiner 8/25/26: Progressives rage after Democrats tap pro-Israel Moskowitz for key Middle East post
• Vos Iz Neias New 8/25/26: Two Pro-Israel Florida Democrats Take New House Foreign Affairs Roles

• Prem Thakker (Zeteo) 8/25/26: X-post – “After new polling shows Democrats in all six of the first 2028 primary states overwhelmingly in support of sanctioning & cutting weapons to Israel, Hakeem Jeffries elevates one of the most pro-Israel Democrats in Congress to lead the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee”
• Ali Harb 8/25/26: X-post – “If Dems retake the House, a congressman who proclaims himself to be the right of JD Vance and Steve Witkoff on Iran, will chair the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East. He immediately promised ‘to strengthen America’s relationships with Israel.’”
• DropSite News 8/25/26: X-post – “Democratic Party chooses bench to oversee genocide in Gaza — House Democrats are stacking key foreign-policy posts in Congress with some of the most reliable defenders of Israel’s genocidal project in Palestine and the broader region. On Tuesday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee named Jared Moskowitz its top Democrat on the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, succeeding longtime Israel hawk Brad Sherman. Meanwhile, Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Wesley Bell newly joined the full committee. Moskowitz backs continued unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel; Wasserman Schultz has called her support “unwavering” and pledged to keep using U.S. taxpayer funds to arm Israel’s military. Bell reached Congress after AIPAC’s super PAC spent a massive $8.5 million to defeat ceasefire advocate Cori Bush in 2024, the most expensive primary ever at the time.”
• Akbar Shahid Ahmed 8/25/26: X-post – “Notable on Dem leadership from a key voice in conversations about the party’s foreign policy. Moskowitz’s appointment reflects the sense among some power players a return to old Isr-Pal policy is possible. But fierce+ crucially open pushback reflects a serious, organized bid to avoid the experience of Trump 1 into Biden: traditional tendencies (fear of being seen as “weak” or “radical”) driving policy. Biden echoed Trump on I/P—to disastrous results there+domestically. Also reflected: continued establishment refusal to see Gaza sentiment as serious.”

Members of Congress comment:

• Moskowitz (D-FL) 8/25/26: X-post – “I’m honored to be named Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa. At a moment of enormous change across the region, I’ll work to strengthen America’s relationships with Israel and our Gulf allies, expand regional peace, advance American diplomacy, and ensure our foreign policy is grounded in strength, security, and reality. I’m ready to get to work” Commenting on Moskowitz’s post, Jamal Abdi (NIAC) 8/26/26: X-post – “Why do so many people believe that Democrats winning back Congress will change nothing?”
• Lawler (R-NY) 8/25/26: X-post – “Congratulations to my friend @RepMoskowitz on his appointment as Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa. As Chair, I look forward to partnering with him to protect America’s interests in the region, combat Iran and its malign influence and terror proxy network, and stand resolute in support of a strong US-Israel relationship.”
• Sherman (D-CA) 8/25/26: X-post – “I know that Jared will do an excellent job on the Subcommittee this year and in the years to come.”

Other statements/commentary:

• Justice Democrats 8/26/26: X-post – “Democratic voters: Please stop giving our tax dollars to Israel | Democratic leadership: What if we give three AIPAC Democrats more power over our foreign policy instead?”
• CAIR 8/26/26: press release – CAIR Calls House Democrats’ Appointment of Israel’s ‘Most Committed Enablers’ to Foreign Affairs Committee an Insult to Voters and Desperate Attempt to Shield Israel from Accountability
• Ted Deutch/American Jewish Committee 8/25/26: X-post – “Congratulations to my friend and fellow Floridan @RepMoskowitz, as he’s set to lead the Democrats on the @HouseForeign subcommittee for the Middle East and North Africa.   In a moment marked by instability, violence, and increasing demonization of Israel, Jared’s leadership, communication skills, and moral clarity will help Congress advance meaningful steps toward peace and security throughout the region.”
• Democratic Majority for Israel 8/25/26: X-post – “Congratulations to Rep. Jared Moskowitz on his selection as Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East & North Africa. We look forward to his leadership in strengthening the U.S.-Israel alliance and advancing peace and security across the region.”
• A New Policy 8/25/26: X-post –“If Democrats retake the House, many Americans will expect them to hold Hearings on U.S. policy on Israel & Israel’s actions in Gaza & across the region. Selecting one of Israel’s biggest cheerleaders to run the relevant Committee is a deliberate move to shut down that avenue.”
• IMEU Policy Project 8/25/26: X-post – “Just as the Democratic Party is asking its voters to donate and volunteer for the midterms, party leadership in Congress elevated one of its most out-of-step members to block the changes most Democratic voters are demanding. This encapsulates so much about what’s wrong with today’s Democratic Party leadership.”
• Just Foreign Policy 8/25/25: X-post – “Just Foreign Policy condemns this deeply divisive & immoral move by @HouseDemocrats to name Moskowitz as top @HouseForeign Dem for Mideast @RepMoskowitz @DWStweets @WesleyBell4MO are fringe, pro-war, Israel First voices who don’t represent the views of Americans or the Dem base”
• Margaret Zaknoen DeReus/IMEU 8/25/26: X-post – “Israel has become a 90/10 issue for Democrats. Yet someone aligned with the 10 percent has been chosen for this role. Why does Democratic leadership seem so hellbent on ignoring its own voters, despite the overwhelming evidence that doing so on this particular issue played a big role in losing so spectacularly to Donald Trump?”
• Rob Flaherty [former Biden/Harris team] 8/25/26: X-post – “A baffling direction on the merits, but doubly baffling to not even care enough about the optics to even mention Gaza in passing. Leadership has their head in the sand about where the public is here.”
• Ben Rhodes 8/25/26: X-post – “Really disappointing from Meeks. I cannot believe he actually opposes the war in Iran if he puts one of the only Dems who supported the war in Iran in charge of the subcommittee responsible for it.”
• Ben Rhodes 8/25/26: X-post – “Dems are counting on people not noticing how they approach governing. Appointments on HFAC are a signal of what the party cares about and the disregard for war crimes and voter concerns could not be clearer.”
• Ben Rhodes 8/25/26: X-post – “Democratic voters are expected to knock on doors donate, make phone calls, vote, and deliver a majority. And then have their views completely ignored.”

3. Letters & Reports

• (TRUE COSTS OF IRAN WAR) 8/27/26: Rep. Gabe Vasquez Demands Answers on True Cost of Iran War for New Mexican Families [letter text]
• (IRAN WAR STRAIN ON TROOPS) 8/26/26: King and Colleagues Call for Committee Hearing on Needless, Avoidable Shortages and Strain on Troops [letter text]
• (DEAR BIBI: STOP SETTLER VIOLENCE, PROTECT AMCITS) 8/26/26: Sen. Schiff, Leader Schumer, Sen. Booker, Lead 45 Senators in Urging Netanyahu to Immediately Crack Down on Settler Violence in West Bank, Protect U.S. Citizens [letter text]. Also see: Jewish Insider 8/26/26: Senate Democrats call on Netanyahu to crack down on West Bank settler violence
• (ISLAM IS A THREAT TO AMERICA!) 8/26/26: Rep. Roy Sounds Alarm Over Islamic Development Near Camp Bullis Military Base [letter text]. Also see: Chip Roy Sounds Alarm Over Islamic Development Near Military Base (Daily Signal 8/26/26)
• (FREE AMERICAN CITIZEN BEING HELD BY IDF) 8/25/26: Rep. Tlaib, 40 colleagues demand release of U.S. citizen in Israeli military prison in bicameral letter [letter text]. Also see: Tlaib (D-MI) 8/25/26: X-post – “For nearly 3 months, Sama Safi, a 20-year-old US citizen, has suffered in an Israeli military prison. She has a chronic health condition, and doctors warn she may experience irreversible organ damage. My colleagues and I are demanding that Secretary Rubio secure her release immediately.” Also see: International Business Times 8/26/26: Lawmakers Expose Israeli Torture of Sick Twenty-Year-Old American Student Detained Without Trial
• (NEED ACCOUNTING FOR “BOARD OF PEACE” SLUSH FUND) 8/25/26: Ranking Members Meeks, Raskin Demand Accounting of Trump’s Shadowy “Board of Peace” Global Slush Fund [letter]
• (BRIEF CONGRESS ON IRAN WAR TOLL ON TROOPS) 8/24/26: Duckworth, SASC Democrats Call on Chairman Wicker to Hold a Hearing on the Trump Administration’s Worsening Strain on Troops from Extended War in Iran [letter text]
• (USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN SCANDAL) 8/24/26: As USS Lincoln Heads Home—Murray, Coons Call for Immediate Independent Investigation of Extended Deployments & Unacceptable Quality of Life Issues on Aircraft Carriers [letter text]

4. PIKER-MANIA Is BAAAAAACK!!!!!

After going dormant for a short period, the Democrats’ “LET’S-SHIFT-ALL-FOCUS-AWAY-FROM-REAL-ISSUES-TO-A-TOTALLY-MANUFACTURED-HASAN-PIKER-CENTERED-CONTROVERSY-IN-FURTHERANCE-OF-UNDERMINING-PROGRESSIVES-AND-ESPECIALLY-CRITICS-OF-ISRAEL/ZIONISM“ campaign (henceforth referred to as PIKER-MANIA) is back — and with a vengeance that appears directly proportional to the shock/outrage/fear felt in various quarters over: the successes in U.S. primaries of candidates who are openly critical of Israel/Zionism; the rising radioactivity of AIPAC; the rapidly expanding grassroots opposition to U.S. support for Israel; and the growing power of DSA as a force in Democratic politics, at the expense of legacy Democratic party leaders and power-holders.

WHAT IS THIS MANUFACTURED CONTROVERSY OSTENSIBLY ABOUT?

The hook for this round of PIKER-MANIA is a live stream Piker did on Twitch last week, during which he offered some stream-of-consciousness thoughts on antisemitism and Israel, sparked by a clip of (Jewish) authors Eli Clifton and Ian Lustick discussing their new book, Israel’s Lobby, on Mehdi Hassan’s show. In the course of these comments Piker also displayed a photo of Michigan State Senator Jeremy Moss, who has of late been caught up in controversy over a viral audio clip — which Moss says is fake — in which a voice that is purported to be Moss says that the entire purpose of his campaign for the U.S. House is to ensure America continues to support Israel.

Critics of Piker are accusing him of saying a lot of things that, in fact, he didn’t say. So it is important, as a starting point, to review what he DID say. Note: this transcript was prepared by me – not by an AI and not taken from any other source – based on my listening to/watching the relevant part of the livestream over and over and over. For clarity I have left out repeated words and other sounds/interjections that are not germane to his comments. I have also left out — where you see ellipses — where he was reading aloud from listeners comments [much of what he said was in direct answer to and in some cases rebuttal/rejection of such comments]:

• “This has been my demand – for prominent American Jews who have connections to the state of Israel to varying degrees, to come out and loudly declare Zionism to be a separate thing from Judaism… It is very important to break through this media framing device that has been used to defend Israel over and over again, [claiming] that all Jews are united in their defense of Israel, that Zionism and Judaism are inseparable. It’s bullshit. No one is monolithic. Jews are not a monolithic people in their defense of Israel… This notion that Jews behave in this tribalistic manner, all they care about is Israel – you’re [the listener who sent the comment] falling for the media propaganda. To me, I’m not going to listen to Jake Tapper on this issue, because he presents it in the same way as Nick Fuentes does. They both believe Jews operate in a monolithic manner, and that they have a singular investment in the continuation of the state of Israel. Of course Jake Tapper would simultaneously say that is very antisemitic when Nick Fuentes says it, but he says it himself. I don’t agree with that…”
• “The anti-Zionist Jews in my community, you have a very tough job ahead of you. …you have to go back to your communities and try to get your elderly relatives to understand that this connection between Israel and Zionism that is expressed over and over again through a lot of these Jewish institutions is teaching people the idea that Jews ARE monolithic — and this is a dangerous mode of propaganda. And you want to know why? Because people don’t fuck with Israel any longer – and if Jews in America keep putting this idea out there that they are singularly invested in Israel, eventually someone’s going to come around and take action — not against the state of Israel, mind you, but against American Jews. …We’re teaching people the wrong lesson. At the end of the day, American Jews do not prioritize Israel, but they do prioritize antisemitism. And that’s precisely the reason why a lot of this propaganda that is facing the American Jewish side from a lot of these Jewish outlets will tie the two, all the time…”
• “American Jews do care about antisemitism – it’s understandable to care about antisemitism. They don’t care about Israel. So how do you tie the two? You say, ‘well, Israel is the only thing standing in the way of the next Holocaust happening.’ That’s how you do it. That’s how you do it. So every single time you have prominent Zionist Jews come out and be, like, ‘no, this is antisemitic, to oppose Israel is antisemitic,’ you’re teaching people the trope of dual loyalty. That’s what you’re teaching people. After you teach them that, you can’t turn around and say, ‘oh, well this is dual loyalty, this is antisemitic’ — cuz at a certain point people are not going to give a shit. And we’re already past that point. It’s that simple… They’re not going to give up on claiming that people are antisemitic, of course. They’re gonna keep doing that cuz there’s a lot of  institutional value — there are a lot of institutions that will still take action once the antisemitism allegation is brought up…”
• “I don’t know how people don’t recognize how dangerous this predicament is, how dangerous this is for Jews. You’re running around basically tying your entire identity to a country that inevitably will be seen as basically Jewish ISIS, and you’re saying, ‘as Jews this is all we care about.’ You’re making antisemitism worse.”

One can agree or disagree with some or all of Piker’s take, but self-evidently nothing he said represents a call to attack Jews, endorsement of attacking Jews, or justification for attacking Jews. Rather, Piker is warning that the conflation of Israel/Zionism with Judaism/Jews is DANGEROUS in that it quite literally creates a permission structure in which people who are angry with Israel/Zionism may feel justified in directing their anger NOT at Israel but at Jews. And notably, this same warning has been articulated previously, in various words/framing, by many, many Jewish experts, academics, pundits, etc. —  including the likes of Hannah Arendt, Ezra Klein, Tony Judt, David Klion, Tom Friedman, Sam Seder, and Norman Solomon. For a sampling of additional insightful/non-insane Jewish commentary on the current manufactured  controversy, see: Dov Waxman [also here], Leah Greenberg, Glenn Greenwald, Rafael Shimunov, Aaron Regunberg [also here], Arno Rosenfeld, Madeline Summerville, Justin Kanew. Also see: Jewish News Syndicate 6/25/26: Conflating Judaism and Zionism fuels antisemitism, experts tell gov panel [“’Anti-Zionism can be a framework for justifying anti-Jewish hostility,’ Rafaela Dancygier, of Princeton University, told the New Jersey Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.”]

Also, from the “there’s always a tweet” archives, check out this 7/7/26 X-post from Neera Tanden (who, unsurprisingly, has been joining in on the PIKER-MANIA this week): “Here @netanyahu, who hopefully will lose his job, here attacks @HaleyforMI, for stating the obvious fact that @netanyahu is making Jews in America and the world less safe.” She was commenting on post w/ video clip from Andrew Bates: “.@Netanyahu melts down at @HaleyforMI’s quote calling him out for his war crimes putting American Jews in danger. Accuses her of somehow excusing antisemitism before getting fact checked by @DanaBashCNN.” And as a reminder, Rep. Stevens responded to Netanyahu’s criticism with: “It is very clear that Mr. Netanyahu has not made us safer, has not brought us closer to peace. And he’s endangered Jews here in America and around the world.”

WHAT, SPECIFICALLY, KICKED OFF THIS PIKER-MANIA?

Piker’s livestream took place days before this crisis broke out. So what kicked off the mania? Political Research Associates’ Ben Lorber sought to answer that question, in an X-thread 8/26/26 (emphasis added by me):

• By joining the pile-on against Hasan Piker, Democrats & liberals are running the Right’s disinformation playbook for them– the same playbook the Right uses before every election. This time around the moral panic was created by a far-right pro-Israel account named Max Nordau [screen shots of the posts are included]
• Nordau regularly posts vitriolic xenophobia, white supremacy & Islamophobia alongside his main focus on defending Israel’s genocide. He deceptively edited Hasan Piker’s monologue to make it seem like a threat to American Jews. It wasn’t. Full clip here–https://x.com/ogreboy6/status/2092634343038759363. [with screen shots of examples of xenophobic, white supremacists, and Islamophobic posts from this account]
• We have seen the same bad-faith disinfo attacks for a decade now against so many progressive leaders of color, from AOC, Ilhan Omar & the Women’s March in 2018 to AES, Piker & many others today. Many of the people who joined the pile-on this time around claim to know better.
• This is a deliberate strategy by the Right to demonize their opponents before the midterms. The playbook is so effective because centrist & liberals on the other side of the aisle keep falling for it. Stop doing MAGA’s work for them!
• During the Trump 1.0 midterms, MAGA faced an image crisis. Unite the Right exposed their extremism. Pointing the finger at Women’s March helped them change the narrative. Now antisemitism was an equal threat on ‘both sides’. Dems played right along. Same thing happening now
• They want every ‘respectable’ liberal between now and November to have to condemn Hasan Piker every time they open their mouth to condemn Nick Fuentes. They hope this will dampen turnout enough to blunt a blue wave at the ballot box. Don’t fall for it!”

HOW ARE DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS REACTING?

In what has felt very much like an orchestrated response, this week has witnessed a slew of Democrats (from both the House and Senate) go all-in on PIKER-MANIA. These statements have employed ever-escalating language that self-evidently has NOTHING to do with what Piker actually said, suggesting that the members in question either (a) don’t know what he said, because they didn’t bother to confirm what he said before denoucing him, (b) they know what he said, but decided, for their own purposes, to deliberately mispresent his words: 

• Ossoff (D-GA): Ossoff ‘unreservedly rejects’ Piker’s comments on Jewish support for Israel (Jewish Insider 8/27/26)[in statement to media; Ossoff has not published a separate statement or post on social media as of this writing]
• Sherman (D-CA) 8/25/26: X-post – “Hasan Piker is trying to encourage and justify violence against American Jews. And he’s saying that if violence does occur, it’s the fault of those in the Jewish community who publicly support Israel. We faced tougher threats than those of Mr. Piker, who’s literally a piker. We will not be silenced.”
• Auchincloss (D-MA) 8/26/26: X-post w/ video clip – “I rejected his rhetoric before his recent call to violence against an American Jew, and now I’ll be even more direct: every Democrat needs to be condemning Hasan Piker’s hate against Jews.” Arno Rosenfeld/Haaretz responding to Auchincloss 8/27/26: X-post – “This is not what Piker said — there’s plenty to take issue with about how Piker described the parameters of Jewish safety but this has turned into a very strange game of telephone”’ Dave Weigel responding to Auchincloss 8/27/26: X-post – “Piker didn’t issue a ‘call to violence against an American Jew.’ Interesting that the post claims that, as Auchincloss doesn’t say it in the clip.”
  
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 8/26/26: X-post w/ video clip – “Blaming Jews for the violence targeting them is the oldest, ugliest lie there is, and straight out of the Nazi playbook. Any politician who shares a stage with a hate-peddling grifter like Hasan Piker owns every bit of it.”
• Panetta (D-CA) 8/26/26: X-post – “The suggestion that Jewish Americans who publicly support Israel bear responsibility for violence against the broader Jewish community is wrong, reckless, and antisemitic. With a platform reaching millions of people, Hasan Piker’s rhetoric that blames Jews for the hatred and violence directed against them gives cover to those committing anti-Jewish hate crimes. We can thoughtfully debate the policies of the Israeli government and American foreign policy, but political disagreement can never justify violence against individuals or their communities. We must unequivocally condemn antisemitism in all its forms and stand with Jewish communities in America and around the world.”
• Fetterman (D-PA) 8/26/26: X-post – “This bromance is a buddy movie about defending Hamas + a parade of deeply antisemitic rhetoric. ‘Two BIG thumbs up!’ – Iran” With screenshot of National Review article – No Daylight Between Abdul El-Sayed and Hasan Piker
• Booker (D-NJ) 8/25/26; X-post – “Hasan Piker’s dangerous and hateful language targeting Jewish Americans has no place in our civic discourse. Suggesting that Jewish Americans bear responsibility for hatred or violence directed against them is wrong, dangerous, and antisemitic. We can, and should, argue fiercely over policy. We should have meaningful dialogue and debate about the policies and actions of the Israeli government and American foreign policy. That is the lifeblood of democracy. But that’s not what this is. No American should be told that their political beliefs make them responsible for hatred or violence directed against them. There is a bright line between vigorous debate and rhetoric that stokes hatred toward our neighbors. Mr. Piker has crossed that line, repeatedly and unmistakably.” Commenting on Booker’s post: Matt Lieb 8/25/26: X-post – “I love that the entire democratic establishment just invented an antisemitic statement to smear Hasan with.” Also commenting on Booker’s X-post – Tennessee Holler 8/26/26: “Quiet everyone! The guy who voted to confirm Kushner’s convicted felon dad as our ambassador to France has some thoughts about morality”
• Aguilar (D-CA) 8/25/26: X-post – “Comments that blame American Jews for threats against them are incredibly harmful and dangerous. There is no place for violence in this country. As leaders we must stand up to hate and antisemitism wherever we see it.”
• Sherman (D-CA) 8/25/26: X-post – “Hasan Piker is trying to encourage and justify violence against American Jews. And he’s saying that if violence does occur, it’s the fault of those in the Jewish community who publicly support Israel. We faced tougher threats than those of Mr. Piker, who’s literally a piker. We will not be silenced.” Responding to Sherman’s X-post – Mehdi Hassan 8/26/26: “He has neither ‘encouraged’ nor ‘justified’ violence against American Jews. Literally zero evidence for that. That these pro-Israel Dems never actually quote him in their condemnations tells you everything you need to know about their deliberate dishonesty and gaslighting.”
• Stanton (D-AZ) 8/25/26: X-post – “Framing violence against Jewish Americans as something they brought on themselves shifts the blame from the perpetrators onto the very people they want to harm. That’s dangerous, and it makes our communities less safe. We must reject antisemitism and intolerance in all its forms.”
• Slotkin (D-MI) 8/25/26: X-post – “In response to Hasan Piker’s recent comments on Jews in America being targeted because of their views on Israel: This shouldn’t be hard: no community should face the threat violence for their political views. Period. That goes if you’re pro-Israel, pro-Palestine, pro-choice, pro-life or any other cause you care about. And blaming the victims of violence for bringing it on themselves only further endangers people. In a time where political violence and anti-semitism has been spiking— and where just 6 months ago Michigan had a nearly deadly event of anti-semitic mass violence at Temple Israel — no one should causally be suggesting that anyone, Jews or otherwise, are to blame for being targeted.”
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 8/25/26: X-post w/ Fox News video clip – “Telling millions of followers that Jewish Americans are bringing violence on themselves is blatantly antisemitic and one of the oldest tropes in the book. Anyone who campaigns with Piker or elevates him is complicit in the rising antisemitism and anti-American hatred in this country. There’s no room for it in the Democratic Party.”
• Torres (D-NY) 8/25/26: X-post – “The extremes of American politics love to blame Jews for antisemitism rather than the antisemites themselves. Let me put it plainly: there is absolutely no justification for antisemitism. There never has been, and there never will be. No amount of victim-blaming or gaslighting by Hasan Piker can shift moral responsibility away from where it belongs: the antisemites who commit acts of violence and terror against Jews.”
• Schneider (D-IL) 8/25/26: X-post – “All of us should strive to be a light against the darkness of hate and work toward a brighter future where everyone can thrive without threat of violence. My full statement on Hasan Piker’s call to violence against American Jews.”
• Rosen (D-NV) 8/25/26: X-post – “Hasan Piker has been trafficking in antisemitic tropes for a while but even this is a new low. Blaming Jewish Americans for the violence and hate they’re facing is not just wrong, it provides an excuse to those perpetuating these anti-Jewish hate crimes. Let me be absolutely clear: crimes against Jews for being Jews is antisemitism plain and simple. There’s no excuse for it.”
• Jeffries (D-NY) 8/25/26 on CNN: on Piker’s comments – “those comments were dangerous, malicious and antisemitic and should not be tolerated by anyone in the public square. What we’ve seen is a startling rise of hate crimes all across the United States of America, but particularly in this moment directed against our Jewish brothers and sisters. And everybody, regardless of ideological perspective, should be willing to denounce this rise of antisemitic rhetoric, hate crimes and bigotry and actually try to move us to a society where we embrace everyone. Even where there are differences on issues, be they foreign or domestic, the notion that people should be targeted because of their religious beliefs or ethnicity or race, whatever the case may be, that’s fundamentally inconsistent with who we are in this country.“
• Jeffries (D-NY) 8/24/26: X-post – “The malicious claim that American Jews are inviting violence against themselves is dangerous and antisemitic. There is zero justification for threats against the safety of our Jewish brothers and sisters at a moment of rising hate. We will fight the cancer of antisemitism with the fierce urgency of now.” Hasan Piker 8/24/26: responding to Jeffries – “do not let a coordinated republican smear campaign become “reality.” my argument against the dangerous false conflation between zionism and judaism which in turn increases antisemitism is now turned on it’s head. zionism is not judaism. antizionism is not antisemitism.”
• Scholten (D-MI) 8/24/26: X-post – “Today, Congresswoman Hillary Scholten issued the following statement after Twitch streamer Hasan Piker said that American Jews who support Israel are inviting violence…In his stream, Piker directly discussed and targeted Michigan State Senator Jeremy Moss, showing his picture while stating that “eventually someone will come around and take action not against Israel, but against American Jews.” Hasan Piker response to Scholten 8/24/26: X-post – “if i was an israel 1st congresswoman with a possible cheating scandal with a republican in the state, i wouldn’t spend so much time vying for the spotlight by actively defaming a prominent antizionist voice to harm the dem senate majority chances over a 90/10 issue.”
• Scholten (D-MI) 8/24/26: press release – “Hasan Piker’s talk of violence against American Jews, and directly naming a Michigan elected official, and future member of Congress, Jeremy Moss, is unacceptable. Full stop. Piker is a hack who thrives on hate, shock and awe because he lacks substance. It’s dangerous for everyone. We should all be calling out this disgusting rhetoric so it loses its grip on our politics once and for all. It has no place in Michigan, and no place in our country.”
• Lee (D-NV) 8/24/26: X-post – “Claims that American Jews are responsible for the violence being committed against their communities are unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. It’s dangerous and antisemitic. We must stand up to the scourge of antisemitism wherever it rears its ugly head.”
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 8/23/26: X-post – “The only one inciting violence against American Jews is Piker and his rhetoric. For the future of our party, Democrats have to call out his hate and condemn these dangerous views. Anyone campaigning with him is part of the problem.”
• Sanders (I-VT) 8/24/26: X-post – “Trump-pardoned January 6 rioter Jake Lang is in Michigan targeting Abdul El-Sayed, burning Qurans and calling Muslims ‘insidious parasites.’ Will Mike Rogers and the Republican leadership condemn Lang’s bigotry and hatred—or will they continue to fan the flames of Islamophobia?” Rogers (R-MI) 8/24/26 X-post  in response: “Hey Bernie — unlike Abdul El-Sayed, I have no issue disavowing fringe extremists who promote violence and seek to divide our state and country. Jake Lang is all of those things. While I have your attention, I would like to know if Abdul will definitely say that he will not affiliate with people like Hasan Piker — who thinks that America deserved 9/11, self identifies as a racist, and calls for the public execution of American capitalists.  Could you check in with your boy on that and let us know where he stands?”

HOW ARE REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS REACTING?

Republicans in Congress are so far largely staying on the sidelines of this round of PIKER-MANIA, where they are likely celebrating as mainstream Democrats go all-in trying to destroy their own progressives. Not to mention the added bonus that this PIKER-MANIA is feeding/validating the narrative that it is Democrats, not Republicans, that have an “antisemitism problem” and completely erasing from the public debate any focus on the Islamophobia that surging in the U.S., both in general and, in particular, in connection with midterms.

• Fox News 8/27/26: Fox News ‘Antisemitism Exposed’ Newsletter: Dems have a big problem named Hasan Piker
• Fine (R-FL) 8/27/26: X-post w/ video clip – “Democrats lined up behind Hasan Piker, now they’re losing it when anyone asks about him. This is the same guy who openly supports Muslim terror and wants Republicans dead. We must get him out of America.”
• McClain (R-MI) 8/26/26: X-post w/ video clip – “Hasan Piker said people will ‘take action against American Jews for supporting Israel. He’s antisemitic and dangerous. The Democrats OWN Piker —this is who they are.”
• Senate Republicans 8/25/26: X-post – “Hasan Piker’s threats against Jewish Americans aren’t new. Neither is Abdul El-Sayed running cover for him. ‘They are taking things out of context he’s said… he has taken great pains to condemn antisemitism.’”
• Rogers (R-MI) 8/24/26: X-post – “Let me be clear: I’m in no way expecting you to support me — but in the Senate, I will defend your right to safety regardless. Meanwhile, Abdul won’t call out the ‘twitch streamer’ threatening you and other American Jews.”
• Rogers (R-MI) 8/23/26: X-post – “More calls for violence coming out of the El-Sayed campaign… Here is his running mate, Hasan Piker, saying that if AMERICAN JEWS support Israel, they will be violently targeted because of it. This is all in reaction to Michigan Democratic Congressional candidate Jeremy Moss, who happens to be Jewish, saying he is unsure if he will be able to support Abdul for these very reasons. Absolutely DISGUSTING. If Abdul El-Sayed had any courage at all, he would call this out and disavow Hasan Piker once and for all. We’re waiting, Abdul…”

CALLING B.S. ON THE LIES/SPIN AT THE ROOT OF THIS PIKER-MANIA

Ryan Grim/DropSite 8/27/26: X-thread:“Hasan Piker has now been condemned by dozens of Democratic senators and members of Congress, which must mean that his comments were so horrifying they would shock anyone with a conscience. According to these fairly scripted denunciations, Piker said that American Jews ‘deserve’ or ‘bear responsibility’ for rising antisemitism. Here’s how Sen. Cory Booker put it: ‘Suggesting that Jewish Americans bear responsibility for hatred or violence directed against them is wrong, dangerous, and antisemitic.’ Rep. Jimmy Panetta edited it slightly, saying: ‘The suggestion that Jewish Americans who publicly support Israel bear responsibility for violence against the broader Jewish community is wrong, reckless, and antisemitic.’ So if Hasan Piker’s remarks were severe enough to warrant this extensive round of condemnation, it should be easy to pick them out. See if you can find his below. (The answer is in the reply.)

• ‘You can’t have the kind of policies the government of Israel is engaged in and not expect that there’s gonna be pushback and backlash. The people that say that people that disagree with the policies of the government of Israel are antisemites are frankly full of shit and they need to be told that.; 1
• ‘Anti-Zionism is rising as a response to what Israel is doing. It will simply not be possible to treat it as a marginal viewpoint that can be shamed or shunned into invisibility. Yes, antisemitism often cloaks itself in anti-Zionism. So don’t do the antisemites’ work for them. If you keep telling people that if they oppose the Jewish state then they must hate the Jewish people, eventually, they will believe you.’ 2
• ‘Look, the anti-Zionist Jews in my community, you have a very tough job ahead of you, where you have to go back to your communities and try to get your elderly relatives to understand that this connection between Israel and Zionism that is expressed over and over again through a lot of these Jewish institutions . . . is teaching people the idea that Jews are monolithic. And this is a dangerous…mode of propaganda…If Jews in America keep putting this idea out there that they are singularly invested in Israel, eventually someone’s going to come around and take action. Not against the State of Israel, mind you, but against American Jews…I don’t know how many different ways I can explain this. I don’t know how people don’t recognize how dangerous this predicament is, how dangerous this is for Jews.; ‘3
• ‘A lot of the actions by [Netanyahu and his] government are making Jews in the United States unsafe.’ 4
• ‘Benjamin Netanyahu has made us less safe. He has frankly put Jews in an uncomfortable position across the country.’ 5
• It is an ‘obvious fact that Netanyahu is making Jews in America and the world less safe.’ 6

Here’s who said each of these: 1. James Carville 2. Ezra Klein 3. Hasan Piker 4. Dana Bash, speaking to Netanyahu 5. Haley Stevens, quoted by Dana Bash 6. Neera Tanden”

• 8/27/26: Video commentary on this whole thing on X, from an account called @Rhir0gue – “First commentary video! It’s a bit rough around the edges but I’ll get better. On the condemnations of Hasan and how Zionism foments antisemitism“
• Hasan Piker 8/27/26: X-post – “a lot of this frenzy cynically revolves around the bigoted idea that a muslim antizionist can’t possibly sincerely care about antisemitism no matter how much evidence there is to prove we do.“
• Matt Duss/CIP 8/27/26: X-post – “There’s a massive effort right now to convince you that a movement that worked like hell to elect the first Jewish president is actually antisemitic. Don’t fall for it.”
• Adam Johnson 8/27/26: X-post – “Can’t believe we’re on our 800th iteration of the Corbyn playbook. All smoke, zero fire. These “antisemitism crises” are complete confections that exist entirely to discipline critics of Israel, and Left projects more broadly. They cynically weaponize liberalism against itself.“
• Ryan Grim/DropSite 8/26/26: X-post – “I do feel like the Dem party leadership crossed into some new level of mendacity with this week’s blatant and deliberate twisting of Hasan Piker’s words. To get mad about something he said is one thing. To fabricate something and then claim to be mad about it is a declaration of war against an internal coalition rival. Because the left won the major Senate primaries this cycle, they have to focus on beating Republicans first, but the party leadership made clear this week that they are not up for sharing power, that it’s going to have to be a fierce and dirty battle”
• Khanna (D-CA) 8/26/26: X-post – “Too many demotivated Democrats stayed home in 2016 and 2024. We can’t repeat past mistakes. In this upcoming election, we need to: Quit calling @BernieSanders an “antisemite.” | Stop wasting time attacking Hasan Piker instead of Trump’s robber baron corruption. | Don’t put Israel hawks out of touch with our voters in charge of our Middle East policy. | It is time for a reckoning: are we a party that represents corporate interests and super PACs, or will we represent the American people?”
• Pastor Ben Dixon: “There is no question that the Democratic Party Establishment has coordinated more attacks on Hasan Piker than they have coordinated opposition to Donald Trump and his destruction of the Republic.“
• <Prem Thakker (Zeteo) 8/24/26: X-post – “One look at the Michigan numbers and you see exactly why they are resorting to lying about El-Sayed and Hasan this hard”
• Aaron Regunberg 8/25/26: X-post – “Wild to see establishment Dems fighting a Twitch streamer harder than they’re fighting Trump. Putting out statements attacking @hasanthehun while meeting with Jared Kushner. It’s so obviously playing into the right’s midterm strategy of distracting people from rising costs.”
• Matt Duss (CIP) 8/25/26: X-post – “Conservative Democrats can’t convincingly claim to ‘just want to beat Republicans’ while continuing to stoke the media frenzy around Hasan Piker by blatantly twisting his words. Stop helping the GOP write attack ads.”
• Matt Duss (CIP) 8/25/26: X-post – “You’ve never seen corporate Democrats fighting as hard and as on message against Trump as they are against Hasan right now. It’s insane.”
• Andrew Mercado 8/25/26: X-post – “DEMOCRATS FOUND THEIR URGENCY: CONDEMNING A TWITCH STREAMER — All week, establishment Democrats who support Israel and accept AIPAC money have lined up to condemn Hasan Piker while pressuring anti-establishment candidates to condemn him too. His underlying point is one they refuse to confront: forcing American Jews to identify with the State of Israel and treating them as responsible for its actions is dangerous. As Israel loses support among Americans, that conflation will only worsen antisemitism. Antisemitism is real and must be fought, but tying Jewish identity to a foreign government does not protect Jewish people. It puts them at greater risk. It is a warning about what fuels antisemitism. Meanwhile, where is this coordinated urgency against ICE? Against Trump’s economic war on Canada? Against the war in Iran? Where are their actual plans to make rent, food, health care and daily life affordable? We have seen nothing of substance, but they have endless time to punch left and turn a Twitch streamer into a midterm loyalty test. Then they demand unity. Unity cannot mean unconditional allegiance to Israel, obedience to donors and forcing everyone outside the establishment to denounce one another. Hasan Piker is a Twitch streamer. Donald Trump is President. Start fighting the people with actual power.”

PIKER-MANIA, FED & FUELED BY MAINSTREAM & PRO-ISRAEL MEDIA

PIKER-MANIA also ran wild in the media this week, with many mainstream journalists/commentators – like their counterparts in Congress — either (a) themselves misrepresenting what Piker actually said, and/or (b) actively validating, or failing to challenge, members of Congress for mis-representing what Piker said:

• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 8/28/26: Jon Ossoff joins Democrats distancing from Hasan Piker
• Newsweek 8/27/26: Hasan Piker Condemned by Jeffries, Ossoff and Other Democrats: Full List
• The Hill 8/27/26: El-Sayed says he has ‘no plans’ to campaign with Piker
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 8/27/26: Abdul El-Sayed and Jamie Raskin sidestep Hasan Piker, and Israel, in Michigan campaign stops
• Washington Post 8/27/26: El-Sayed’s ties to firebrand influencer threaten Democrats’ path to control Senate
• Times of Israel 8/27/26: Stumping in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed and Jamie Raskin dodge queries on Hasan Piker, Israel
• American Center for Law and Justice 8/27/26: The Mainstream Left TURNS on Radical Hasan Piker, Schumer Faces Electoral Test
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution 8/27/26: Democratic criticism mounts over Hasan Piker comments
• Jewish Insider 8/27/26: The moderate Michigan Democrat holding the line against Hasan Piker
• Washington Examiner 8/27/26: Ossoff joins colleagues in condemning Hasan Piker
• Fox News 8/27/26: Jon Ossoff condemns Hasan Piker’s rhetoric as streamer declares mainstream media ‘crisis of credibility’
• Zeteo 8/26/26: First Draft: Dems Obsess Over Hasan Piker, Give Trump and Rogers a Pass
• Zeteo/Dov Waxman 8/26/26: Conflating Jews with Israel Is Dangerous – Whether by Antisemites, U.S. Politicians, or the Israeli State
• Washington Times 8/26/26: Hasan Piker blames AIPAC as Democrats condemn his remarks on Jews
• Denver Gazette 8/26/26: Majority of 2028 Democrats silent on Hasan Piker’s claim Jewish Americans inviting violence by supporting Israel
• Algemeiner 8/26/26: Haaretz, Hasan Piker, and the Israeli Home for Anti-Israel Extremism
• Washington Examiner 8/26/26: El Sayed has ‘no plans’ to campaign with Hasan Piker after antisemitism concerns
• Fox News 8/26/26: Hasan Piker points the finger at AIPAC as Democrats speak out against him
• Deadline Detroit 8/26/26: Michigan’s U.S. Senate Race Has Become a Highly Divisive Issue in Metro Detroit’s Jewish Community
• Real Clear Politics 8/26/26: Jeffries: Hasan Piker’s Warning To Jewish Americans Is “Dangerous, Malicious, Anti-Semitic, Should Not Be Tolerated”
• Fox News 8/26/26: Democrats condemning Hasan Piker as backlash spreads through party
• Mediaite 8/26/26: ‘I Am Done!’ Democratic Congresswoman Unloads on Reporters Asking About Hasan Piker
• Common Dreams 8/26/26: ‘Mass Psychosis’: Corporate Democrats Ripped for Attacks on Anti-Zionist Hasan Piker
• Jewish Insider 8/26/26: Stop asking me about Hasan Piker, Rep. Debbie Dingell says at El-Sayed rally
• Zeteo 8/26/26: Dems Obsess Over Hasan Piker, Give Trump and Rogers a Pass
• National Review 8/26/26: No Daylight Between Abdul El-Sayed and Hasan Piker
• The Lever 8/26/26: Midterm Madness: Michigan’s Senate Race Hits A Minefield [“A Hasan Piker controversy has rocked Michigan’s critical Senate race — and the “centrist” wing of the party is capitalizing on the chaos.”]
• Owen Jones – Battlelines 8/26/26: Hasan Piker: smeared by a panicked Democratic Establishment [“The Democratic Establishment know they’ve lost their base. These smears are driven by panic“]
• Newsweek 8/26/26: Democrats Are Fighting a War Over a Man Most Voters Have Never Heard Of
• Truthout 8/25/26: Hogg Says Media Obsession With Hasan Piker “Weird” as Jeffries Joins Attacks
• The Midwesterner 8/25/26: Abdul El-Sayed supporter Hasan Piker spars with Hillary Scholten, Jeremy Moss over Israel
• Washington Examiner 8/25/26: Jewish House Democrat calls out el Sayed for refusing to ‘condemn the words of Hasan Piker’
• NOTUS 8/25/26: Hasan Piker Roils Michigan Senate Race [“Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed has tried to distance himself from the left-wing streamer’s recent comments about Jewish Americans, but some lawmakers say it’s not enough.”]
• Fox News 8/25/26: Antisemitic streamer finally makes Dem leader snap with rare rebuke: ‘Malicious’ [“The top House Democrat spoke out after the streamer suggested Jewish Americans were inviting violence over Israel support“]
• CNN 8/25/26: Gottheimer urges all Dems to cut ties with Hasan Piker: ‘He should be put outside and not welcomed into any kind of tent’ 
• Jacobin 8/25/26: Centrists Despise Hasan Piker More Than They Want to Win
• New York Post 9/25/26: Hasan Piker shredded over vile suggestion that Jews were responsible for antisemitic attacks against them: ‘Hack who thrives in hate’
• Jewish Insider 8/25/26: More Democrats speak out against El-Sayed’s relationship with Hasan Piker
• Jewish Insider 8/25/26: El-Sayed doubles down on anti-Israel rhetoric amid Piker controversy
• Semafor 8/25/26: Michigan state senator was in talks to endorse El-Sayed before Piker flap
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/25/26: El-Sayed was warned about Hasan Piker
• The Forward 8/25/26: Hasan Piker causes new trouble for Democrats — especially in key Senate race
• Times of Israel 8/25/26: After Piker comments, Democratic leader Jeffries says ‘zero justification’ for threats against Jews
• Jewish Insider 8/24/26: Jeffries blasts Piker’s claims that American Jews are inciting antisemitic violence
• IMEU Policy Project 8/24/26: X-thread – “NEW POLLING: Democrats in the first six states to vote in the 2028 presidential primary overwhelmingly demand sanctions and a total weapons embargo against Israel. *80% of Michigan likely Democratic primary voters say Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, as do 78% in New Hampshire and Nevada *70% of New Hampshire and New Mexico likely Democratic primary voters say the US should sanction Israel, as do 68% in Nevada and Michigan * 75% of New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Michigan likely Democratic voters say they prefer a candidate who will cut off weapons to Israel, as do 74% in Nevada, 66% in Virginia, and 65% in South Carolina. Full results of our polling, conducted by YouGov… The Democratic National Committee has formalized its early calendar for the 2028 presidential primary race. The first states to vote will be, in order: South Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, Michigan, New Mexico, and Virginia. The polling sampled over 4,000 voters across the six states and each state’s results have a margin of error of +/- 2…” [followed by thread of state polling results; full results/cross tabs here]
• Jewish Insider 8/24/26: Rep. Hillary Scholten blasts Piker over threatening comments against pro-Israel Jews
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/24/26: Lawmakers condemn Hasan Piker’s remarks targeting American Jews
• Haaretz 8/24/26: ‘Ready for the Backlash?’ Hasan Piker Talks Hamas, anti-Zionism and Why Americans Are Fed Up With Israel
• Detroit News 8/24/26: Rep. Hillary Scholten blasts Hasan Piker for targeting Moss. El-Sayed responds
• Washington Times 8/24/26: Hasan Piker’s prediction of violence ‘against American Jews’ rattles Michigan Democrats
• Times of Israel 8/24/26: After Hasan Piker blames Jews for ‘making antisemitism worse,’ El-Sayed says streamer doesn’t speak for him
• Politico 8/24/26: Abdul El-Sayed distances himself from Hasan Piker’s comments on American Jews
• The Hill 8/24/26: House Democrat: Party ‘does not stand for what Hasan Piker stands for’
• Washington Post 8/24/26: El-Sayed distances himself from popular streamer’s comments on Israel and Jewish Americans
• Fox News 8/24/26: Democrat rips Hasan Piker as ‘hack who thrives on hate’ over his warning to American Jews about Israel

5. Hearings & Markups

September 1, 2026: The House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa will hold a hearing entitled, Countering Houthi Terrorism: Protecting U.S. Interests and Security in the Red Sea. As of this writing, scheduled witnesses are: Nadwa Al-Dawsari, Middle East Institute; and Allison Minor, Atlantic Council.

Israel/Palestine in US politics/elex – general (non-Hasan Piker)

• Khanna (D-CA) 8/26/26: X-post – “.@MarkRuffalo worked with @BernieSanders & me to stop the war in Yemen & pass the first War Powers Resolution in American history. Mark has stood up for clean water & a livable climate. Mark has called out the genocide in Gaza. Smearing him as an antisemite is ignorance. He is one of the great humanitarians of our time.”
• Khanna (D-CA) 8/26/26: X-post – “If you are calling Bernie Sanders, the most popular politician in America, anti-semitic, you have lost the plot. I was a co-chair for Bernie’s 2020 campaign and I genuinely don’t know who Joel Rubin is.” Responding to Joel Rubin (American Jewish Congress) op-ed in Jewish Insider, Bernie Sanders’ 2020 Jewish liaison says his old boss is promoting antisemitism
• Daines (R-MT) 8/26/26: X-post – “Anti-American. Anti-Michigan. Not fit to serve.” Linked to Washington Reporter article: EXCLUSIVE: Abdul El-Sayed received $3,000 from ‘Ms. Rachel,’ anti-Israel activist campaigning to shut down ICE detention centers
• Tlaib (D-MI) 8/22/26: X-post – “Imagine if our government invested in clean air and water, childcare, and healthcare like it invests in death and destruction abroad. Imagine if it cared about building schools here more than bombing them in Gaza. What kind of world would we be able to create for our children?”

WE STAND WITH ISRAEL & AGAINST PALESTINIANS, UNRWA, ETC

• Fallon (R-TX) 8/26/26: X-post – “This is evil. The Palestinian Authority turned the rape, torture, and slaughter of over 1,200 Israelis into a curriculum for elementary school students. Their math worksheets cheer the body count and school ceremonies praise the killers.” Linked to Washington Free Beacon 8/25/26: ‘Open Your Door, We Are Death’: Palestinian Authority Schools Glorify Oct 7 in Disturbing New Footage as West Bank Government Angles for Power in Gaza
• Fallon (R-TX) 8/25/26: X-post – “Americans deserve to know that their tax dollars won’t line the pockets of terrorists. UNRWA is used as a tool by rogue states and bad actors who want to sow chaos, death, and destruction as a means to undermine the West.”
• McCormick (R-PA) 8/21/26: X-post – “It was great to meet with Israeli Consul General Eitan Weiss for a productive conversation about the war with Iran and the security challenges facing Israel, the United States, and the free world. At a moment this consequential, American leadership matters. Confronting threats to our shared security, and projecting strength are how we protect peace and stability around the world. This is peace through strength.”

Concern for Palestinians &/or Criticizing (even meekly) Israeli policies/actions

• Merkley (D-OR) 8/27/26: X-post – “When I was in the West Bank last year, I heard firsthand about Netanyahu government’s failure to hold extremist settlers accountable for harassment and violence. Palestinians, including Palestinian Americans, are being cut off from their homes, threatened, and attacked—encouraged by the Netanyahu government. Wrong under every moral code.” Linked to BBC 8/21/26 article: How Israel is expanding settlements in drive to reshape West Bank
• Van Hollen (D-MD) 8/26/26: X-post – “Ben-Gvir & extremists in the Israeli govt want to get rid of UNRWA with the hopes of ensuring that there is no such thing as a Palestinian refugee. The world should not continue to sit back & let this happen to UNRWA.” With link to Haaretz article: Israeli Police Launch Major Raid on Last Remaining UNRWA Facility in Jerusalem
• Meeks (D-NY) 8/25/26: Meeks Calls on Trump to Intervene in Israel’s West Bank Settlement Expansion
• Whitehouse (D-RI) 8/25/26: X-post – “Netanyahu has done more to damage U.S./Israel relations than any person in Israel’s history. He chose instead to have Israel’s far right connive with the U.S. far right. And, to stay a wartime prime minister, he sabotages peace.”
• Ramirez (D-IL) 8/25/26: X-post – “The genocide has not ended. And U.S. made and supplied bombs continue to kill children in Palestine. Not one more dollar, not one more excuse, not one more bomb! Let’s pass my Block the Bombs Act NOW.”
• Quigley (D-IL) 8/23/26: X-post – “Under Marco Rubio, the U.S. State Department has blocked ventilators, prosthetics, sanitation supplies, and other lifesaving equipment from reaching people suffering in Gaza. This cannot stand. I’m joining 64 of my colleagues in demanding humanitarian supplies for Palestinian civilians.”
• Ramirez (D-IL) 8/21/26: X-post – “Just like we can’t trust ICE to investigate itself, we can’t trust the perpetrators of a genocide to investigate their crimes. We demand an independent investigation into the war crimes committed by Israel. Hind Rajab and the thousands of Palestinians who have been murdered in Gaza and the West Bank deserve real justice and accountability. We must hold ALL perpetrators accountable. The violence and genocide of Palestinians must end and Congress can start by passing the Block the Bombs Act.”
• Green (D-TX) 8/21/26: X-post – “IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: The Jerusalem Post article below, titled ‘Jewish violence in the West Bank is terrorism – and Israel must admit it – opinion,’ speaks for itself. You can access the article by clicking the link here:” link to article

Islamophobia

• Mace (R-SC) 8/27/26: X-post – “Sharia law has no place in America.”
• Self (R-TX) 8/27/26: X-post – “It was an honor to host a Sharia-Free America Caucus roundtable with members of the Sharia-Free Texas Caucus, strengthening collaboration between federal and state efforts to combat the expansion of Sharia law. We discussed legislative efforts aimed at protecting our Constitution and preserving the rule of law. Thank you to our special guest speakers: Karen Lugo, author of Mosques in America and constitutional law attorney with expertise in federal Religious Land Use, and Frank Gaffney, founder of the Center for Security Policy. Protecting our constitutional republic requires vigilance, cooperation, and an unwavering commitment to the Christian principles upon which America was founded.”
• Self (R-TX) 8/26/26: X-post w/ video clip – “The Sharia-Free America Caucus stands behind President Trump. Sharia law is incompatible with the U.S. Constitution and must be banned. Thank you, President @realDonaldTrump!”
• Fine (R-FL) 8/26/26: X-post w/ video clip: “I call it the United Islamic Kingdom. They let people who hate their values take over because of suicidal empathy. Every illegal in America must be deported, no exceptions. The UK is dying because they refuse to do the same.”
• Emmer (R-MN) 8/26/26: X-post – “Sharia law is incompatible with our laws and the American way of life. We must keep America Sharia-free with @RepKeithSelf and @RepChipRoy!”
• Roy (R-TX) 8/26/26: X-post – “NEW: Rep. Roy sounds the alarm over a planned Islamic development near Camp Bullis, a U.S. military training base in San Antonio. Under no circumstances should Sharia, or any foreign legal code, be practiced on U.S. soil…As a congressional representative who has the privilege of representing those who honorably serve in our armed forces and fulfill their duties at Camp Bullis, I have an obligation to ensure their safety and the safety of my constituents in the surrounding area.” With link to article in Daily Signal: EXCLUSIVE: Chip Roy Sounds Alarm Over Islamic Development Near Military Base
• Tuberville (R-AL) 8/26/26: X-post – “I agree! Sharia Law teaches its followers to ‘kill all infidels.’ That CULTIST ideology is fundamentally incompatible with our American way of life. That is why I introduced the No Sharia Act and the Sharia Free America Act — to protect American values and preserve our God-given rights.” Commenting on X-post quoting Trump saying: “I would absolutely prohibit the Sharia Law thing. It is happening in this country a little bit, and where we see it, we take it out… We have one system.“
• Fallon (R-TX) 8/25/26: X-post w/ video clip – “Democrat Abdul: ‘Nobody is trying to push Sharia law.’ How long before ‘Real Sharia law has never been tried’?”
• Tuberville (R-AL) 8/25/26: X-post – “Women are SOLD, RAPED, and TRAFFICKED under Sharia Law. In the UK, Islamists have been running sex trafficking rings involving nearly 250,000 young girls. Yet here in the US, our young girls are being encouraged to visit mosques. Unbelievable.”
• Self (R-TX) 8/24/26: X-post w/ video clip – “Residents of McKinney will not back down in our fight to eradicate the influence of Sharia law in our community. We cannot and will not allow a culture or system inherently opposed to the rule of law to dictate how we live. DEFEND THE RULE OF LAW AT ALL COSTS.”
• Fine (R-FL) 8/24/26: X-post – “Is a burqa now a required part of the uniform? Sad to see an organization that serves girls submitting to one that subjugates them around the world. We must put a stop to this.” Boosting article: Girl Scouts of America troops offer Muslim badges to be earned by learning pillars of Islam, visiting mosques (Post Millennial 8/24/26)
• Fine (R-FL) 8/24/26: X-post w/ video clip – “The alliance between socialism and radical Islam exists because these losers are stupid. Years of worthless degrees and gibberish left them living in a fantasy world — now they’re embracing an ideology that wants them DEAD. Islamists know exactly what they’re doing, and leftists are being led right to the slaughter. SAD!”
• Fine (R-FL) 8/24/26: X-post – “These Islamists seek to destroy western civilization. I filed the bill that led to the Governor designating CAIR a terrorist organization. They don’t want coexistence, they are evil, and they must be defeated. I will never stop fighting them.”
• Mace (R-SC) 8/24/26: X-post – “Ban Sharia law.”
• Tlaib (D-MI) 8/23/26: X-post w/ video clip – “Islamophobia is on the rise all across America. Families in Dearborn should be back-to-school shopping. Instead, they’re being terrorized by racists with AR-15s. We can’t normalize this. Democratic and Republican leadership must speak out against this Anti-Muslim fueled hate.”
• Fine (R-FL) 8/22/26: X-post w/ video clip – “Clowns like ‘Sharia Anthony’ Sabatini are trying to Islamify Lake County. They want to expand Islamic centers in rural Florida and put foot washing stations in city buildings. I’ve got a newsflash for Sharia Sabatini: take that craziness back to New York, we’re not putting up with it here.”
• Tuberville (R-AL) 8/22/26: X-post – “BAN SHARIA LAW”
• Self (R-TX) 8/21/26: X-post – “Sharia has no place in America.”
• Moore (R-AL) 8/21/26: X-post – “Sharia law is incompatible with the Constitution, and we must never let it take hold in the United States. BAN SHARIA LAW NOW!”

Other

• Markey (D-MA) 8/26/26: press release – Senator Markey Urges Congress to Reject Trump-Saudi Nuclear Deal
• Fetterman (D-PA) 8/24/26: X-post – “I love it. Inflicting maximum damage on the regime committed to destroying America and Israel is a good thing.” With screenshot of AP headline: Iran’s currency hits new record low as U.S. prepares to announce more sanctions
• Gimenez (R-FL) 8/23/26: X-post w/ video clip – “Erdogan continues to actively support violent Hamas terrorists who have American blood on their hands. Erdogan continues to undermine #Turkey’s relationship within #NATO & must be held to account!”

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – GENERAL

• France 24/AFP 8/28/26: Pro-Israel lobby spends big on US midterms as backlash grows
• The Progressive 8/27/26: Upending the Foreign Policy Establishment [“A new generation of Democrats are demanding international policies that actually reflect our values.”]
• USA Today 8/27/26: Flailing GOP needs a boogeyman for midterms. Enter Islamophobia.
• Jewish Insider 8/27/36: Meet the anti-Israel donors backing a neo-Nazi’s GOP congressional campaign
• Bloomerberg 8/26/26: Democrats’ Antisemitism Goes Beyond Hasan Piker
• The Guardian 8/26/26: Fake US thinktank set up and funded by Israel sought to game AI for propaganda [“In effort to prime chatbots to make pro-Israel arguments the site published 124 reports, over 560,000 words in nine days, Guardian analysis shows“]
• Axios 8/26/26: Inside the backlash over the Jeffries-Kushner meeting
• Jewish Journal 8/25/26: AIPAC’s New Challenge [“AIPAC’s leaders face fundamental strategic questions unlike those they have confronted in the modern era.… Their ability to adapt to these new circumstances will define not only their future, but that of the U.S.-Israel relationship in this uncertain era.“]
• Current Affairs 8/25/26: How the Israel Lobby is Losing Its Grip [“Ian Lustick and Eli Clifton explain how the Israel lobby amassed extraordinary political power—and why its hold over American politics may finally be weakening.“]
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/25/26: Jewish Democrats must fight the DSA, not tolerate it
• Religion Unplugged 8/25/26: How Will Democrats’ Israel Shift Affect Jewish Voters?
• Open Secrets 8/24/26: AIPAC’s super PAC is the top outside spender in 2026, fueling Democratic rift
• The National Interest 8/24/26: Has AIPAC Lost Its Influence?
• iGlobe News 8/24/26: The American Priorities Super PAC: A New Pro-Palestine Political Force in the US
• Beinart Notebook 8/24/26: The Full Cost of AIPAC’s Influence [“The $3 billion that the US gives Israel annually in foreign aid barely scratches the surface“]
• Responsible Statecraft 8/24/26: Israel’s Lobby: More powerful and more unpopular than ever [“Authors Eli Clifton and Ian Lustick join the Always at War podcast to discuss the lobby’s role in our elections, as well as its evolution and future.“]
• Geostrategic Media 8/23/26: The Candidates Who Beat AIPAC: Can Democratic Progressives Hold Their Ground in November?
• Deadline Detroit 8/23/26: Michigan AG Dana Nessel Asks: Is There Room In Democratic Party For People Who Believe in Israel’s Right to Exist?
• Sludge 8/22/26: Here Is How Much AIPAC Has Given to Every Member of Congress This Cycle
• Responsible Statecraft 8/22/26: Israel is sponsoring ads on Ted Cruz’s podcast. Is that legal? [“Under an unusual deal with iHeartMedia, revenue from the show goes to a pro-Cruz super PAC”]
• The Free Press 8/21/26: I Worked for Bernie Sanders. The Democratic Party Is Turning Against the Jews.
• Real Clear Investigations 8/18/26: A Call to Power: Islamic Leaders See Ballot Box as Path to Paradise

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – California

• Counter Currents 8/23/26: The Empire’s Lobby in Retreat: How AIPAC Is Losing the Democratic Party- Aisha Wahab an Afghan Refugee’s Daughter, Beats a $6 Million Machine
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/21/26: AIPAC gets credit for turning landslide into ‘real nail-biter’ in special CA election, in which anti-Israel Dem defeats candidate backed by pro-Israel group

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Florida

• Jewish Insider 8/27/26: Republican state senator aims to be ‘boring enough to win’ Rep. Angie Craig’s seat
• New York Times 8/25/26: Fringe Views in Primary Campaigns Rattle Florida Jews [“It has been an uneasy primary season for Jewish voters, with debates over Israel animating many races. But what happened in Florida went beyond that.“]
• Axios 8/21/26: “Stop gaslighting me!”: Florida Democrats’ Senate nominee and party chair have heated call over socialism
• The Forward 8/20/26: What Florida Senate nominee Angie Nixon has said about Israel and Gaza 

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Georgia

• Georgia Recorder 8/25/26: Blair wins race to finish late Georgia congressman’s term and makes history in the process [“Blair, a 34-year-old with a doctorate degree in education from Harvard University, is the third Black openly gay man to be elected to Congress and the first representing a Southern state. He ran a progressive campaign by advocating for Medicare for all, speaking out against Israel’s reliance on U.S. tax dollars and its influence in U.S. politics, and pledging to voters that he would be a voice in Washington against President Donald Trump’s policies.“]
• Jerusalem Post 8/22/26: Jon Ossoff is not betraying Israel, and his critics do not speak for Georgia’s Jews – opinion

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Maryland

• The Banner 8/26/26: Chris Van Hollen says the Democratic Party needs change. Is he the one to lead it?

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Massachusetts

• Sludge 8/25/26: AIPAC-Linked PAC Boosts Nguyen Despite Her Gaza Stance

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Michigan

[note: Piker-related articles are included in the “PIKER-MANIA” section, above).

• Arab American News 8/28/26: El-Sayed defeats AIPAC, dark money and the Democratic establishment
• Mondoweiss 8/28/26: Studies show El-Sayed win sparked wave of Islamphobia across social media
• Mondoweiss 8/27/26: Mike Rogers wary of AIPAC support
• Jerusalem Post 8/27/26: El-Sayed win puts Democrats and pro-Israel voters at a crossroads
• Fortune 8/27/26: His state Democratic Party is still divided but Michigan’s El Sayed gets it, he says: ‘losing is hard’
• Jerusalem Post 8/27/26: Michigan Senate race creates dilemma for pro-Israel voters
• That Atlantic/David Frum 8/26/26: What Are Jewish Voters Supposed to Do?
• Washington Free Beacon 8/26/26: Multiple Abdul El-Sayed Donors Also Gave Thousands to Hitler-Praising, Jew-Hating Dan Bilzerian’s Congressional Run
• Jewish Insider 8/26/26: Michigan AG Dana Nessel concerned El-Sayed ‘making excuses’ for domestic terrorism
• Washington Reporter 8/26/26: Abdul El-Sayed received $3,000 from ‘Ms. Rachel,’ anti-Israel activist campaigning to shut down ICE detention centers
• The New Arab 8/26/26: In Michigan, racist attack ads by Republicans against Abdul El-Sayed ramp up
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 8/25/26: In the Mike Rogers vs. Abdul El-Sayed Michigan Senate race, will anyone take AIPAC’s money?
• Haaretz 8/26/26: Despite Hasan Piker and Israel Divide, Jewish Democrats Say El-Sayed Is Making Inroads With Voters
• Haaretz 8/25/26: I’m a Michigan Rabbi. Our Senate Race Is Putting Jewish Solidarity to the Test; some context: Beinart Notebook 8/21/26: Two Jews Debate Abdul El-Sayed — Michigan Rabbi Asher Lopatin and I hash out our differences about his state’s Democratic nominee for Senate [me on X: “On US Jewish org/leaders political views in the current moment, watch @PeterBeinart’s bonkers interview with Michigan Rabbi Asher Lopatin, who in addition to bashing El-Sayed says Gaza is ‘MOST HUMANE URBAN WAR EVER CONDUCTED,’ settlements are great, & Btselem is ‘self-hating.‘”]
• Jerusalem Post 8/25/26: GOP’s Mike Rogers weighs AIPAC liability vs. support in high-stakes Michigan Senate race
• The New Republic 8/25/26: Why Professors Got Behind Abdul El-Sayed
• New York Times 8/24/26: AIPAC Wants to Back This Republican, but He Has Some Reservations
• Jewish Insider 8/24/26: Unpacking the tactical dispute between Mike Rogers’ campaign and AIPAC
• The Midesterner 8/24/26: Egyptian sentenced to life for funding Muslim Brotherhood giving money to Abdul El-Sayed’s U.S. Senate campaign [Note: Mohamed Soltan is an AMERICAN citizen who is NOT affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood; Senator John McCain worked to free him from prison; and he has testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission]
• Detroit News 8/24/26: Rogers attends AIPAC fundraisers amid qualms about planned ad blitz
• Townhall 8/24/26: Weird How the ‘AIPAC Boogeyman’ Went Away, Isn’t It? [IT DIDN’T]
• Middle East Monitor 8/24/26: AIPAC brand turns toxic as pro-Israel Republican asks lobby to stay out of Michigan race
• Truthout 8/24/26: El-Sayed’s GOP Opponent Attended 3 AIPAC-Hosted Fundraisers in 1 Day
• The New Republic 8/24/26: Republican Shirks AIPAC Donation Amid Contentious Michigan Race
• The Forward 8/23/26: AIPAC wants to defeat Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan Senate race. Mike Rogers would rather it stay out.
• World Israel News 8/23/26: El-Sayed campaign gets $175,000 boost from CAIR after railing against AIPAC’s ‘foreign’ intervention
• Zero Hedge 8/23/26: Wary Of Backlash, Pro-Israel GOP Senate Hopeful Asks AIPAC Not To Spend On His Behalf
• i24 News 8/23/26: Mike Rogers asks AIPAC to stand down in Michigan Senate race – analysis
• The Guardian 8/23/26: ‘I hate Democrats, but I love Abdul’: voters who left over Gaza return for progressive push [“Michigan Senate nominee and others have re-energized one-time Democratic voters who abandoned the party under Biden”]
• Times of Israel 8/22/26: Michigan GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers said to ask AIPAC not to campaign on his behalf
• Axios 8/22/26: Scoop: Mike Rogers-AIPAC rupture roils Michigan Senate race
• Washington Examiner 8/22/26: Mike Rogers’ team asks AIPAC not to advertise for his campaign against el Sayed: Report
• Newsweek 8/22/26: Mike Rogers’ Team Asked AIPAC Not to Run Ads Against El-Sayed: Report
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/21/26: Good question, Abdul! [“The Democratic senatorial candidate in Michigan seems overly concerned about Israel’s liberal values. He may wish to ask about countries whose constitutions name Islam as the state religion.”]
• Washington Free Beacon 8/21/26: El-Sayed Campaign Gets a $175,000 Boost From CAIR, Whose Leader Was ‘Happy’ About Oct. 7, After Alleging Primary Opponent’s AIPAC Support Constituted ‘Foreign’ Intervention in Election

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New Hampshire

• New Hampshire Public Radio 8/27/26: Primary conversations: Manzur says it’s time to break donors’ grip on party politics

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Oklahoma

• Jerusalem Post 8/26/26: Anti-AIPAC, anti-Israel platforms take center stage as progressive wins Oklahoma Democratic primary
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 8/26/26: Progressive politics notches another deep-red win in Oklahoma race, bolstered by anti-AIPAC messaging
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 8/25/26: Can an Oklahoma Senate candidate attract voters with an ad tossing out AIPAC ‘trash’?

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Texas

• Lone Star Left 8/28/26: Where Every Texas Democratic Congressional Candidate Stands On Israel And AIPAC Money [“Track AIPAC endorsements, voting records, FEC filings, and public statements from all 28 candidates and 9 sitting members.”]

HOW DARE anyone question the conflation of criticism/protest of Israel & antisemitism!!!

• Jewish Insider 8/28/26: Raskin’s probe of campus antisemitism investigations draws criticism from Jewish community
• Baltimore Jewish Times 8/27/26: Editorial: The Problem Raskin is Missing
• The Free Press 8/23/26: Bill Barr: Democrats Are in Denial About Campus Antisemitism
• Electronic Intifada 8/23/26: Top Democrat denounces Trump’s fake anti-Semitism probes but erases Palestine
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/21/26: Why is Rep. Jamie Raskin enabling campus antisemitism?

Other Stuff

• Jewish Insider 8/28/26: Trump administration tees up Capitol Hill fight over Saudi nuclear deal
• Jewish Insider 8/28/26: Turkey retains Trump-tied lobbying firm in Washington [“On the Ballad Partners team is former Rep. Robert Wexler, who pointed to his pro-Israel record in defending U.S.-Turkey ties“]
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/27/26: Pro-Israel nonprofit USIEA celebrates 15th anniversary [“The association is the only Israel advocacy group that leads congressional delegations to Judea and Samaria, both to see Jewish communities and joint Israel-Palestinian businesses and projects, even as it opposes a Palestinian state on security grounds.”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/22/26: Israel’s refusal to criminally probe World Central Kitchen strike ‘a miscarriage of justice,’ House Dem says

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters & Reports
3. Hearings & Markups
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

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New episodes of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast:

• 8/18/26: How Powerful Is Israel’s Lobby?, ft. FMEP fellow Peter Beinart in conversation with Eli Clifton and Ian Lustick, co-authors of the new book Israel’s Lobby: America in the Grip of a Foreign Power. They discuss the priorities and mechanisms used by what the call the Israel Lobby and whether it always gets its way; how to talk about the Israel lobby without being a conspiracy theorist; and the possibilities for the Israel lobby’s future.

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1. Bills & Resolutions

(LEGISLATING/ENFORCING IHRA DEFINITION OF ANTISEMITISM) HR 8476: Introduced 4/23/26 by Fine (R-FL) and presently having 16 cosponsors (all Republicans), the “No Antisemitism in Education Act of 2026.“ This bill, which seeks to condition federal aid to educational institutions on the implemention/enforcement of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, including its examples conflating criticism of Israel/Zionism with antisemitism, was marked up in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce back on 6/25/26, where it passed by a vote of 20-12 (see the 6/26/26 edition of the Round-Up for coverage of that markup). UPDATE: On 8/2/0/26, HR 8476 was reported out of that committee with a report – H. Rept. 119-759, Part I (not online as of this writing – it will eventually be posted here), and was placed on the Union Calendar (meaning it can be brought to the floor for a vote at any time, if House leadership wants to do so).

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Reporting/posts on previously-introduced legislation:

• JINSA 8/18/26: Shifting the Center of Gravity: Transforming the U.S.-Israel Security Partnership [a report calling for a new US-Israel 10-year MOU that BOTH continues $3.8 billion in annual US military funding for Israel, AND implements, in effect, Sec, 219 of the NDAA and even goes beyond it, including calling for expanding the US military presence in Israel. NOTE: It is not clear if this report is genuine maximalist demand that JINSA hopes to see implemented (or believes plausibly could be adopted) or if this is a tactical move intended to jump-start a narrative/advocacy effort to frame Sec. 219 of the NDAA as not merely NOT a big deal, but in fact as reasonable middle ground/compromise the acceptance of which involves significant Israeli sacrifice for which, frankly, the US should be grateful.]
• Demand Progress 8/18/26: New Poll: Voters Oppose Integrating Israeli Military into Pentagon
• Semaphor 8/17/26: Progressive Democrats eye Israel policy shift in 2027 [“Capitol Hill progressives are homing in on the ‘Block the Bombs Act’ as they prepare for a potential overhaul of Israel policy under a Democratic majority. The legislation would block certain weapons transfers to Israel and is cosponsored by more than a third of House Democrats. Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, said his bloc would push for it to come to the floor in a Democrat-controlled House and would oppose bills that ‘subsidize weaponry for a military that’s been out of control.’ He framed it as a way for Democrats to rebuild relationships with voters that had frayed over the Biden administration’s handling of Israel relations. ‘If we want to regain voters’ trust, we have to say that the Democratic Party position in the past just has not worked,’ Casar said.“]. Also see: House Progressives Mounting New Push to Pass Bill Blocking Arms to Israel (TruthOut 8/18/26)
• Lankford (R-OK) 8/17/26: Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism Statement on 2025 FBI Hate Crimes Report [“Our bipartisan Jewish American Security Act will take important steps to protect Jewish Americans where they are targeted – on campus, in their communities, and online. We will continue working to pass this bill and take action at the federal level to protect Jewish Americans.”]

2. Letters & Reports

• [NEED ANSWERS ON TRUMP ADMIN GRIFT RE: UAE EXPORT CONTROL POLICY] 8/19/26: Meeks, Kamlager-Dove Demand Answers from Lutnick on Trump’s Financial Interests Surrounding UAE Export Control Decisions  [letter text]
• [INVESTIGATE TRUMP ADMIN POLITICIZED ATTACKS ON ACADEMIA THAT USED ANTISEMITISM/PALESTINE AS HOOK] 8/18/26: Ranking Member Raskin Demands Answers Following DOJ Whistleblower Reports that Trump Officials Abused Title VI Investigations to Attack Universities, Using Antisemitic Discrimination as a Pretext and a “Ruse” [letter text]. Also see media reports: Whistleblower claims Trump’s campus antisemitism crackdown was a cash grab (The Forward 8/18/26); Whistleblower alleges political pressure, lack of evidence in antisemitism probes targeting schools (Associated Press 8/18/26); Whistleblowers accuse Trump administration of ‘predetermined’ outcomes in Ivy League antisemitism investigations (The Hill 8/18/26); Former DOJ lawyer alleges Trump administration abused investigative process to target Harvard, Brown and Columbia (CBS News 8/18/26); DOJ investigations into alleged antisemitism at Ivy League universities had predetermined conclusions: Whistleblower (ABC News 8/18/26); Whistleblowers claim Trump officials played politics with university antisemitism probes (Courthouse News 8/18/26); Whistleblower Says Trump Officials ‘Predetermined’ Conclusions in Harvard Antisemitism Probe (The Harvard Crimson 8/18/26); Raskin claims administration’s campus antisemitism probes were ‘fake,’ schools were framed (Jewish Insider 8/18/26); Trump campus antisemitism investigations violated the law, DOJ whistleblower claims (JTA 8/18/26); Universities Were Forced to Pay Up Despite Little Evidence of Antisemitism, Trump Whistleblowers Say (Chronicle of Higher Education 8/18/26); ‘A disgrace,’ legal expert says of whistleblower claim that Trump admin unserious about Jew-hatred probes (Jewish News Syndicate 8/18/26); The Nexus Project Call for Full Investigation into Claims Trump Administration Officials Weaponized Antisemitism Claims to Coerce and Extort Universities (Nexus Project 8/18/26); Trump Officials Ignored Their Own University Investigators, Lawyer Says (New York Times 8/18/26); Trump administration infused ‘political priorities’ in antisemitism probe into Columbia, DOJ whistleblower claims (Columbia Spectator 8/19/26); Trump admin pushed for settlement despite lacking evidence in Brown Title VI investigation, whistleblower alleges (Brown Daily Herald 8/18/26);  Whistleblowers: DOJ, HHS Antisemitism Investigations Were Predetermined (Insider Higher Ed 8/18/26)
• (INVESTIGATE DETENTION OF AMCIT BY ISRAEL) 8/18/26: Boyle Sends Letter to Secretary of State Rubio Demanding Investigation Into Detention of U.S. Citizen Hussein Jabarin [letter text]
• [CONCERNS ABOUT USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN] – Multiple letters were sent this week from members of Congress to President Trump and his top officials expressing outrage/concern/dismay about the situation on the USS Abraham Lincoln, and demanding investigations, accountability, and/or action to improve the situation. These include: San Diego Congressional Delegation, California Senators Demand Answers Surrounding the Extended Deployment of USS Abraham Lincoln; Courtney, Bell, Goodlander Lead Colleagues in Urging Clarity from Pentagon on USS Lincoln’s Overextended Deployment & Sailors’ Safety; Dingell Seeks Answers on Conditions Aboard USS Abraham Lincoln Following Concerning Reports; Murray, Senate Democrats Demand Accountability from Hegseth After Reports of Crisis Aboard USS Abraham Lincoln; Following Reports of Conditions Aboard USS Lincoln, Warner, Kaine Press Trump Administration on Effect of Extended Deployment on Military Families

3. Hearings & Markups

None.

Israel/AIPAC (and Iran) in US elex & politics – GENERAL

• Truthout 8/20/26: House Democrat Suggests DSA Members in Congress Shouldn’t Get Security Clearances
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/20/26: Primary lessons: GOP Groypers flop while Dem extremists flourish [“Far-right followers of Tucker Carlson are failing across the board with Republican voters. In most Democratic contests, antisemitic DSA candidates continue to thrive.”]
• Inside Political Money 8/20/26: American Priorities Scored Big Wins Against AIPAC. Now What?
• Mediaite 8/19/26: House Dem [Jared Moskowitz] Warns of ‘Anti-American’ DSA House Members Getting Security Clearances
• Anti-Defamation League 8/19/26: Antisemitic Themes Punctuate the 2026 Election Cycle Nationwide
• The National Review 8/19/26: Among Republicans, Anti-Zionism Remains Very Online
• TRT World (Turkey) 8/19/26: From Democrats to Republicans, Israel is losing its grip on US politics
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/19/26: How American Jews can cope with the Democratic Party’s betrayal
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/19/26: Thomas Friedman is wrong again, this time about AIPAC
• Haaretz 8/19/26: AIPAC Reaps the Netanyahu Effect and Makes Israel a Liability
• Times of Israel/Jack Lew 8/18/26: How to keep US-Israeli relations from going off the cliff
• Foreign Policy in Focus 8/18/26: Are the 2026 Primaries Building a New Antiwar Movement? [“Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan upset suggests that opposition to war, unconditional aid to Israel, and big-money influence can become a successful electoral argument.”]
• Modern Diplomacy 8/18/26: From Michigan to Florida: Is Foreign Policy Becoming the Democratic Party’s New Electoral Fault Line?
• Jewish Insider 8/18/26: Democrats can retake the Senate without winning Michigan, Schumer suggests
• Jewish News Syndicate/Mort Klein (ZOA) 8/18/26: AIPAC promotes left-wing issues … and gets attacked by the left; response in Times of Israel 8/19/26: ZOA’s Microscope on AIPAC
• Axios 8/18/26: Political dirty tricks upend midterm races across the country
• Zeteo 8/17/26: Is a New, Expanded Progressive ‘Squad’ Coming to Congress in 2027?
• Responsible Statecraft 8/17/26: Israel creates fake think tank in likely attempt to dupe AI chatbots– In just over a week, the Hanover Institute has published at least 100 articles that appear tailor-made to influence chatbots [example: Hanover Institute article 8/14/26: How Does AIPAC Affect Progressive Democrats? Reading the FEC Filings, the Recorded Votes and the Measured Corpora]. Also see: Politico 8/14/26: Israeli PR wants to answer your ChatGPT questions; Calcalist (Israeli outlet) 8/16/26: Israel is trying to shape what AI chatbots say about Gaza and the IDF
• Jewish Insider 8/17/26: Rick Scott: We have to ‘fight, fight fight’ antisemites running in the Republican Party
• Lewiston Tribune 8/17/26: Time for Democrats to shake the gloom, widen their ‘big tent’
• Mondoweiss 8/16/26: Weekly Briefing: Voters are breaking with the Israel lobby faster than Washington can catch up
• LA Progressive 8/16/26: AIPAC Money Meets Changing Electorate in 2026 Midterms
• The Fulcrum 8/16/26: The Unscrupulousness of AIPAC
• All Israel News 8/16/26: The public execution of the Israel lobby
• Jerusalem Post 8/16/26: Chuck Schumer’s guardian act was never about Israel. It was about power
• The Hill 8/15/26: AIPAC takes center stage in last stretch of Democratic contests before November
• Hip Hop Democrat 8/15/26: AIPAC Is Spending Millions to Shape Democratic Races. Who Gave Them the Aux?
• New York Post/Josh Hammer 8/15/26: Anti-Israel politicans are obsessed with AIPAC — and ignore the real foreign threats to US politics [“terror-tied Islamic groups and Islamic governments”]; also published elsewhere under other headlines: The electoral integrity issue isn’t Israel — It’s Islam; Seedy foreign money shaping culture, politics
• Middle East Monitor 8/15/26: From Gaza to Iran, Washington’s wars are becoming an electoral liability

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Alaska

• Jewish Insider 8/21/26: Peltola campaign mum about whether she stands by her pro-Israel record in the House

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – California

• Truthout 8/21/26: AIPAC Loses Yet Another House Race It Poured Millions of Dollars Into
• USA Today 8/21/26: Progressive Aisha Wahab fends off AIPAC money to win Eric Swalwell’s seat
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 8/21/26: California progressive Wahab ekes out win [by SIX points] over AIPAC-backed Hernandez
• Times of Israel 8/21/26: Progressive opposed by AIPAC wins California special election to succeed Eric Swalwell
• The Independent (UK) 8/21/26: Progressive defies millions in AIPAC-linked spending to win Swalwell’s old seat
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/21/26: AIPAC gets credit for turning landslide into ‘real nail-biter’ in special CA election, in which anti-Israel Dem defeats candidate backed by pro-Israel group
• Common Dreams 8/21/26: ‘Organized People Won’: Aisha Wahab Defeats Millions in AIPAC Spending to Win US House Race
• The Dissent 8/20/26: Wahab Won the Swalwell Seat by Six Points. In 11 Weeks She Defends It on a Map Redrawn Toward Her Opponent.
• San Francisco Chronicle 8/20/26: She beat big money and upset some fellow Dems. Who is Swalwell successor Aisha Wahab?
• Jewish Insider 8/20/26: AIPAC-backed Hernandez loses to progressive Wahab in California special election [“Melissa Hernandez was backed by the United Democracy Project super PAC, which helped her draw closer to Aisha Wahab in the final count than some observers had initially expected”]
• Washington Examiner 8/20/26: Aisha Wahab wins California House special election in defiance of AIPAC money flood
• Jewish News of Northern California 8/20/26: Aisha Wahab defeats AIPAC-backed opponent to win Swalwell’s East Bay congressional seat
• YNet 8/20/26: AIPAC-backed candidate loses California congressional race
• New York Times 8/20/26: Progressive Overcomes AIPAC Opposition to Win Race to Replace Swalwell
• CNN 8/20/26: Democrat Aisha Wahab will win Swalwell’s House seat, CNN projects, overcoming millions in AIPAC spending
• Haaretz 8/20/26: AIPAC’s Last-minute Spending Spree Fails to Block California Progressive
• Times of Israel/Associated Press 8/20/26: Progressive opposed by AIPAC declared winner of California special election
• Jerusalem Post/Reuters 8/20/26: AIPAC-backed Democrat loses California House special election to Aisha Wahab
• Politico 8/20/26: Progressive Aisha Wahab wins Eric Swalwell’s former House seat
• San Francisco Chronicle 8/19/26: Wahab was on track for a big win. Then came the AIPAC onslaught
• The Jewish News of Northern California 8/19/26: In tight East Bay race, latest test of AIPAC’s influence in Democratic politics 
• Jerusalem Post 8/19/26: California special election becomes battleground over AIPAC’s influence in Democratic Party
• Israel-American Civic Action Network 8/18/26: California House Runoff Tests Pro-Israel Electoral Power
• Times of Israel 8/18/26: Israel-focused California primary pits progressive against AIPAC-backed moderate
• Out Loud (Ahmed Eldin Substack) 8/18/26: AIPAC Just Spent $5 Million To Lose A Race It Already Lost Twice
• Legis1 8/18/26: Who Will Step in For the Disgraced Eric Swalwell?
• Washington Post 8/18/26: After bruising loss in Michigan, AIPAC turns to California for win
• The Forward 8/18/26: California Democratic primary pits AIPAC-backed candidate against progressive Israel critic
• Jewish Insider 8/18/26: AIPAC closes a rocky primary season with a California gamble
• Truthout 8/17/26: AIPAC Poured Over $1M Into House Race for Term That Will Last Just 3 Months
• The New Arab 8/17/26: AIPAC is pouring millions into a California special election against Aisha Wahab
• Associated Press 8/17/26: AP Decision Notes: What to expect in California’s special congressional election
• Haaretz 8/16/26: ‘She’s Not an anti-Zionist’: AIPAC Millions Cause a Stir in Sleepy California Special Election [“Aisha Wahab, whose positions on Israel are more moderate than some of AIPAC’s highest-profile progressive targets, is expected to easily win the CA-14 special election despite the group’s late spending”]
• New York Times 8/16/26: AIPAC Targets Progressive Democrat in Race to Replace Swalwell
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/16/26: California Dem who accuses Israel of genocide nearly matches rival’s cash in race to replace Swalwell

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Florida

• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 8/20/26: Why an anti-Israel DSA member bested Alex Vindman in a Florida Senate primary
• Mondoweiss 8/19/26:Progressive Israel-critic Angie Nixon scores upset victory in Florida Senate primary
• Algemeiner 8/19/26: Anti-Israel, Antisemitic Candidates Largely Flop in Florida Primaries
• Times of Israel 8/19/26: Anti-Israel Democrat wins upset in Florida Senate primary, in latest victory for DSA  [“Elsewhere in the state, several Jewish, pro-Israel candidates win nominations, including incumbents Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Jared Moskowitz, and far-right firebrand Randy Fine“]
• Jerusalem Post 8/19/26: Stuck between antisemitism and anti-Zionism, sense wins out in Florida primaries
• Politico 8/19/26: Florida Dems scramble to regroup after Nixon upset
• The Hill 8/19/26: Moskowitz taunts Piker after primary win
• New York Post 8/19/26: Jared Moskowitz savagely sends ‘condolences’ to Hasan Piker in victory lap after defeating DSA member in Florida primary
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 8/19/26: Debbie Wasserman Schultz wins Florida congressional primary
• Haaretz 8/19/26: Progressive Upset in Florida Senate Primary; pro-Israel Democrats Prevail in Two House Races
• The Forward 8/19/26: Florida redistricting scrambled the map. Three Jewish Democrats found a way through.
• YNet 8/18/26: ‘I’m on the right side of history’: anti-Israel Democrat Angie Nixon wins Florida Senate primary
• Jerusalem Post 8/18/26: Florida primaries put Jewish politicians, Israel critics, and antisemitism in spotlight
• Vox 8/18/26: The worst primary in America just ended
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/18/26: Pro-Israel Jewish incumbent Democrats hold in Florida House primaries
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/18/26: Florida Republicans defeat alt-right candidates in gubernatorial, House primaries [“Pro-Israel Republicans defeated a pair of alt-right candidates accused of antisemitism in Florida’s primary elections on Tuesday in races for the House and governor.”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/18/26: Dem socialist wins Florida Senate primary, but GOP incumbent favorite to keep seat
• Jewish Insider 8/18/26: Florida Democrats nominate DSA candidate for Senate race [“Angie Nixon, who called Israel’s war against Hamas a genocide and campaigned with Rep. Rashida Tlaib, will be the party’s candidate against GOP Sen. Ashley Moody“]
• Jewish Insider 8/18/26: Florida voters reject political extremes [JI describing Fine, in effect, as NOT politically extreme]
• Jewish Insider 8/18/26: Florida primaries pose a test for far-right candidates
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 8/18/26: GOP redistricting tests the strength of Florida’s pro-Israel Democrats
• WFIN 8/18/26: Socialist insurgency storms Trump’s backyard, with pro-Israel Democrats in crosshairs
• The Forward 8/18/26: Can an anti-Zionist Democrat win in a heavily Jewish South Florida district?
• Jewish Insider 8/17/26: Republicans face the implications of a fractured media world
• The Intercept 8/17/26: A Democratic Socialist Aims to Oust a Top AIPAC Beneficiary in Florida
• Jewish Insider 8/17/26: Florida Jewish Democrats look to fend off DSA-aligned primary challengers
• Jewish Insider 8/17/26: Florida primaries to test antisemitism’s reach in both parties
• The Forward 8/17/26: Anti-Israel Republicans test their strength in Florida primaries
• Jewish Insider 8/16/26: Randy Fine’s primary opponent pushes openly antisemitic, pro-Hitler messaging
• South Florida Sun Sentinel 8/16/26: Moskowitz misleads about his AIPAC money
• Fox News 8/15/26: Rashida Tlaib rally moved after Jewish-owned Florida venue cancels event, cites ‘increased security concerns’
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/14/26: Jewish-owned Florida venue cancels DSA campaign event featuring Tlaib

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Georgia

• Atlanta Journal-Constitution 8/21/26: For some Jewish voters in Georgia, neither U.S. Senate choice is simple
• Voz Iz Neias News 8/18/26: Atlanta Jewish Times Publisher Accuses Sen. Ossoff of Lying About Israel Support
• Rough Draft Atlanta 8/17/26: Proud to have Jon Ossoff representing Georgia [“As proud Atlanta Jews, we are delighted to have Jon Ossoff representing us and the citizens of Georgia in the United States Senate.“]
• Washington Examiner 8/16/26: Jon Ossoff, Georgia’s first Jewish senator, faces angry Jewish voters
• The Times 8/16/26: Is Jon Ossoff the candidate Democrats have been waiting for?
• Jerusalem Post 8/15/26: Jon Ossoff broke faith with Israel – and lost his Jewish supporters in Georgia – opinion
• The Observer (UK) 8/15/26: Jon Ossoff: is the Democrats’ star of the South their next great hope?

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Illinois

• The Center Square 8/19/26: Alderman: AIPAC to blame for unsealed divorce records

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Massachusetts

• Jewish Insider 8/21/26: At Massachusetts Senate debate, Markey touts early call for blocking Israel arms sales
• Needham Observer 8/19/26: Primary candidate Jason Poulos is trying to pass Rep. Auchincloss on the left

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Michigan

• Beinart Notebook 8/21/26: Two Jews Debate Abdul El-Sayed – Michigan Rabbi Asher Lopatin and Peter Beinart on the Michigan nominee [well worth watching/listening to, for an excellent run-through by Rabbi Lopatin of the full breadth of anti-El-Sayed arguments, which mainly reduce to: asserting that El-Sayed is antisemitic and/or hostile to/not concerned about the concerns/safety of Jews, based on Lopatin insisting on the conflation of Israel/Judaism (and conflation of AIPAC with Jews); insisting that El-Sayed focusing on AIPAC is antisemitic, notwithstanding the fact that AIPAC has focused on and massively funded against El-Sayed; arguing that El-Sayed focusing on US funding to Israel is antisemitic because it is actually very little money and anyway talking about money in this context is of course antisemitic; asserting that the Gaza war was “the most humane urban war ever conducted”; arguting that  settlements are great and there’s room for everyone if only the Palestinians wanted to live in peace with Israelis; attacking international human rights orgs (Amnesty International) as antisemitic and calling B’tselem “self-hating”), speaking positively about Trump, etc…]
• NOTUS 8/20/26: Mike Rogers’ Pitch to Jewish Democrats May Be Falling Flat [“The Republican has been trying to poach Jewish voters who are hesitant to support Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, but local leaders say they don’t see the pitch sticking“]
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/20/26: Republican Senate candidate in Michigan launches ‘Democrats for Mike Rogers’
• Jewish Journal of Greater Boston 8/20/26: Whither El-Sayed and the Jewish Democrats?
• Slate 8/20/26: All Michigan Democrats Have to Do to Win Is to Find Peace Over the Middle East
• Washington Free Beacon 8/19/26: Abdul El-Sayed’s Secret Bookshelf Features Works From World Trade Center Bombing ‘Unindicted Co-Conspirator’ and Radical Islamic Scholars [me: “We’ve reached the point in the US defamation discourse where we can now be attacked for every word/idea in every book we own. Totally normal stuff. FTR, I’ve got books by Meir Kahane on my bookshelf – will the Free Beacon therefore attack (or celebrate) me as a Kahanist?”]
• Jewish Insider 8/19/26: Michigan Jewish Dems circulate letter endorsing Republican Mike Rogers for Senate
• Detroit Legal News 8/19/26: A vote for El-Sayed endorses anti-Israel sentiment in America
• Washington Post 8/18/26: Backlash in Michigan complicates Democrats’ road to retaking the Senate
• Jewish Insider 8/18/26: Michigan Dem nominee Jeremy Moss denounces ‘disinformation’ peddling dual loyalty tropes
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/17/26: I study antisemitism for a living: El-Sayed’s rhetoric is a case study
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/15/26: Rogers leads El-Sayed 51%-47% in Michigan Senate race, poll suggests

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New Hampshire

• Fosters Daily Democrat 8/20/26: Can anti-establishment Democrats win in NH 1st District?
• Jewish Insider 8/19/26: N.H. House candidate Shaheen attacks Dem opponent over pro-Israel support [“Stefany Shaheen, the daughter of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, accused her congressional primary opponent of taking $300,000 in donations ‘bundled from AIPAC donors’”]
• New Hampshire Journal 8/18/26: Stefany Shaheen Swings Left With AIPAC Attack on Sullivan
• New Hampshire Union Leader 8/17/26: Like clockwork, AIPAC donor checks flowing to Maura Sullivan’s campaign

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – South Carolina

• Jewish Insider 8/18/26: Sen. Darline Graham, at debate: ‘National security is not my thing’ [“‘I think we should stand with Israel. They’re one of our strongest allies, so I definitely support standing with Israel,’ Graham said. ‘I am a little concerned about troops on the ground. I don’t know that that’s necessary just yet. I would like to make sure that we try all economic solutions before we put troops on the ground.‘”]
• Jewish Insider 8/14/26: Both candidates in S.C. Senate runoff chase the pro-Israel vote, with very different records

Other Stuff

• Jewish Insider 8/21/26: Sen. Rick Scott takes aim at Turkey over Israel tensions
• Jewish Insider 8/17/26: Reps. Jayapal, Goldman continue to spar over Hasan Piker speech cancellation
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/17/26: Kaine to introduce Senate war powers resolution after Trump threatens Oman
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/17/26: Jewish Dem congressman warns that Hasan Piker event could violate University of Washington’s Title VI obligations

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters & Reports
3. Hearings & Markups
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

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New episodes of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast & FMEP in other podcasts:

• 8/13/26: Supremacy over Democracy: The Shame of the American Jewish Establishment, ft. FMEP Fellow Ahmed Moor interviewing FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart about Peter’s recent Jewish Currents essay, “The Shame of the American Jewish Establishment”
• 8/10/26: The Future of US Aid to Israel: From Military Assistance to Integration, new Al-Shabaka Policy Lab episode featuring Al-Shabaka’s Tariq Kenney-Shawa in conversation with FMEP’s Lara Friedman and investigative journalist and writer Antony Loewenstein

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1. Bills & Resolutions

(IRAN SANCTIONS) HR 5334: Introduced 9/11/25 by Panetta (D-CA) [as the “Supporting Early-childhood Educators’ Deductions Act of 2025”]; passed by the Senate 8/7/26 after the Senate adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute (deleting the entire text and replacing it with the text of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Sent back to the House 8/10/26 [see HR 10076, bel0w].

(IRAN SANCTIONS) HR 10076: Introduced 8/10/26 by McCaul (R-TX) and 17 bipartisan cosponsors, the “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026.”  Referred to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, the Judiciary, Oversight and Government Reform, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Rules, and Energy and Commerce.

(LEGALLY REQUIRE & ENFORCE MASSIVE EXPANSION OF US INTELL SHARING & COOPERATION WITH ISRAEL) S. 4615: Introduced 5/20/26 by Cotton (R-AR, the “Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027.” As reported in last week’s Round-Up, on 8/5/26, Cotton filed a written report on the bill (Report Number 119-133), and additional and Minority views were also filed (not online last week). As a reminder: The bill includes an expansive new provision — Section 622 —  entitled “United States-Israel intelligence sharing enhancement.” Maybe you think this is the best idea ever! Maybe you think it is a terrible idea. Regardless, it is a HUGE deal and arguably should be understood/discussed/debated rather than just quietly slipping into law unnoticed. For further details see the June 5, 2026 edition of the Round-Up. UPDATE: That report is now public – Report Number 119-133. In it, Cotton makes the case for Sec. 622 while egregiously downplaying the actual impact Sec. 622 would have on U.S. intelligence; Minority views do NOT include any opposition to Sec. 622 and implicitly appear to support it.

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Reporting/posts on previously-introduced legislation:

• International Crisis Group 8/12/26: The U.S. and Israel: From Aid to Strategic Integration [“The debate under way about U.S. military assistance to Israel is a barometer of bilateral relations. Israeli officials have accepted that the next deal could be the last of its kind, but they are also working toward interdependence that will be harder to unravel.”]
• JINSA 8/12/26: JINSA Impact on This Year’s National Defense Authorization Act [claiming influence on a list of pro-Israel provisions in the House and Senate versions of the bill, including provisions to integrate/weld the IDF into the US military and into US national security operations
• X-thread 8/10/26 from TimepDC’s Doug Christensen: “On Friday, @SFRCdems Ranking Member @SenatorShaheen & @SenatorLankford introduced the new bipartisan Lebanon Sanctions, Stabilization, and Support Act. I attempt to break down the 30-page bill, which includes both sanctions and assistance authorization. Here is my read…”
• Lankford (R-OK) and Shaheen (D-NH) press release 8/7/26: Lankford, Shaheen Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Sanction Hezbollah and Strengthen Lebanon’s Sovereignty
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 8/6/26: Cruz, Slotkin lead bipartisan push for federal protest buffer around houses of worship

2. Letters & Reports

• (THE SCANDAL OF TREATMENT OF US SAILORS ON USS LINCOLN) 8/12/26: Blumenthal to Defense Department: What Are You Doing To Support Sailors On The USS Abraham Lincoln? [letter text] Excerpt: “The Lincoln’s prolonged deployment is especially significant because it is occurring in the context of continuing military operations against Iran and the possibility that substantial U.S. naval forces will be required in the region for an extended period”.
• (PRIORITIZE EASTERN MED/ISRAEL INTEGRATION) 8/11/26: Schneider, Bilirakis Lead Bipartisan Effort Urging Secretary Rubio to Prioritize the Great Sea Interconnector to Strengthen Coordination in the Eastern Mediterranean [letter text]. Also see: House lawmakers push US backing for Israel-Greece-Cyprus power link (Jewish News Syndicate 8/11/26)

3. Hearings & Markups

None.

Israel/AIPAC (and Iran) in US elex & politics – GENERAL

• Jewish Insider 8/14/26: For 2028’s Jewish hopefuls, Israel is the test that decides who’s the ‘right’ kind of Jew
• Real Clear Politics 8/14/26: The Electoral Integrity Issue Isn’t Israel — It’s Islam
• The Diplomat 8/14/26: How Could the Rise of Progressive Democrats Impact US China Policy? [“A divide over China, although less pronounced than the divide over Israel, has become increasingly visible among Democrats as progressives have risen within the party.“]
• Church Times 8/14/26: Paul Vallely: Pro-Israel consensus in United States is fracturing
• New York Times 8/13/26: Inside the D.S.A.’s Audacious Quest for Power in the Democratic Party
• National Public Radio 8/13/26: AIPAC didn’t always spend on campaigns. Now it faces criticism over money in politics
• National Public Radio 8/13/26: Primary voters send mixed signals about what they want from the Democratic Party
• i24 News (Israel) 8/13/26: Anti-Israel progressives benefit from lack of pushback in primaries – analysis [NOT FROM THE ONION]
• Holistic News 8/13/26: Small Groups, Big Politics. How Minorities Gain Influence
• Jewish Insider 8/13/26: Jewish leaders build up local grassroots organizing to counter radical forces in politics [NOT FROM THE ONION]
• New York Times 8/13/26: Moderates See Socialists as a Threat to the Democratic Party. Socialists Agree.
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/12/26: After Michigan, will pro-Israel politics get a ground game? [NOT FROM THE ONION]
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/12/26: The Democratic Party is running out of room for Jews
• Al Jazeera 8/12/26: Trump remarks on diminishing impact of pro-Israel groups in Congress [“Trump claims pro-Israel lobbying groups no longer hold sway in Capitol Hill as they did some 20 years ago.”]
• Vox 8/12/26: How an AIPAC endorsement became a liability
• Philadelphia Jewish Exponent 8/12/26: editorial – The Michigan Warning
• Zeteo 8/12/26: Bernie Sanders Joins Mehdi to Talk Dems, Abdul El-Sayed, AIPAC, and Netanyahu
• The Hill 8/12/26: Democrats’ progressive surge could complicate Jeffries’s path to unity
• Jewish Insider 8/12/26: Socialist speed bump in Wisconsin, but left sweeps other key races
• Sunna Files 8/11/26: After AIPAC: Are the Rules of American Politics Beginning to Change?
• Religion News Service 8/11/26: Islamophobic politics is up front. Pro-Israel politics, not so much.
• The Onion 8/11/26: Spiteful AIPAC Spends $30 Million On Loud Bird Perched Outside Abdul El-Sayed’s Window
• YNet 8/11/26: America First, Israel last: Why opposition to US aid to Israel is gaining ground
• Left Voice 8/11/26: The Democratic Party Establishment Punches Back
• Zeteo 8/11/26: AIPAC Exposed: Mehdi Speaks to Authors of New Book on the Israel Lobby
• Times of Israel 8/11/26: Bernie Sanders urges Democrats to ban ‘corrupt’ AIPAC spending in primaries
• Jewish Currents 8/11/26: The Jewish Establishment Can’t Face Reality [“Cowed by its radical base, a major Jewish organization throws a spin doctor under the bus.”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/11/26: Something moved beneath Schumer’s feet [“The longtime New York senator is no longer the guardian of anything, let alone Israel.“]
• Jewish Insider 8/11/26: In four states, a test of the Democratic Party’s leftward drift
• The Forward 8/10/26: What does the DSA actually want? Its national co-chair can’t say.
• Jewish Insider 8/10/26: DSA co-chair calls Oct. 7 attacks ‘largely inevitable,’ says she would have attended Oct. 8 rally
• American Prospect 8/10/26: Super PACs Find It Hard to Shake Partnerships With AIPAC
• New York Times 8/10/26: Inside the Left’s Playbook for Winning Elections
• Jerusalem Post 8/10/26: Bernie Sanders urges Democratic Party to ban AIPAC and super PACs from primaries, pass amendment
• Chicago Tribune 8/10/26: Clarence Page: Time for Democrats to widen their ‘big tent’
• El Pais 8/10/26: Democratic primaries reveal Israel’s waning political influence in the United States
• Washington Post 8/10/26: Eleventh-hour primary upsets muddy the race for control of Congress
• Mondoweiss 8/10/26: Pro-Palestinian advocates won big in Michigan – what comes next? 
• Vox 8/10/26: What would actually happen if the US cut off aid to Israel? [“The left is winning the debate on military aid. But changing Israel’s behavior likely requires going further.“]
• The Hill 8/9/26: Murphy says Israel’s government ‘not aligned’ with US national security objectives
• Al-Monitor 8/8/26: As pro-Palestinian candidates gain ground, will AIPAC’s influence wane?
• Washington Examiner 8/8/26: Democrats’ fundraising woes raise questions about whether Jewish donors are pulling back
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/7/26: A man of courage was needed. Instead, American Jews have Schumer

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – California

• Jewish Insider 8/14/26: Bay Area Jewish leaders urge Pelosi to address ally Connie Chan’s anti-Israel rhetoric [“Chan has been accused of using antisemitic rhetoric in her campaign against state Sen. Scott Wiener“]
• Jewish Insider 8/14/26: J Street launches six-figure ad campaign to boost progressive in Swalwell’s former seat
• The Intercept 8/14/26: Has the Left Really Met Its Limit? 
• J Street 8/13/26: J Street Action Fund Launches Six-Figure Independent Expenditure Campaign in CA-14 Special Election to Support Aisha Wahab
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/13/26: Ro Khanna attempts to take Israel hostage
• KQED 8/12/26: Aisha Wahab to File FEC Complaint Over Alleged Election Interference in Race for Swalwell Seat [“Groups affiliated with the pro-Israel lobby organization AIPAC have poured millions into attack ads against Wahab, who is campaigning for the vacant East Bay congressional seat formerly held by Eric Swalwell.”]
• Semaphor 8/12/26: Campaign finance violation allegations fly in Swalwell special
• Mercury News 8/12/26: Pro-Israel donors, groups widen backing of Hernandez in congressional race
• Politico 8/12/26: Adam Schiff on Democrats’ ‘losing message,’ AOC and AIPAC
• Politico 8/11/26: Adam Schiff declines to swear off AIPAC support [“The California senator said he would not ‘exclude any person, faith, organization’ as the pro-Israel lobby divides the Democratic party.“]
• ABC News 8/11/26: East Bay congressional race to replace Eric Swalwell heats up between Aisha Wahab, Melissa Hernandez
• San Francisco Chronicle 8/9/26: How the Middle East became an issue in East Bay House race

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Connecticut

• Jerusalem Post 8/13/26: AIPAC-backed candidate John Larson defeated in Connecticut Democratic primary by Luke Bronin
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 8/12/26: A Democratic upset in Connecticut — but Israel was not a factor
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/11/26: Former Hartford mayor beats AIPAC-endorsed congressman, seeking 15th term, in Connecticut Dem primary
• Jewish Insider 8/10/26: Longtime Connecticut congressman faces primary challenger making generational case for change [“Rep. John Larson, a Democrat, supports continued U.S. aid to Israel, while former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin has said he would not back further offensive aid but does support Iron Dome“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Florida

• South Floridan Sun Sentinel 8/13/26: Rashida Tlaib’s visit to South Florida to campaign for her colleagues’ challengers sparks controversy
• Mondoweiss 8/13/26: The Shift: One of Congress’s most pro-Israel members is facing strong opposition from an anti-Zionist in Florida
• Fox News 8/12/26: Rashida Tlaib slammed for targeting Jewish House Democrats in Florida primaries: ‘No coincidence’
• Florida Phoenix 8/12/26: The Democratic race for CD 25: Jared Moskowitz vs. Oliver Larkin – Can a progressive beat an establishment Democrat in Florida?
• Florida Politics 8/12/26: Byron Donalds defends Israeli bond investments, but Treasurys now pay more
• Jewish Insider 8/10/26: Rep. Randy Fine campaign sign vandalized with a swastika
• Chronicle Online 8/9/26: Progressive wing tests Florida Democrats in Senate primary
• Florida Politics 8/9/26: Republican CD 1 candidate John Frankman breaks with Donald Trump on Iran, says he’d end U.S. funding for Israel
• Boc Raton Tribune 8/8/26: New Internal Poll Shows Larkin and Moskowitz Locked in Tight Democratic Primary
• Florida Politics 8/8/26: Michael Kirwan wants to regulate AI, repeal tariffs and stop ‘subsidizing’ Israel

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Georgia

• Jewish Insider 8/12/26: Atlanta Jewish Times publisher accuses Ossoff of ‘lying’ about Israel support [“‘Your antagonism toward Israel has remained steadfast,’ Michael Morris wrote. ‘Your vote continues to demonstrate a lack of support for the Jewish state’“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Hawaii

• CBS News 8/9/26: Rep. Ed Case defeats progressive primary challenger in Hawaii’s 1st District
• Times of Israel 8/9/26: Hawaii congressman defeats anti-Israel progressive upstart in Democratic primary
• Times of Israel 8/8/26: Hawaii primaries pose latest test for Democrats amid party split over Israel

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Maryland

• Responsible Statecraft 8/14/26: Sen. Van Hollen: Iran war is illegal and we cannot fund another dime

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Michigan

• Jewish Insider 8/14/26: Mike Rogers calibrates Jewish outreach as he builds broad coalition against Abdul El-Sayed
• Haaretz 8/13/26: AIPAC Lashes Out at NYT’s Friedman for Calling on Michigan’s El-Sayed to Challenge pro-Israel Lobby [“Pro-Israel lobby accuses Friedman of amplifying ‘lies’ and ignoring what the lobby sees as El-Sayed’s opposition to Israel as a Jewish state“]
• Jewish Insider 8/13/26: Poll: Mike Rogers holds narrow lead over Abdul El-Sayed in high-stakes Michigan Senate race
• Jewish Currents 8/13/26: A Choice for Liberals in Michigan: Zionism or Fighting Trump?
• Semaphor 8/13/26: El-Sayed’s money challenge raises question for Sanders
• Quartz 8/12/26: Trump calls El-Sayed a “hater” of Jews after Michigan Senate primary win
• Fox News 8/12/26: Jewish Dem defections threaten El-Sayed in Michigan Senate race decided by razor-thin margins
• Middle East Monitor 8/12/26: Anti-Muslim hate targeting Michigan Senate nominee El-Sayed surged after primary win: Study
• Jewish Insider 8/12/26: Haley Stevens defends AIPAC spending in her failed Senate run [“The Democratic congresswoman said AIPAC supporters are ‘good Americans who care about democracy and freedom’”]
• Legal News 8/12/26: Abdul El-Sayed Won a Combative Democratic Nomination for U.S. Senate — He’ll Face More Attacks this Fall
• WDET 8/11/26: The Metro: What Abdul El-Sayed learned from being outspent 11-1 [“More than $60 million in outside money went into last week’s Michigan Senate primary, most of it aimed at stopping him. The largest single source was AIPAC, whose super PAC spent about $30 million backing U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens — the most the pro-Israel group has ever put into a congressional primary.“]
• The Fulcrum 8/11/26: Who Is Electable? Michigan’s Senate Primary Asks a Familiar Question.
• Exposed by CMD 8/11/26: How Progressive Will Michigan Voters Go?
• New York Times 8/11/26: El-Sayed’s Winning Path in Michigan
• Washington Free Beacon 8/11/26: Revealed: El-Sayed Proclaimed ‘Obligation’ To Follow Sharia Law Until the Day He Dies [note that the fact that a candidate is religiously observant is generally considered a positive attribute in the US system, so long as the candidate is Christian or Jewish – like Mike Pence, who famously refuses to eat alone with any woman but his wife, or even attend events where alcohol is served without his wife.]
• Arab American Institute/Jim Zogby 8/10/26: El-Sayed’s Win in Michigan Is the Most Consequential Election This Year
• Haaretz 8/10/26: Why Michigan Jews Should Vote Blue This Fall, Despite Very Real Concerns
• The Guardian 8/9/26: ‘Voters are fed up’: Michigan primary forces Democratic party to accept leftwing shift
• Michigan Daily Star 8/9/26: Michigan primary: How standing up to Israeli genocide could win Democrats Congress in November
• Politico 8/9/26: Abdul El-Sayed disavows Hasan Piker’s 9/11 comments
• Washington Post 8/9/26: After bitter primary, El-Sayed faces daunting task of unifying Democrats
• MS Now 8/8/26: Bruised Michigan Democrats pledge unity after divisive primary
• Times of Israel 8/8/26: El-Sayed’s Victory Does Not Bode Well For Israel
• KCBY 8/7/26: El-Sayed win spotlights Democratic divide over Israel, Jewish voters
• New York Post 8/6/26: I’m a longtime Democrat — fighting for GOP’s Mike Rogers, and my party’s soul, in Michigan
• Jewish Currents 8/5/26: General Election Fight Looms After Abdul El-Sayed’s Narrow Win in Michigan
• The Free Press 8/5/26: ‘A Turning Point for Our Nation’: How Abdul El-Sayed Won
• Reuters 8/5/26: Republicans seize on Michigan progressives’ wins, but party is split on socialism message

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Minnesota

• Minnesota Star Tribune 8/13/26: Olson: Flanagan’s quiet strength shatters expectations in DFL Senate primary
• Ballotpedia 8/13/26: Incumbent Ilhan Omar defeated four other candidates in the Democratic primary for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District on Aug. 11
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 8/13/26: Minnesota’s Democratic nominee is an Israel critic – but she is not El-Sayed 2.0
• Jerusalem Post 8/12/26: Progressive Democrat Peggy Flanagan defeats AIPAC-backed Angie Craig in Minnesota Senate primary
• National Public Radio 8/12/26: Democratic strategist reflects on Wisconsin and Minnesota primaries
• Minnesota Public Radio 8/12/26: Voters choose Democrat Matt Little to run for competitive Congressional seat
• Liberation News 8/12/26: Flanagan wins big in primary as Minnesotans reject AIPAC and ICE
• Haaretz 8/12/26: Mixed Night for Progressives in Democratic Primaries as pro-Palestinian Candidates Win in Minnesota, Lose in Wisconsin [“Minnesota’s lieutenant governor Peggy Flanagan clinched the Senate nomination in another defeat for Democratic supporters of Israel – and AIPAC, which hosted fundraisers for her rival, Rep. Angie Craig. In Wisconsin, moderate David Crowley narrowly won over democratic socialist Francesca Hong“]
• New York Times 8/11/26: Matt Little, a Progressive, Wins a Democratic House Primary in Minnesota [“Mr. Little, who beat State Representative Kaela Berg and State Senator Matt Klein, centered his candidacy on promises to ban corporate money from politics and support for ‘Medicare for All.’ He was critical of data centers and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee…”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/11/26: Progressive who accuses Israel of ‘genocide’ wins Minnesota Dem Senate primary
• Associated Press 8/11/26: Minnesota primary is latest Democratic proxy fight for Senate and a test for Trump-backed hopefuls
• ABC News 8/11/26: Progressive vs. moderate showdown for Senate seat tops Minnesota primaries
• New York Times 8/11/26: In Minnesota, a Moderate Democrat Has a Big Cash Edge Over Her Liberal Rival
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 8/11/26: Israel and AIPAC on the ballot in the Minnesota Senate and U.S. House races
• Haaretz 8/11/26: ‘AIPAC Is So Toxic You Just Throw It at Your Opponent’: Minnesota Primary Turns on pro-Israel Group
• WPRI 8/10/26: Wisconsin and Minnesota primaries next to feature progressive clash with Democratic establishment
• Jewish Insider 8/10/26: The latest Senate showdown between the center and the left set in Minnesota [“Left-wing Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan’s anti-Israel message is being complicated by her outreach to AIPAC earlier in the campaign”]
• Jewish Insider 8/10/26: Democratic primary for Craig’s House seat in Minnesota showcases Israel divide within party
• Twin Cities 8/8/26: Centrist Angie Craig, progressive Peggy Flanagan in Tuesday DFL Senate primary
• Minnesota Post 8/7/26: Outside groups fuel bitter Senate race between Peggy Flanagan and Angie Craig

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Missouri

• St Louis American 8/11/26: Primary was a dry run for the November election

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Nevada

• Jewish Insider 8/13/26: Nevada GOP candidate took max-out contribution from ‘Protocols’-promoting activist [“Reached for comment, Flippo’s campaign described the candidate as an ‘an ardent supporter and close ally of the Jewish community,’ noting that he serves as a member of the Republican Jewish Coalition leadership council and that he started a charity after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel to send food to Israelis in need…The Flippo campaign also told JI that his Democratic opponent, former state Rep. Teresa Benitez-Thompson, has ‘given into the rising anti-semitism of her own party by refusing donations from American citizens who support Israel’; Benitez-Thompson has vowed on the campaign trail to reject support from AIPAC and accused Israel of genocide. On her campaign site, she calls for the U.S. to phase out military aid to Israel and to place conditions on any further arms sales to the Jewish state. The Flippo campaign noted that Benitez-Thompson has received donations from a prominent local politician affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America which ‘engages in blood libel by calling Israel’s actions to defend itself genocide, celebrated the October 7th attack, and falsely describes Israel as an apartheid state.'”]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New Hampshire

• AOL 8/11/26: AIPAC’s Donors Seem To Have A Favorite Candidate In A Key Democratic Primary
• WMUR 8/10/26: Chris Pappas braces for primary challenge, says NH is not ‘left-wing’ state
• New Hampshire Public Radio 8/10/26: Pappas says U.S.-Israel relations at turning point, as primary rival blasts AIPAC ties

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New Jersey

• Jewish Insider 8/11/26: N.J. Dem nominee Rebecca Bennett will not endorse Hamawy, campaign says

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New York

• Politico 8/7/26: Pat Ryan’s Very Cordial Class War

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Ohio

• The American Prospect 8/11/26: Max Miller’s Endless Wars

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Pennsylvania

• The Hill 8/12/26: Fetterman says he won’t campaign against McCormick
• Philly Burbs 8/8/26: Would Fetterman win reelection if primary were held today? He says yes
• Fox News 8/6/26: Fetterman wins praise for ‘guts’ after going toe-to-toe with Jon Stewart over Israel support

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – South Carolina

• Jewish News Syndicate 8/13/26: South Carolina Senator Darline Graham ‘doubles down’ on support for Israel, her office says
• The Forward 8/10/26: South Carolina’s Republican Senate nominee will likely be pro-Israel, but no match for Lindsey Graham

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Tennessee

• Jewish News Syndicate 8/7/26: Congressman who introduced bill to send anti-Israel protesters to Gaza loses primary

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Washington State

• Jewish Insider 8/13/26: Rep. Pramila Jayapal rails against university decision to cancel Hasan Piker speech
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/13/26: Jayapal seems to advise student groups to invite antisemite Hasan Piker after University of Washington nixes official event with him

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Wisconson

• WPRI 8/10/26: Wisconsin and Minnesota primaries next to feature progressive clash with Democratic establishment

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Wyoming

• KHOL 8/11/26: Wyoming delegation talks Israel in Jackson, sparking small protest

Other Stuff

• Jewish News Syndicate 8/10/26: Netanyahu’s congressional call for a NATO-style alliance to counter Iran gives way to a Sunni state alliance
• Jewish Insider 8/10/26: Rep. Joe Wilson praises Saudi, Turkey, Pakistan defense pact as Trump ‘achievement’

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters & Reports
3. Hearings & Markups
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

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New episodes of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast:

• 8/6/26: Israel, a Personal History, ft. FMEP fellow Ahmed Moor in conversation with Swedish author Göran Rosenberg. They discuss messianism in Jewish history, the continuity from 1950s Tel Aviv to the settler movement Gush Emunim to the manifestation of the settlement movement today. They also look at questions of collective rights, framed in terms of ‘peoplehood,’ versus individual rights. Rosenberg is the author most recently of Israel, a Personal History (Penguin Random House 2025). His other books include A Brief Stop on the Road From Auschwitz (2017) and Another Zionism, Another Judaism (2025).
• 8/4/26: Meeting Gaza’s Needs for Food, Justice, & Accountability, ft. FMEP fellow Ahmed Moor in conversation with Gaza Soup Kitchen’s Hani Almadhoun.

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1. Bills & Resolutions

(PLACES OF WORSHIP BUFFER ZONES) HR 10052 // S. 5289 [bill text]: Introduced 8/7/26 in the House by Knott (R-NC) and 3 bipartisan cosponsors, and in the Senate by Cruz (R-TX) and Slotkin (D-MI), “To protect the right to the free exercise of religion,” aka the “Right to Worship Act.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on the Judiciary.

• NOTE: This legislation is ostensibly intended to prevent the disruption of and/or attendance at religious services at houses of worship [hence the name: Right to Worship Act]. HOWEVER, it should be kept in mind that there have been protests/disruptions targeting houses of worship for many years [in particular anti-LGBTQ+ protests], without Congress taking action. What’s driving action today is something totally different, and that has nothing to do with the right to worship. A key driver (arguably THEY key driver) of this legislation is the goal of preventing protest of events held at houses of worship that have nothing to do with religious services — i.e., protesting real estate fairs held at U.S. synagogues, at which real estate in Israeli settlements is being marketed. The press release from the ADL – a key proponent of this legislation – touting the bills makes this crystal clear: it cites as evidence for why the legislation is needed, protests of two Israel real estate events held at synagogues; one on a Tuesday night, the other on a Monday night — neither on Shabbat nor in any way in conjunction with religious worship — unless one had decided to officially pervert the definition of Jewish religious worship to include the marketing/purchase of real estate in Israel and/or settlements. With this in mind, the bill’s definition of what qualifies as a “religious service” is key. That definition reads: “The term ‘religious service’ includes any collective worship or prayer service, class, or other event [emphasis added], at which individuals congregate to worship, study, or otherwise exercise, their religion [emphasis added].” Should this bill pass into law, the question will be: will U.S. law enforcement adopt the conflation of support for Israel/Zionism with Jewish religious practice, and therefore treat Israeli real estate fairs – at which land in West Bank settlements is being marketed/sold –  as “religious services” at which protest will be criminalized?

• Learn more about these real estate fairs: Trafficking in Israel’s War Crimes in a Midtown Manhattan Synagogue (Lawfare 8/6/26) – excerpt: “Inevitably, pro-Palestinian activists have protested outside the synagogues hosting these events. In response, pro-Israel advocates and lobbying organizations—such as the Anti-Defamation League—have branded these demonstrations as inherently antisemitic attempts to intimidate Jewish worshippers and stifle the First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion. In public statements and demands for law enforcement intervention, these groups routinely conflate the physical venue (a house of worship) with the commercial activity occurring inside it, arguing that any protest on synagogue grounds is a prima facie violation of religious freedom and civil rights. These criticisms fail on multiple legal fronts. To begin with, the First Amendment applies to state action, not to the conduct of private, non-state demonstrators exercising their own First Amendment rights. Furthermore, not all activities occurring inside a house of worship constitute a protected exercise of religious freedom. A “church” that promotes a distinct criminal enterprise receives no constitutional shield because the underlying act is a crime—just as the commercial appropriation of occupied territory is a crime. The criticism that demonstrators exhibit their inherent antisemitism by holding their demonstrations at synagogues, thus blaming all Jews for Israeli policy, also falls flat. Quite obviously, the demonstrations are at synagogues because that’s where the illegal land promotions are being held. If anyone is equating Israeli policies with Judaism, it is the organizers of these events. Finally, while the broader pro-Palestinian movement is certainly not immune to antisemitism, one need not be antisemitic to oppose these events. The prominent presence of Jewish activists among the demonstrators, alongside formal opposition from organizations such as Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and IfNotNow attests to a simpler truth: These protests are explicitly framed around international and domestic law, not religious identity. When a coalition of local residents and Jewish activists gathers to protest, their public mandates, signs, and legal briefs focus squarely on violations of the Geneva Conventions and domestic anti-discrimination laws. One need not even be pro-Palestinian to object to these fairs; one need only be anti-war crime.”

Also see:

• press releases (8/6/26): Suozzi (D-NY), Knott (R-NC), Cruz (R-TX), and Slotkin (D-MI) Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Right to Worship Act to Protect Worshippers; Sens. Cruz, Slotkin Introduce Bill to Protect Americans’ Right to Worship
• media: Lawmakers preparing to introduce federal buffer zone legislation [“The Right to Worship Act aims to address demonstrations around synagogues and other houses of worship that have become a growing concern for the Jewish community following anti-Israel and antisemitic protests outside synagogues that have turned violent. “] (Jewish Insider 8/3/26); Suozzi bill would create buffer zones for protests at places of worship (Newsday 8/6/26); Slotkin joins Cruz, Knott, Suozzi in leading federal buffer zone bill (Jewish Insider 8/6/26); US Congress introduces buffer zone bill meant to protect houses of worship (Times of Israel 8/6/26)

(SANCTIONS ON LEBANON) S.5356: Introduced 8/6/26 by Shaheen (D-NG) and Lankford (R-OK), “A bill to support Lebanon’s rule of law and democratic institutions through sanctions and support, and for other purposes.“ Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. NOTE: As of this writing (8/7/26, 11am EDT) no text is available, nor are there any press releases from the sponsor/cosponsor.

(IRAN WAR POWERS) S. J. Res. 211: Introduced 8/6/26 by Hickenlooper (D-CO) and 10 cosponsors (all Democrats), “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.“ Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: press release – Hickenlooper Introduces War Powers Resolution to End Iran War

(TELL THE TRUTH ABOOUT IRAN WAR CASUALTIES) S. 5300 [bill text]: Introduced 8/6/26 by Duckworth (D-IL) and 17 cosponsors (all Democrats), “A bill to ensure the transparency and integrity of casualty accounting and benefits and awards for military and civilian personnel during military operations, and for other purposes.”  Referred to the Committee on Armed Services. Also see Duckworth press release – Duckworth Leads Colleagues in Push to Stop Trump from Hiding the True Cost of the Iran War and Dishonoring the Sacrifices of Our Heroes

(LEGALLY REQUIRE & ENFORCE MASSIVE EXPANSION OF US INTELL SHARING & COOPERATION WITH ISRAEL) S. 4615: Introduced 5/20/26 by Cotton (R-AR, the “Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027.” On 8/5/26, Cotton filed a written report on the bill (Report Number 119-133), and additional and Minority views were also filed. NOTE: the written report has not yet been published online – it should eventually show up here.  As a reminder: The bill includes an expansive new provision — Section 622 —  entitled “United States-Israel intelligence sharing enhancement.” Maybe you think this is the best idea ever! Maybe you think it is a terrible idea. Regardless, it is a HUGE deal and arguably should be understood/discussed/debated rather than just quietly slipping into law unnoticed. For details see the June 5, 2026 edition of the Round-Up.

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Reporting/posts on key Israel-related provisions in House & Senate FY27 NDAA (and also Senate FY27 Intelligence Authorization bill):

• First Post 8/7/26: Despite shifting public opinion, Congress pushes for closer US-Israel defence partnership
• Military.com 8/6/26: CIA Flags Risks of Permanent US-Israel Defense Ties as Security Impact Looms Large
• Military.com 8/6/26: New NDAA Provision on UTS Targets Surveillance Concerns, Says Former Green Beret and CEO
• Time 8/6/26: Congress May Phase Out Billions in Military Funding to Israel—but Deepen Ties Another Way
• The Portal 8/6/26: Congress Weighs Closer U.S.-Israel Defense Partnership as Military Aid Debate Evolves
• New York Times 8/5/26: Why Congress Wants a Closer U.S.-Israel Defense Partnership – A proposal making its way through Congress would integrate the U.S. and Israeli defense and intelligence apparatuses more tightly. Some worry that it is a bad idea.
• Stutzman (R-IN) 8/5/26: X-post – “The American-Israeli alliance is the strongest in the world. The future of our partnership looks even stronger in the future. My aid to trade resolution will transition the status quo of giving military aid to Israel to a new trade relationship where our nations can help each other militarily and economically.” [commenting on NYT article, above]
• Institute for Policy Studies 8/3/26: Israeli Forces Have Killed US Citizens. Congress Wants to Deepen Military Ties.
• Washington Post 7/31/26: House push to integrate defense industries of Israel, U.S. draws scrutiny [“Critics of the legislation fear that, if adopted, it would give Israel veto power over U.S. weapons systems.”]
• Press Herald 7/31/26: Israeli military integration measure has no place in annual defense bill
• Uprise RI 7/31/26: The Israel Defense Clause – Does it Merge the US Military with the IDF? [“Section 1217 of the Senate’s FY27 defense bill would permanently fuse U.S. and Israeli defense research and production pipelines — and Rhode Island’s Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse has said nothing publicly about it, even as six Senate colleagues line up against the provision.“]

2. Letters & Reports

• (STOP SETTLER VIOLENCE/EXPANSION; NEED SANCTIONS, ACCOUNTABILITY) 8/6/26: Warren, Van Hollen, Colleagues Urge Trump
 Admin To End Settler Violence and Expansion 
in West Bank; Call For Restoring Sanctions and
 an Investigation Into Americans’ Deaths [letter text]
• (CHINA RE-ARMING IRAN?) 8/6/26: Krishnamoorthi Seeks Answers on Reports China Is Rearming Iran with Air Defense Missiles, Warns U.S. Servicemembers Face Greater Risk [letter text]
• (GIVE US INFO ON U.S. IRAN WAR CASUALTIES!) 8/5/2: Baldwin Demands Military Release Its Investigation into Iranian Attack that Killed 6 Servicemembers [letter text]. Also see: Sen. Tammy Baldwin pushes Pentagon to release probe of Iranian attack that killed 6 U.S. troops in Kuwait (CBS News 8/5/26)
• (UPDATE ON GAZA CEASEFIRE AND “PEACE PLAN”) 8/4/26: Rep. Salinas [joined by 63 House Colleagues] Presses Trump Administration for Updates on Gaza Ceasefire and Peace Plan [letter text]
• (GIVE US INFO ON U.S. IRAN WAR CASUALTIES!) 8/4/26: Ranking Member Robert Garcia and Congressman Suhas Subramanyam Demand Pentagon Explain Why It Lied About American Casualties [letter text]
• (GIVE US INFO ON U.S. IRAN WAR CASUALTIES!) 8/3/26: New Dems Demand Answers After Pentagon Removes Fallen Service Members from Official Iran War Casualty List [letter text]
• (ADDRESS RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE IMPEDING HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA) 8/3/26: Representatives Tran, Bera and Carbajal Lead 65 Members Urging Secretary Rubio to Address Dual-Use Restrictions Impeding Humanitarian Aid to Gaza [letter text]
• (TARGETING US MILITARY EXPORTS TO UAE) 8/3/26: Van Hollen Leads 20 Colleagues in Urging Trump Administration to Use Leverage to Prevent Further Atrocities in Sudan [letter text] Excerpt – “We urge this administration to take concrete actions to prevent such mass atrocities in El Obeid, including by ceasing certain U.S. arms sales to the UAE and other external actors that are fueling this war.” Also see: Van Hollen (D-MD) 8/5/26: X-post w/ video clip – “Today, the Senate received a briefing on the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan. Here’s the bottom line: We can & must do more to stop this. This war has already killed over 150,000 people & displaced over 14 MILLION. We must act NOW.”
• (REMOVE WEST BANK FENCE) 7/31/26:  Raskin, DeLauro, Casten, Jacobs and 111 Colleagues Demand Netanyahu Remove Barbed-Wire Fence Blocking Students’ Path from West Bank Village Umm Al-Kheir to School [letter text]. Also see: Raskin (D-MD) 7/31/26 X-post – “In the West Bank village of Umm Al-Kheir, children trying to go to school are met with barbed-wire fencing set up by settlers to block their path. A majority of the House Democratic Caucus is asking Prime Minister Netanyahu to remove the fence now, stop settler harassment and end this violation of the right of Palestinian children to go to school
” – linked to article: What A Day: Dems Take on the West Bank (Crooked Media 7/31/26); Majority of House Democrats urge Netanyahu to remove fence around Israeli community of Carmel (Jewish News Syndicate 7/31/26)

3. Hearings & Markups

August 5, 2026: The Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights held a kangaroo court-style hearing targeting US Muslim groups (especially CAIR, and including — no joke — Emgage), the DSA, and Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed) entitled, Hidden in Plain Sight: Confronting the Muslim Brotherhood Network in America [VIDEO]. Witnesses for the prosecution were: Lara Burns, Retired FBI Special Agent/GWU Program on Extremism (statement -including on pages 41-42 detailed recommendations for law/policy changes in support of criminal prosecution of targeted orgs); Arielle F. Klepach, National Jewish Advocacy Center (statement); and Kyle Shideler, Center for Security Policy (statement & appendices) [note that CSP is designated by the SPLC as an extremist organization]. Democrats on the Subcommittee boycotted the hearing. Democrats boycotted the farce-of-a-hearing, so there was not witness who was not 100% aligned with the views of committee Republicans. Also see:

• Cruz (R-TX) press release 8/5/26: Sen. Cruz Delivers Opening Remarks on Muslim Brotherhood Threat (w/ video clip)
• Cruz (R-TX) 8/5/26: X-post w/ video clip- “I held a hearing today in which experts established that the Muslim Brotherhood and DSA communists are united by a shared hatred of America, Israel, Western civilization, capitalism, and democracy, and a revolutionary objective to overthrow the U.S. Constitution. That is why this issue is so critical. The Brotherhood’s American network has spent decades building influence inside our nonprofits, political organizations, universities, courts, and taxpayer-funded programs. Here are my full remarks:”
• Cruz (R-TX) 8/5/26: X-post w/ video clip – “I asked counterterrorism expert Kyle Shideler whether the Muslim Brotherhood partners with the Democratic Socialists of America. His answer: Yes. I asked whether this “Red-Green Alliance” is united by hostility toward America. His answer: Yes, and by a revolutionary objective of overthrowing the U.S. Constitution.”
• Cruz (R-TX) 8/5/26: X-post w/ video clip – “A counterterrorism expert testified today that Abdul El-Sayed’s candidacy for Senate concerns him. He cited El-Sayed’s ties to Emgage, its close ties to CAIR, and his father-in-law’s leadership roles in Muslim Brotherhood-linked organizations. Then he confirmed the Muslim Brotherhood partners with the Democratic Socialists of America. Michigan voters deserve answers about who is behind Abdul El-Sayed.”
• Media: Democrats plan to boycott Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on Muslim Brotherhood [“Democrats dismissed the hearing a ‘political creepshow’ designed to attack Muslims broadly“] (Jewish Insider 8/4/26); Dems in the hot seat for skipping crucial hearing on radical group hiding in US: ‘Embarrassment’ (Fox News 8/5/26); Sen. Cruz Ties Michigan Senate Candidate El-Sayed to Islamist Group  (C-SPAN 8/5/26); Cruz links El-Sayed’s victory to Muslim Brotherhood network in United States (Jewish Insider 8/6/26); Cruz accuses El-Sayed of links to Muslim Brotherhood (Jewish News Syndicate 8/6/26); ‘Turning a Blind Eye to Muslim Brotherhood Emboldens Extremists and Undermines US National Security’ (Combat Antisemitism Movement 8/5/26)

Israel/AIPAC (and Iran) in US elex & politics – GENERAL

• FactCheck.org 8/7/26: United Democracy Project
• Palestine Chronicle 8/7/26: From New York to Michigan, Gaza Is Reshaping American Politics
• Fox News 8/6/26: How one group helped shape Congress’ support for Israel — and Iron Dome [“U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, former Ambassador David Friedman and U.S. Israel Education Association Founder and President Heather Johnston reflect on the role USIEA has played in sustaining the crucial alliance.“]
• The Nation 8/6/26: Abdul El-Sayed’s Win Is a Landmark. But the Fight Is Far From Over.
• The Lever 8/6/26: Big Money Lost To Abdul El-Sayed. Where Will It Go Next?
• New York Times 8/6/26: Moderate Democrats Prepare for ‘War’ Against an Ascendant Left [“One moderate group says the progressive wins are “deeply troubling” and is planning a $15 million effort against democratic socialism.“]
• Arab America 8/6/26: Breaking AIPAC’s Grip: How Democratic Socialists Are Changing the Game
• Jerusalem Post/Retuers 8/6/26: New generation of left-wing US media is powering progressive candidates
• Fox News 8/6/26: El-Sayed win kicks Democrats’ Midwest ideological battle into high gear — and some Dems fear November fallout
• New York Times 8/6/26: Moderate Democrats Prepare for ‘War’ Against an Ascendant Left
• The Guardian 8/6/26: The American left is making strides. But can they win in November?
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/6/26: Mixed primary results leave Jewish Democrats divided over party’s future
• Epicenter NY 8/6/26: El-Sayed and the Democrats’ new center
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/5/26: AIPAC-backed candidates advance to November elections after primary wins across five states
• KPFA 8/5/26: Jamaal Bowman Exposes the Battle to Silence Progressives
• Arab Center Washington DC 8/5/26: Changing Democratic Party Views on Israel and Palestine Boost US Democratic Socialists
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/5/26: ‘No one should count pro-Israel Democrats out,’ Democratic Majority for Israel PAC president tells JNS
• Washington Post 8/5/26: Takeaways from a big primary night in Michigan, Kansas, Missouri and more
• The Algemeiner 8/5/26: Anti-Israel Democrats Suffer Key Primary Defeats Despite El-Sayed Wins
• Vox 8/5/26: Abdul El-Sayed’s win tees up the first true swing state test for the Bernie left [“Left candidates have romped in blue state primaries. A Michigan general election will be a different challenge.”]
• Jewish Insider 8/5/36: Pro-Israel Democrats show signs of life in Michigan, Missouri primaries [“The results paint a picture of a Democratic Party deeply divided, with older voters, Black voters and Jewish voters forming the centrist coalition“]
• Al Jazeera 8/5/26: Michigan, Missouri, Washington primary elections: Key takeaways [“Recent US primaries have revealed a rift within the Democratic Party between progressives and moderates over US support for Israel.”]
• NPR 8/5/26: Progressives and moderate Democrats both see wins in primary races while Trump flexes power over GOP
• Common Dreams 8/5/26: Michigan Primary: How Standing Up to Israeli Genocide Could Win Democrats Congress in November
• Jewish Currents 8/4/26: With Jewish Establishment’s Help, A Black Political Group Battles the Left [“Inside an under-the-radar organization opposing the pro-Palestine left in Democratic primaries“]
• Washington Post 8/4/26: Can big money backfire?
• Jewish Insider 8/4/26: DSA’s Achilles’ heel goes beyond antisemitism – The reality is that these candidates are politically problematic to the overall public for reasons that go far beyond their views on Jews or Israel
• Financial Times 8/4/26: The Democrats’ civil war over Israel is getting worse
• NOTUS 8/3/26: Israel Is Defining Michigan’s Primaries. Progressives Say That’s Why They’re Winning. The debate among state Democrats is proving to be a microcosm of the discussion happening nationally within the party.
• Sludge 8/3/26: AIPAC Tops $100 Million in Election Spending for Second Straight Cycle
• Spotlight PA 8/3/26: The struggle of being a no-corporate-PAC-money Democrat
• Financial Times 8/2/26: ‘Voters have had it’: influence of pro-Israel lobby group sparks backlash in the US
• Haaretz 8/2/26: Why American Jews Will Once Again Favor Democrats This Fall
• Zeteo 7/31/26: EXCLUSIVE: New Poll Shows Swing District Voters Prefer ‘Outsiders’ to Boring Centrists [“Survey shared with Zeteo has a sample skewed towards Trump voters but shows strong support for Israel is the least appealing candidate trait. Plus, is Trump about to pull his controversial AG nominee?“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – California

• Jewish Insider 8/7/26: UDP targets progressive state senator in race to replace Swalwell
• Mercury News 8/7/26: Is AIPAC making an impact in the race to replace Eric Swalwell?
• GV Wire 8/6/26: AIPAC-Affiliated PACs Pour Millions Into Bid to Block Wahab in East Bay House Runoff
• The Guardian 8/6/26: Aipac-linked Super Pacs spend millions in California to thwart progressive candidate
• Politico 8/6/26: Aisha Wahab: AIPAC’s latest target
• The American Prospect 8/5/26: The AIPAC Universe Comes Together for Sequel in California [“As Swalwell chose running for governor over running for re-election to Congress, Wahab and Hernandez have already faced each other twice in the past two months to fill the open seat; each time, Wahab has won by more than 20 points. But that hasn’t stopped nearly the entire constellation of pro-Israel super PACs from spending significant sums for a special election that would entitle the winner to serve in Congress for only four and a half months, until next January.“]
• Voice of San Diego 8/4/26: One San Diego Congressional Rep Voted Against Funding Israeli War
• KGET 7/31/26: AIPAC funding flows into Central Valley congressional races, but exact totals are hard to track

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Colorado

• Axios 8/7/26: Newcomer Blau casts himself as Denver’s moderate candidate
• Colorado Capitol News Alliance 8/5/26: Colorado Democrats flip on Israel aid, reflecting larger divide within the party
• The Denverite 8/3/26: Dr. Shimone Blau says he wants to fight extremism
• Colorado Public Radio 8/3/26: Colorado Democrats flip on Israel aid, reflecting larger divide within the party
• Jewish Insider 8/2/26: Melat Kiros backtracks from conciliatory tone on Israel, antisemitism after far-left backlash
• VIN News 8/2/26: Colorado Jewish Leaders Express Alarm Over Melat Kiros’ Primary Win and Israel Criticism
• New York Post 8/2/26: DSA candidate Melat Kiros, who ousted 15-term Colorado rep, reveals her radical policy wish list
• Fox News 8/1/26: Jewish community in Denver on high alert over rise of democratic socialist Melat Kiros

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Florida

• South Florida Sun Sentinel 8/7/26: Florida’s 25th District: Antisemitism claims, AIPAC emerge as flashpoints in Moskowitz-Larkin congressional primary
• Miami Herald 8/6/26: Democratic socialist: ‘Anti-Zionist’ isn’t antisemitic. Jewish voters know better [editorial board]
• South Florida Sun Sentinel 8/6/26: Antisemitism claims, AIPAC emerge as flashpoints in Moskowitz-Larkin congressional primary
• Miami Herald 8/2/26: Nixon’s fight or Vindman’s millions? Democrats weigh choice for U.S. Senate race

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Hawaii

• Jewish Insider 8/5/26: Generational challenge threatens Ed Case in Hawaii’s under-the-radar primary [“A 42-year-old progressive state senator has quietly closed the gap on the 73-year-old pro-Israel incumbent, with internal polls showing a tightening race before Saturday’s vote”]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Kansas

• Kansas Reflector 8/4/26: Incumbent U.S. House members secure primary victories

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Massachusetts

• WGBH 8/3/26: Why more than half of Massachusetts’ House reps are facing primary challengers this year

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Michigan

• New York Times 8/7/26: Abdul El-Sayed Talks About His Victory, Chuck Schumer and His Mom
• Politico 8/7/26: Rogers makes early play for El-Sayed’s coalition in Michigan after bruising primary [“Republican Mike Rogers’ campaign is making moves to woo Jewish and Black voters.“]
• Detroit Free Press 8/7/26: El-Sayed faces ‘uphill battle’ winning Jewish support in Michigan
• PBS 8/6/26: How Abdul El-Sayed rose from political oblivion to progressive breakthrough in Michigan
• Jewish Insider 8/7/26: Mike Rogers begins outreach to Michigan Democrats after El-Sayed’s Senate nomination
• The Economist 8/6/26: Republicans are the real winners of Michigan’s primary
• Michigan Advance 8/6/26: High turnout shaped Michigan primary, boosting El-Sayed and Lawrence to victory
• Jerusalem Post 8/6/26: El-Sayed won the Democrats a victory, but may lose the war – analysis
• LA Times 8/6/26: Don’t let Abdul El-Sayed’s identity eclipse his actual politics [“What El-Sayed and his supporters are questioning isn’t Israel’s right to exist. They’re wondering why the United States, the richest of all the developed democracies, is still the only one that does not guarantee healthcare to its citizens? The list of nations that do guarantee access includes Israel, which receives billions in U.S. aid. For a doctor who has written a book on healthcare access and co-authored about 100 scholarly articles on health, that line of questioning doesn’t seem radical at all. It is who is doing the asking that unnerves some.“]
• Washington Times 8/6/26: Big winner in Michigan’s Democrat primary? GOP nominee Mike Rogers
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/6/26: Michigan Democratic primaries reflect party’s divide over Israel
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/6/26: The suicidal significance of the Michigan Democratic primary
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/6/26: Schumer, Democrats are ‘cowards’ for backing El-Sayed, RJC says
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/6/26: El-Sayed, the Democrats, AIPAC and the war on American Jews
• The Forward 8/6/26: ‘Time to double down’: Why AIPAC sees El Sayed’s win as a sign to spend still more
• The Forward 8/6/26: 5 important questions for Abdul El-Sayed
• Rolling Stone 8/6/26: Inside Abdul El-Sayed’s Improbable Victory
• The Nation 8/5/26: How Abdul El-Sayed Can Win Michigan, Plus an Election Protection Test Case
• Times of Israel 8/6/26: Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan primary win is a watershed moment for anti-Israel Democrats
• Times of Israel 8/6/24: After attacking AIPAC, El-Sayed seeks support from Michigan’s pro-Israel Democrats
• Jewish Insider 8/6/26: Jewish Democrats in Michigan weigh crossing party lines after El-Sayed’s Senate primary win
• Jewish Insider 8/6/26: Fetterman unloads on El-Sayed, predicts he could lose Michigan Senate seat for Democrats
• Common Dreams 8/6/26: ‘See You in November’: Progressives Welcome the Fight as AIPAC Plots Round Two Against El-Sayed
• Who What Why 8/6/26: In a Twist of Irony, AIPAC Probably Won the Michigan Primary for El-Sayed
• Al Jazeera 8/6/26: How Abdul El-Sayed’s ‘extraordinary’ win stunned pro-Israel establishment
• Times of Israel 8/6/26: El-Sayed’s narrow Michigan win splits Jewish Democrats over potential rapprochment
• Al-Monitor 8/5/26: Abdul el-Sayed becomes first Muslim-American to win Michigan senate primary
• Vanity Fair 8/5/26: AIPAC Spent $32 Million Trying to Stop Abdul El-Sayed. Did They Possibly…Help Him?
• CNN 8/5/26: ‘We have 13 weeks’: A ruptured Democratic Party now tries to unite behind Abdul El-Sayed
• Jezebel 8/5/26: AIPAC Broke Its Spending Record to Lose a Very Expensive Primary
• Mother Jones 8/5/26: Michigan’s Primary Reckoning for the Democrats
• Al-Monitor 8/5/26: AIPAC to oppose El-Sayed after major Michigan primary victory
• Time 8/5/26: The Winners and Losers From Michigan’s High-Stakes Senate Primary
• Wall Street Journal 8/5/26: editorial board – The March of the El-Sayed Democrats
• Wall Street Journal 8/5/26: El-Sayed’s Deflected Bigotry – Democrats face a choice: denounce him for antisemitism or remain silent [Also see Mehdi Hassan’s apt response on X: “An 820-word op-ed repeatedly accusing Abdul El-Sayed of antisemitism, from start to finish, without offering 1 shred of evidence of antisemitism, not one anti-Jewish quote. Lots of anti-Israel rhetoric. Not a word about Jews or Judaism. Such low standards on the WSJ op-ed page.“]
• Rolling Stone 8/5/26: Abdul El-Sayed’s Win Sets Off Wave of MAGA Islamophobia
• Fox News 8/5/26: El-Sayed campaign backed by over $100,000 from dozens of members of group with alleged terror ties
• US News 8/5/26: Progressives in Ascendance With Key Primary Wins in Michigan
• Daily Signal 8/5/26: NRSC Hits El-Sayed for Pledging Support to Iran’s Revolutionary ‘Counterparts,’ the Muslim Brotherhood
• Jewish Insider 8/5/26: Moderate Michigan Rep. Hillary Scholten does not offer endorsement of El-Sayed
• Jewish Insider 8/5/26: Mamdani won’t rule out traveling to Michigan to campaign for El-Sayed
• Jewish Insider 8/5/26: El-Sayed calls Israel ‘bloodthirsty’ ahead of Senate primary win
• Jewish Insider 8/5/26: Stevens concedes and endorses El-Sayed, as GOP attacks his candidacy as ‘dangerous’
• Jewish Insider 8/5/26: Jewish Dems ‘disappointed’ in Michigan Senate results, stop short of endorsing El-Sayed
• WBUR 8/5/26: Progressives see biggest win yet in Michigan, while Trump flexes power over GOP
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/5/26: After El-Sayed secures Michigan Dem Senate nod, Jews should vote for those who prioritize their safety, ZOA head says
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/5/26: ‘AP’ calls Michigan primary for El-Sayed, RJC says Dems elected ‘most antisemitic US Senate candidate in America’
• Truthout 8/5/26: El-Sayed Hits Back at GOP’s Islamophobic Attacks: “That’s the Best You Got?”
• The Atlantic 8/5/26: What El-Sayed Does Next Matters
• The Forward 8/5/26: William Lawrence, El-Sayed-aligned progressive, takes Democratic House nomination in Michigan battleground race
• The Foward 8/5/26: In the Michigan Senate race, Jews should (and will) vote for democracy
• The Forward 8/5/26: Michigan’s Jewish Democrats aren’t all ready to unite behind El-Sayed as nominee
• The Forward 8/5/26: Abdul El-Sayed is right about the future of Israel and Palestinians
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 8/5/26: El-Sayed decried AIPAC. Now he hopes to win over pro-Israel Democrats.
• Haaretz 8/5/26: AIPAC Indicates It Will Continue Spending Against Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s General Election [“The lobby has rarely involved itself in general election spending, instead deploying millions in intraparty primary battles“]
• New York Times 8/5/26: After Michigan Loss, AIPAC Weighs a Second Effort to Defeat El-Sayed [“The pro-Israel organization spent $32 million in an unsuccessful effort to defeat Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary. It might try again in the general election.“]
• New York Times 8/5/26: The Populist Left Has a Theory. We’re All About to Test It.
• New York Times 8/5/26: Congressman Is Ousted by Democratic Socialist in Michigan House Primary
• Ken Klipperstein 8/5/26: Chuck Schumer Eats Shit – Abdul El-Sayed’s victory is earthquake for Democratic Party old guard
• Responsible Statecraft 8/5/26: El-Sayed overcomes $30 million AIPAC spend, wins Michigan primary
• Mondoweiss 8/5/26: Abdul El-Sayed overcomes massive AIPAC spending to win Michigan primary
• The Guardian 8/5/26: Abdul El-Sayed offers a template for Democrats to defeat Trumpism
• Jewish Currents 8/5/26: General Election Fight Looms After Abdul El-Sayed’s Narrow Win in Michigan
• Jerusalem Post 8/5/26: Abdul El-Sayed seeks Democratic unity after divisive Michigan Senate primary
• ADL’s Jonathan Greenblatt X-post 8/5/26: video doubling down on accusations accusing El-Sayed of antisemitism (etc)
• AIPAC 8/5/26: X-post – “...In Michigan, AIPAC members were proud to stand with Governor Whitmer, Senator Peters, former Senator Stabenow, former Governor Granholm, Attorney General Dana Nessel, and the many others who supported Haley Stevens in the Senate primary, helping her fight for an authentic Democratic agenda for Michigan. Our members remain determined to ensure that voters reject Dr. El-Sayed and his radical anti-Israel agenda in November…While disappointed that some of our AIPAC-backed candidates did not prevail, our community is proud to support pro-Israel Democrats and Republicans who stand for our values, and we are encouraged that voters in races across this primary season continue to broadly choose leaders who support a strong U.S.-Israel partnership. These results demonstrate that AIPAC’s nearly 7 million members remain determined to make the case for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship that makes America stronger. Through AIPAC, millions of American citizens will keep working to help elect pro-Israel leaders and to help defeat anti-Israel detractors between now and November, and in many cycles ahead.“
• Jewish Democratic Council of America 8/5/26: press release – “...While we are disappointed in the final result of the Michigan Senate race, the razor-thin margin isn’t the resounding win for the far-left that was predicted. We are proud of the race run by Rep. Haley Stevens, and we thank her for her consistent and principled leadership standing with Jewish Americans. We congratulate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed on his victory after a difficult and divisive primary. JDCA volunteers from across the country made over 100,000 calls into Michigan and Missouri mobilizing voters for Haley Stevens and Wesley Bell, creating a growing nationwide network of Jewish activists who made their voices heard. This work continues, as we engage voters in key districts and states in support of Democrats who share our values in the lead-up to the critically important midterms in November.“
• Democratic Majority for Israel 8/5/26: X-post – “The lesson from Tuesday’s results is twofold: There is clearly strong anti-establishment energy this cycle, but no one should count pro-Israel Democrats out. While El-Sayed’s razor-thin victory in Michigan is disappointing, it was hardly the sweeping triumph he predicted or a mandate for his views. Haley Stevens ran a strong campaign, built a diverse coalition that included Black and Jewish voters and moderate Democrats, and came within a single percentage point despite trailing by double digits in some late polls. Across the country last night, pro-Israel Democrats scored significant victories, including DMFI PAC endorsees Sharice Davids, Jeremy Moss, Wesley Bell, Elaine Luria, Suzan DelBene, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Kim Schrier and Marilyn Strickland. Tuesday’s results demonstrate that pro-Israel Democrats remain a strong and vital part of the Democratic coalition. DMFI PAC looks forward to helping these pro-Israel Democrats win in November.“
• Republican Jewish Committee 8/5/26: Michigan Democrats Just Nominated the Most Antisemitic US Senate Candidate in America [“Abdul El-Sayed is a direct threat to Michigan’s Jewish community…“]
• Combat Antisemitism Movement 8/5/26: El-Sayed’s Michigan Victory ‘Should Raise Alarm Bells for Jewish Americans and Everyone Who Believes in Civil Rights for All’
• NBC News 8/5/26: Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, notching a Midwest victory for the left
• Times of Israel 8/5/26: Anti-Israel Democratic candidate El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate primary
• Times of Israel 8/5/26: Anti-Israel Michigan state rep. McKinney defeats sympathetic incumbent in US House primary
• Times of Israel 8/5/26: William Lawrence, anti-Israel progressive, takes Dem House nomination in Michigan
• WDET/AP 8/5/26: Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate primary in major victory for Democrats’ progressive wing
• Axios 8/5/26: Left turn in Michigan: Tuesday’s primary takeaways
• Reuters 8/5/26: Progressive El-Sayed wins Michigan primary in jolt to Democrats, US media project
• Time 8/5/26: Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Senate Primary, Delivering Progressives a Major Battleground Victory
• The Intercept 8/5/26: The Most Expensive Democratic Senate Primary Has a Winner
• The Intercept 8/5/26: Abdul El-Sayed Beats the Democratic Establishment and AIPAC in Michigan
• The Times (UK) 8/5/26: The Michigan primary is a key test for radical Democrats
• The Hill 8/5/26: El-Sayed beats Stevens to take on Rogers in battleground Michigan Senate race
• The Hill 8/5/26: Michigan Senate Democratic primary too close to call: 5 takeaways
• The Hill 8/5/26: The Memo: Left looks to seize on momentum from El-Sayed’s win
• Newsweek 8/5/26: Pro-Israel Lobby Defeated in Michigan as El-Sayed Wins Senate Primary
• Axios 8/5/26: Abdul El-Sayed wins Democratic Senate primary in battleground Michigan
• Common Dreams 8/5/26: El-Sayed on Track to Win US Senate Primary, Overcoming AIPAC’s $30 Million Onslaught [“’We all knew they were going to spend their money,’ said Abdul El-Sayed. ‘We didn’t know that they were going to outspend us $11 to $1. And yet we’re still standing.’”]
• The Forward 8/5/26: William Lawrence, El-Sayed-aligned progressive, takes Democratic House nomination in Michigan battleground race
• Palestine Chronicle 8/5/26: AIPAC Suffers Major Defeat as Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Senate Primary
• Arutz Sheva 8/5/26: Another blow to the Democrats’ pro-Israel faction: Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan primary 
• NBC News 8/5/26: Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, notching a Midwest victory for the left [“The former public health official has defeated Rep. Haley Stevens, NBC News projects, despite facing a huge advertising disadvantage.“]
• Al Jazeera 8/5/26: Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Democratic primary for Senate, NBC projects [“Progressive advocate overcomes more than $60m in spending to defeat pro-Israel Congresswoman Haley Stevens.”]
• Haaretz 8/5/26: What the Democrats Must Learn From El-Sayed’s Michigan Primary Win
• Haaretz 8/5/26: Pro-Israel Jewish Democrat Jeremy Moss Wins Michigan Congressional Primary
• American Enterprise Institute 8/4/26: Michigan’s Senate Primary Is About Israel
• Detroit Jewish News 8/4/26: Michigan’s Senate Race Has Become a Referendum on Israel — And the Future of the Democratic Party
• The American Prospect 8/4/26: Michigan’s Democratic Primary Could Hinge on Black Voters
• Jewish Insider 8/4/26: Michigan brewery apologizes for hosting Stevens campaign event, citing her support for Israel
• The Forward 8/4/26: Lawn signs for Abdul, door knocking for Haley: Michigan Jews split in Senate Democratic primary
• The Forward 8/4/26: Michigan Democrats await Senate winner in party’s biggest test yet on Israel
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 8/4/26: Jewish Democrat Jeremy Moss wins primary for Haley Stevens’ old Michigan House seat
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 8/4/26: Lawn signs for Abdul, door knocking for Haley: Michigan Jews split in Senate Democratic primary
• New York Times 8/4/26: Spending Tied to AIPAC Dominated the Michigan Senate Primary
• Jerusalem Post 8/4/26: Support for Israel takes center stage in Michigan, Missouri Democratic primaries – analysis
• CBC News (Canada) 8/4/26: Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary puts spotlight on big money and pro-Israel lobby
• Haaretz 8/4/26: Michigan’s Democratic Voters Head to Polls in 2026’s Most Consequential Primary on Israel
• Slate 8/4/26: A Test For Pro-Israel Democrats
• Barrons 8/4/26: Polls Open In Michigan Vote Testing Rival Visions For Democrats
• Military News/AP 8/4/26: Michigan Democrats pick between moderate and progressive in high-profile Senate primary
• YNet 8/4/26: Abdul El-Sayed’s insurgent bid turns Michigan Senate primary into Democratic stress test
• CBS News 8/4/26: Haley Stevens stands firm on backing U.S. military aid to Israel, claims El-Sayed won’t recognize Israel’s right to exist
• Reuters 8/4/26: Michigan primary offers key test of Democratic voters’ views on Israel
• Arab Weekly 8/4/26: Michigan senate primary will test US Democrats’ position on Israel
• Washington Examiner 8/4/26: Abdul el Sayed has one answer for every Michigan problem: Israel
• New York Times 8/4/26: AIPAC, One of the Biggest Spenders on U.S. Elections, Faces Its Biggest Test [“The lobbying group has more than doubled its spending on political campaigns, while rarely mentioning Israel. It has placed a large financial bet on today’s Michigan Senate primary.“]
• NOTUS 8/4/26: Democrats in Congress Don’t Like Shri Thanedar. He Hopes Voters Disagree. The lawmaker faces a democratic socialist challenger in a blue Detroit-area district.
• Time 8/3/26: Michigan’s Senate Race Turned Ugly. Democrats Eyeing 2028 Are Watching Closely
• The New Yorker 8/3/26: Abdul El-Sayed’s Argument for America—and Against His Own Party
  The Michigan U.S. Senate candidate on campaigning with Hasan Piker, being a capitalist, and why his fellow-Democrats need to “stop compromising.”
• Defector 8/3/26: Abdul El-Sayed’s Campaign Believes The Many Can Defeat The Money
• Politifact 8/3/26: Fact-checking Abdul El-Sayed, Haley Stevens in the Michigan Democratic Senate primary
• Washington Free Beacon 8/3/26: Extremist Michigan Imam Who Hosted El-Sayed Urges Followers To Turn Out To Vote and ‘Deal the Zionist a Blow,’ Frames Primary as Epic Fight Against ‘Puppet’ of Israel
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 8/3/26: AIPAC gets a lot of attention in Michigan Senate primary, but voters say it’s not their top issue
• Newsweek 8/3/26: Who Speaks for Jewish Democrats? Michigan Is About To Decide
• Washington Examiner 8/3/26: El Sayed’s rise puts Michigan Democrats’ winning formula to the test
• Michigan Advance 8/3/26: Who is electable? Michigan’s Senate primary asks a familiar question [“No one can agree on what, exactly, electability is — but both Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed are making the case that they have it”]
• NOTUS 8/3/26: Israel Is Defining Michigan’s Primaries. Progressives Say That’s Why They’re Winning. [“The debate among state Democrats is proving to be a microcosm of the discussion happening nationally within the party.“]
• National Catholic Report 8/3/26: Michigan Senate primary: Where is the Democratic party headed?
• New York Times 8/3/26: Michigan Looks Left — We’re sizing up tomorrow’s primary contest.
• Haaretz 8/3/26: 11 Questions and Answers About the Most Closely Watched Primary in 2026
• Politics Today 8/3/26: AIPAC Spending Dominates Michigan Senate Campaign Race
• Mondoweiss 8/3/26: Michigan voters appear to swing toward Abdul El-Sayed on eve of crucial Senate primary. Will it be enough to beat AIPAC’s millions?
• New Arab 8/3/26: Most expensive Democrat senate primary in Michigan as Abdul El-Sayed takes on AIPAC
• Jewish Insider 8/3/26: Republicans betting Jewish voters swing Rogers’ way if El-Sayed wins primary [“For many Jewish Democrats in Michigan who have long called the party home, the bruising lead-up to the primary on Tuesday has been difficult to experience“]
• New York Magazine 8/3/26: El-Sayed Is Already Eyeing Race Against ‘Weak’ Mike Rogers
• Legis1 8/3/26: Follow The Money: Behind Michigan’s Wide-Open Senate Race
• Detroit Free Press 8/3/26: What’s on voters’ minds as hard-fought Democratic US Senate primary approaches
• Detroit Free Press 8/2/26: Abdul El-Sayed, U.S. Senate candidate, on AIPAC and Israel
• WLNS 8/2/26: Bernie Sanders’ former policy advisor on AIPAC spending and Democrats’ shift on Israel
• NBC News 8/2/26: Bernie Sanders says Michigan primary is about taking on ‘AIPAC money’: Full interview
• NOTUS 8/2/26: A Normie Democrat Revolt Is Pushing Abdul El-Sayed Toward Victory [“‘The only reasonable thing seems to be: Burn it down and start over, and make it different,’ one Michigan organizer said.“]
• The Forward 8/2/26: Michigan’s Senate race has become a referendum on Israel — and the future of the Democratic Party [“Winning Tuesday’s primary may be the easy part for Abdul El-Sayed. His brand of politics would also have to carry the general election, with control of the Senate on the line“]
• The National News 8/2/26: Michigan Democratic primary showdown to test waters over Israel, Gaza and party’s future
• Detroit News 8/2/26: Stevens knocks down Detroit parishioner’s Muslim comment about El-Sayed
• Al Jazeera 8/2/26: How much has AIPAC spent against Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed? And why? [“Pro-Israel group unleashes its spending power to help elect Haley Stevens to US Senate against progressive doctor.”]
• Detroit News 8/1/26: El-Sayed spars with Stevens over claim that he blames Jewish Americans
• Vox 8/1/26: Why AIPAC could see its biggest defeat ever — Four years ago, Michigan Rep. Andy Levin lost his primary to Haley Stevens. He tells us how he got on AIPAC’s bad side.
• Al Jazeera 8/1/26: US Arabs eye ‘historic’ Senate win for Abdul El-Sayed despite AIPAC attacks [“The US Senate race in Michigan has come to embody the Democratic rift over Israel, as AIPAC spends heavily against the progressive candidate.”]
• The Lever 8/1/26: Abdul El-Sayed On Fetterman: “He’s Also Just An Asshole” [“The U.S. Senate candidate weighs in on Democrats’ biggest liabilities, MAGA’s performative masculinity, and why AIPAC is out to get him.“]
• Mother Jones 8/1/26: “If I Prove That You Can Win Statewide Taking on AIPAC, That Is Catastrophic” Abdul El-Sayed says Tuesday’s Senate primary in Michigan is a referendum on the future of the Democratic Party. 
• Times of Israel 8/1/26: Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan accuses anti-Israel rival of scapegoating Jews
• Convulsions 8/1/26: The Most Consequential Race of 2026 is Not in November
• Deadline Detroit 8/1/26: Abdul El-Sayed Responds to Haley Stevens’ Claim That He Blames Jewish Americans
• The New York Times 7/31/26: How the Michigan Primary Is Dividing Jewish Voters [“U.S. support for Israel is dividing Jewish voters — and reshaping the Democratic Party — ahead of Michigan’s primary on Aug. 4. We traveled to Detroit to meet campaigners on both sides of the issue, and find out how the war in Gaza has shaped their politics, and tested their community.“]
• Haaretz 7/31/26: ‘It’s Bigger Than Abdul’: In Dearborn, Beating AIPAC May Be the Real Prize
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/31/26: Stevens says El-Sayed wants to ‘blame all of your problems on Jewish Americans’
• NOTUS 7/31/26: Dana Milbank: I Was Prepared to Dislike Abdul El-Sayed. Then I Came to Michigan and Spoke to Him. He has a message that all Democrats could learn from.
• Haaretz 7/31/26: ‘I Tried, and I Got Crushed’: AIPAC Made an Example of Andy Levin. Now He’s All-in for Abdul El-Sayed

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Missouri

• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 8/6/26: Did Cori Bush’s focus on AIPAC doom her Missouri Democratic primary bid?
• AIPAC 8/5/26: X-post – “...In Missouri’s First District, AIPAC congratulates Congressman Wesley Bell on defeating former Representative Cori Bush for the second time. AIPAC members and United Democracy Project were proud to support Bell, a serious, thoughtful leader who delivers for his constituents. In Congress and throughout the race, Bush demonized AIPAC’s members, attacked Israel, and refused to condemn Hamas terrorism—and voters made sure she did not make it back to Congress…”
• Jerusalem Post 8/5/26: US Rep. Wesley Bell overcomes anti-Israel progressive Cori Bush in Missouri Democratic primary
• The Forward 8/5/26: AIPAC-backed Wesley Bell defeats Cori Bush in Missouri Democratic primary
• Haaretz 8/5/26: AIPAC-backed Democrat Defeats BDS Supporter Cori Bush in Missouri Primary
• Times of Israel 8/5/26: Cori Bush loses primary bid to retake US House seat from AIPAC-backed Democratic incumbent
• Axios 8/4/26: Establishment Dems notch rare win as Wesley Bell fends off DSA
• St. Louis Public Radio 8/4/26: Bell defeats Bush in contentious 1st Congressional District Democratic primary rematch
• The Intercept 8/4/26: Wesley Bell Again Defeats Cori Bush — With Plenty of Help From AIPAC
• Jewish Insider 8/4/26: Rep. Wesley Bell easily blocks Cori Bush’s comeback attempt
• Politico 8/4/26: Progressives’ anti-AIPAC wave hits a snag in St. Louis
• NBC News 8/4/26: Rep. Wesley Bell defeats former Rep. Cori Bush in a Missouri Democratic primary rematch
• Politico 8/4/26: Democrats’ stance on Israel takes center stage in Bush-Bell rematch in St. Louis [“The rematch between Rep. Wesley Bell and Cori Bush puts the U.S.-Israel relationship under scrutiny.“]
• The Forward 8/4/26: Cori Bush promised to bury AIPAC. Her rematch with Wesley Bell in Missouri tests that.
• Tech Times 8/3/26: AIPAC Money Built Wesley Bell’s Seat; Now Cori Bush Is Running to Take It Back
• USA Today 8/3/26: ‘Never been friends’: Missouri primary rematch features Democratic rifts [“A rivalry that began over Israel’s war in Gaza will test how much Democratic voters’ views on the U.S. ally have shifted.“]
• The Guardian 8/3/26: Will Missouri be the next primary win for a democratic socialist challenger?
• Jewish Insider 8/3/26: Wesley Bell-Cori Bush primary fight packs its own big stakes [“Missouri is playing the role of the must-watch undercard, marking another significant bellwether contest between the center and the left“]
• Wall Street Journal 8/2/26: Fiery Democrat’s Comeback Bid Tests Limits of Progressive Momentum [“Cori Bush tries to overcome millions in spending from pro-Israel groups to reclaim her old House seat“]
• The Intercept 8/1/26: Cori Bush Has No Regrets – Rep. Wesley Bell has AIPAC on his side, but the grassroots energy seems to be behind Bush.

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New Hampshire

• New Hampshire Public Radio 8/7/26: Pappas says U.S.-Israel relations at turning point, as primary rival blasts AIPAC ties
• WMUR 8/3/26: Christian Urrutia opposes Israel funding, calls Hamas ‘horrific organization’ | CloseUp

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New York

• Indypendent 8/3/26: Targeted: An NYC Congressman accused Poetica Coffee of Antisemitism — Bigotry Came to Avenge Him.

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – South Carolina

• South Carolina Daily Gazette 8/1/26: 9 Senate candidates make stump speeches to voters ahead of SC GOP special primary

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Washington State

• Jewish News Syndicate 8/5/26: Republican hopeful seeks to debate congressman Adam Smith

Saudi Arabia Nuclear Deal

• AIPAC Memo 8/3/26: Reviewing Saudi Nuclear Cooperation [“…U.S. law requires that any nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia be presented to Congress for review before going into effect. Congress must carefully review the agreement to ensure it forecloses any potential Saudi pathway to nuclear weapons. Any agreement that fails to expressly prohibit domestic uranium enrichment in the Kingdom would raise serious concerns. Congress must also continue to press Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel and enter the Abraham Accords.“]

Other Stuff

• Jewish Insider 8/5/26: Virginia Foxx takes on Stony Brook University over anti-Israel professor
• Jewish Insider 8/5/26: Lawmakers from both parties pessimistic Trump’s Hamas disarmament deal will hold
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/4/26: Board of Peace briefs congressional leaders on implementing Israel-Hamas peace plan [“The board ’emphasized the determination to work with Congress in a bipartisan manner to advance peace, security, governance and reconstruction in Gaza,’ a Board of Peace official said.”]

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters & Reports
3. Hearings & Markups
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

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1. Bills & Resolutions

(SENATE FY27 NDAA) S. 4784: As covered in last week’s edition of the Round-Up (and previous), the Senate version of the FY27 NDAA, S. 4784, was stalled in the Senate as of 7/17/26. Last week – on 7/20/26 – Senate Majority Leader Thune (R-SD) offered another motion to proceed with S. 4784.  Three days later, on 7/23/26, that motion was withdrawn. This week, on 7/27/26, Thune offered another motion to proceed with S. 4784. As of this writing (9am EDT on 7/31/26) no further action has been taken.

(REMOVE U.S. FROM UNAUTHORIZED WAR WITH IRAN) S. J. Res. 181:  Introduced 4/13/26 by Gillibrand (D-NY) and having 8 cosponsors (all Democrats), “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.” On 7/30/26, REJECTED by the Senate (in a procedural vote to discharge it from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which would have allowed a vote on the resolution on the Senate floor; in the case the procedural vote is, in effect, a vote on the underlying resolution) by a vote of 49-50. Also see: Senate blocks another Democratic Iran war powers push [“Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul again broke with their party to vote for the resolution with most Democrats, while Sen. John Fetterman voted against it“] (Jewish Insider 7/30/26); Senate Republicans block resolution to halt Iran war (The Hill 7/30/26)

(REPEAL 1957 AUMF) S.5206 [bill text]: Introduced 7/30/26 by Kaine (D-VA) and 3 cosponsors (bipartisan), “A bill to repeal the joint resolution entitled ‘A joint resolution to promote peace and stability in the Middle East’.”  Rreferred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: press release – Kaine, Lee, Merkley, & Paul Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Repeal 1957 Authorization for Use of Military Force

(CUT OFF FUNDS FOR IRAN WAR) HR 9964 [bill text]: Introduced 7/27/26 by Larson (D-CT), “To amend the War Powers Resolution to provide for the limitation on Federal funding in contravention of the requirements of the War Powers Resolution,” aka the “No Funds for Illegal Wars Act.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Armed Services. Also see: press release – Larson Introduces Bill to Cut Off All Funding for Illegal Iran War

(CONDEMN IRAN FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES) S. Res. 819: Introduced 7/30/26 by Blackburn (R-TN) and 2 Republican cosponsors, “A resolution condemning the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its ongoing human rights abuses, including its use of politically motivated espionage claims to justify arbitrary detention and executions.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

(TARGETING IRAN/POLISARIO): HR 9982: Introduced 7/30/26 by Gottheimer (D-NJ) and 5 cosponsors (bipartisan), the “Polisario Front Terrorist Designation Act of 2026,” aka “To impose sanctions on the Polisario Front if it cooperates with an Iranian-affiliated terrorist organization.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on the Judiciary. Also see: press release – Gottheimer, Jackson Introduce Bipartisan Bill Targeting Polisario Front Cooperation with Iranian Regime; House lawmakers introduce bill to move Iran-backed Polisario Front towards terror designation [“The Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies are working overtime to open a new front against the United States and our allies, and the Polisario Front has become one of their instruments,’ Rep. Josh Gottheimer said“] (Jewish Insider 7/30/26). NOTE: This is the House version of S. 4063, introduced 3/11/26 by Cruz (R-TX) – indeed, as of this writing (9am EDT on 7/31/26) Gottheimer’s press release links to a pdf of Cruz’s bill. 

(TARGETING TURKEY) HR 10008 // S. 5205: Introduced 7/30/26 in the House by Titus (D-NV), and in the Senate by Markey (D-MA), “To promote democracy, defend human rights, and impose accountability on the Government of Turkey for systemic political repression, censorship, transnational repression, and violations of international law.” Referred to the House Committees on Foreign Affairs; Financial Services; and the Judiciary; and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

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Reporting/posts on other previously introduced legislation:

• Billings Gazette 7/30/26: Partisan politics is making war inevitable | Roger Koopman
• Capital & Empire 7/29/26: EXCLUSIVE: CIA Assessment Details Israel’s Race to Make the U.S.-Israel Alliance Irreversible [“The intelligence assessment says Israeli officials are pursuing a long-term strategy to make the alliance harder for future administrations to scale back.”]
• Jewish Insider 7/28/26: Senate rolls Iran sanctions extension into Russia sanctions bill [“The five-year extension of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 was included into the hard-fought bill at Trump’s urging“
• Fox News 7/27/26: Trump critic Massie joins Democrats in unprecedented bid to sue White House over Iran war

2. Letters & Reports

• (TRUMP ADMIN DISMANTLED US COUNTERTERRORISM INFRASTRUCTURE TO PURSUE POLITICAL GOALS) 7/30/26: Peters Report Finds Trump Administration Has Dismantled Critical Counterterrorism Infrastructure and Weaponized What Remains Against Political Opponents, Leaving Americans Vulnerable to Terror Threats [report text]
• (INVESTIGATING DoD REPORTED FAILURE TO CARE FOR AMERICANS INJURED IN IRAN STRIKE) 7/30/26: Warren, Ryan, Lawmakers Investigate Reports that DoD Failed to Provide Sufficient Care for Service Members Injured in Iranian Strike [letter text]. Also see: Lawmakers will investigate Iranian attack that killed 6 U.S. troops (Washington Post 7/30/26)
• (IRAN WAR IS BAD FOR US NATIONAL SECURITY!) 7/29/26: Ranking Member Khanna Warns Renewed Iran War Weakens U.S. National Security, Strengthens China [letter text]
• (HONESTY ABOUT US DEATHS IN IRAN WAR) 7/28/26: Thompson, Democratic Veterans Demand Transparency on Iran War Casualties [letter text]
• (HONESTY ABOUT HUMAN COSTS OF WAR ON IRAN) 7/23/26: Hirono Leads Colleagues in Pressing Hegseth on Inaccurate Casualty Reporting, Demanding Transparency on Human Cost of War in Iran [letter text]
• (TARGETING AMERICANS FOR ATTENDING KHAMENEI’S FUNERAL) 7/21/26: X-post by Miller (R-OH) 7/22/26:  “Americans stood on an IRGC stage, led chants of ‘Death to America,’ and produced propaganda celebrating Ayatollah Khamenei —the dictator responsible for the deaths of thousands of Iranians and countless acts of terror. This week, I led a letter demanding a federal investigation into whether this crossed the line into material support for a Foreign Terrorist Organization.” [letter: page 1, page 2, page 3]. Also see: Fine (R-FL) 7/21/26: X-post – “.@RepMaxMiller and I just asked @TheJusticeDept to investigate three Communist activists who attended the Ayatollah’s funeral. If you’re an American, and cheer on enemies of the United States of America, you should face the consequences. It’s just that simple.”
• (TARGETING MEDIA & NGOs FOR DISFAVORED POLITICAL VIEWS) 7/21/26: Chairman Smith Issues Subpoenas to CCP-Linked Singham Network Nonprofits After Their Refusal to Comply with Committee Oversight [Subpoena letters targeting BreakThrough News, Tricontinental, and The People’s Forum]. Also see: House Investigation of BreakThrough News Is an Attack on All Journalism [“Favorable coverage of U.S. adversaries is constitutionally protected speech.“] (The Intercept 7/27/26); A New McCarthyism? House GOP Subpoenas BreakThrough News in Escalating War on Progressive Groups (Democracy Now 7/28/26); House subpoena of BreakThrough News threatens press freedom (Freedom of Press Association 7/23/26); House panel subpoenas three far-left nonprofits as part of probe into Marxist millionaire Neville Singham Roy (New York Post 7/22/26); House panel subpoenas 3 left-wing groups in probe of $39M tied to Marxist tycoon Neville Singham (Fox News 7/22/26); GOP-Led House Ways and Means Committee Subpoenas BreakThrough News (Democracy Now 7/23/26); Press freedom groups warn ‘no newsroom in America is safe’ after House GOP subpoenas left-wing outlet (Real News Network 7/24/26)

3. Hearings & Markups

August 5, 2026: The Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights is scheduled to hold a hearing entitled, Hidden in Plain Sight: Confronting the Muslim Brotherhood Network in America. No further details have been published as of this writing (7/31/26, 11:15am EDT)

Bibi & Other Israeli officials in DC

• Times of Israel 7/30/26: In DC, Lapid tells Democrats who voted to block arms sales not to ‘give up’ on Israel
• Big News Network 7/30/26: Netanyahu meets US lawmakers, AIPAC, Evangelical leaders at Blair House; thanks allies for “courageous” support
• Arutz Sheva 7/30/26: Netanyahu thanks Sen. Fetterman for standing with Israel during Washington meeting [“PM Netanyahu meets Senator John Fetterman in D.C., thanking him for his staunch support, as Fetterman vows to remain the ‘conscience of the Democratic Party.’“]
• Jerusalem Post 7/30/26: Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with US Senators Cotton, Fetterman during visit to Washington [“‘You’ve been a great, great friend of Israel, none better,’ Netanyahu told Cotton. ‘And I know you’re a champion of the Israel-American alliance, which enhances the security of both our countries.'”]
• Office of Israeli Prime Minister 7/30/26: Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with U.S. Senator Fetterman
• Office of Israeli Prime Minister 7/30/26: Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with U.S. Senator Cotton
• Office of Israeli Prime Minister 7/30/26: Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with U.S. Senator Sheehy
• The Forward 7/29/26: Netanyahu challenger Yair Lapid lobbies Democratic senators, aiming to repair U.S.-Israel ties [“…On Wednesday, Lapid met with some of those Democratic senators: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), all of whom voted to restrict some U.S. arms sales to Israel. Also at the meeting were Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), both of whom have staunchly backed U.S. military support for Israel. Ahead of those meetings, Lapid outlined the opposition’s plan to bring Israel out of international isolation in a speech Monday evening at the Atlantic Council, an influential DC-based think tank.”]

Israel/AIPAC (and Iran) in US elex & politics – GENERAL

• Jewish Insider 7/31/26: From safe seats to swing districts, the left’s primary wins set up a November reckoning
• AP 7/31/26: As progressives seek to take on inequality, some cite religion as a motivating factor
• Religion News Service 7/31/26: The House vote that split Jewish Democrats and is reshaping alliances
• NPR 7/31/26: Democrats show divisions on Israel amid competitive midterm elections
• The New York Review of Books 8/20/26 edition: Whose Party? As Democratic Socialists rack up primary victories, the moderate wing of the Democratic Party looks increasingly out of touch.
• New York Post 7/30/26: Democrats’ AIPAC obsession — a small update on an ancient conspiracy theory
• The New Yorker 7/30/26: Will Left-Wing Democrats Reinvent the Party or Hurt Its Chances in November? [“Bernie Sanders’s erstwhile campaign manager explains why he thinks it’s the former“]
• The Hill 7/30/26: Lindsey’s Lens: Israel spends millions in reputation cleanup campaign
• CNN 7/30/26: CNN Poll: A third of Democrats now identify as democratic socialists [“Democratic socialists also split from the rest of the party on US aid to Israel – 48% say they’d be enthusiastic about a candidate who believes the US should cut support to Israel, compared to 20% for non-democratic socialists. Three years into the war in Gaza, the issue has animated many Democratic primaries this cycle.”]
• The Economist 7/30/26: The Democratic primary for Senate in Michigan is a contest for control of the party [“Anger at Donald Trump and Israel have given the left an opening“]
• WBAL 7/29/26: Republicans decry a new Democratic Socialists of America platform as Dem primaries split the party
• The Guardian 7/29/26: Aipac’s brand has become toxic. Can its ‘pro-Israel, pro-peace’ rival J Street move in? [“J Street’s liberal Zionist politics are landing with the Democratic establishment but the electorate may have moved on“]
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/29/26: Netanyahu didn’t lose the Democrats for Israel [“Jewish liberals blame Netanyahu for the collapse of support for the Jewish state because it absolves them of not stopping the antisemitic left from hijacking their party.“]
• New York Times 7/29/26: Israel, AIPAC and Difficult Questions for Democrats
• Reuters 7/29/26: Israel’s decades-old US support risks losing Democrats
• Associated Press 7/29/26: A new media ecosystem is taking root on the left, reshaping Democratic politics
• The Real News 7/28/26: A new, centrist Uncommitted Movement has emerged — Except this time it’s in support of genocide, rather than trying to stop one.
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/28/26: AIPAC, affiliates spent 50% more in last 18 months compared to in 2022 midterms [“‘We are also committed to impacting elections beyond the House, and Senate races are expensive,’ Patrick Dorton, spokesman for United Democracy Project, told JNS.“]
• Cleveland Jewish News 7/28/26: Stevens defends pro-Israel record as El-Sayed attacks AIPAC spending in Michigan Senate debate
• Zeteo 7/28/26: Meet All the New Progressives and Democratic Socialists Heading to Congress
• Data For Progress 7/28/26: AIPAC, AI, and Crypto-Funded Democrats Underperform Democrats Who Reject Corporate PAC Money
• Politico 7/28/26: Rahm Emanuel on Why Democrats Keep Losing
• Mondoweiss 7/27/26: Palestinian Americans changed the conversation. Now, can they finally build political power? [“Palestinian Americans have transformed the U.S. debate over Palestine in ways unimaginable just a few years ago. Now, the question is whether they are prepared to build institutions that can turn these shifting attitudes into real political power.“]
  The Forward 7/27/26: Can Israeli liberals win back the Democratic center — and save the U.S.-Israel alliance? [“Oreg-Kalisky, a former research advisor to U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro, says his group has developed relationships with 39 congressional offices from 19 states, sends a biweekly newsletter to 75 lawmakers and congressional staff with a 37% average open rate, has presented its liberal Zionist narrative to hundreds of liberal Americans, and has trained more than 1,800 pro-Israel advocates.“]
• Jewish Insider 7/27/26: DMFI pauses endorsements of nine House Democrats who voted against aid to Israel [“DMFI President Brian Romick: ‘Our hope is that this pause will be temporary and that, through a candid conversation about the path forward, we can resume our endorsement’“]
• Jewish Insider 7/27/26: Israelis fail to understand anti-Israel sentiment in the U.S., Israeli public opinion researcher says [“Dahlia Scheindlin also said polling shows both the Israeli government and the opposition face political challenges in the upcoming elections“]
• PBS 7/27/26: Republicans decry a new Democratic Socialists of America platform as Dem primaries split the party [“The DSA’s agenda comes as aligned candidates have triumphed in several recent Democratic primaries. They’ve capitalized on voter anger at the party establishment and rising skepticism of the U.S. alliance with Israel to edge out moderates in House races in New York and Colorado.”]
• Israel Hayom 7/27/26: 100 days to the midterms that will reshape Trump’s presidency, Israel’s standing [“The US midterm elections are rapidly approaching. Democrats need to gain three seats to take control of the House, and in some cities Israel has become a defining fault line. In the Senate, however, they face a far more difficult challenge.”]
• Politico 7/26/26: New York Democrats face a generational reckoning [“…Young voters are turning to candidates who reflect their abiding discontent with the Democratic establishment. Their deep skepticism of institutions has upended long-standing Democratic support for Israel and toppled the careers of longtime political powerbrokers like Rep. Adriano Espaillat, who was soundly defeated in last month’s primary by Darializa Avila Chevalier…Left-leaning frustration with incumbents or anyone tied to the establishment has led younger voters to back first-time candidates with scant political experience — but who mirror their rage over the cost of living and question the United States’ long-standing support for Israel.“]
• Palestine Chronicle 7/26/26: Israel Shifts from AIPAC to Foreign Agents in Expanding US Influence Campaign
• Polygraph 7/26/26: Why 98 Democrats ignored voters and opposed an Israel aid cut
• Quincy Institute 7/24/26: The Eighth Front: Inside Israel’s $1 Billion Influence Campaign

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Arizona

• Jewish Insider 7/26/26: Sen. Mark Kelly: ‘I’m going to always stand by Israel as a nation’ [“The Arizona senator, who is weighing a presidential bid, also urged Israelis to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the upcoming elections“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Colorado

• Jewish News Syndicate 7/29/26: The anti-Israel playbook behind the rise of Melat Kiros [“The 29-year-old won the Democratic primary in Colorado by exploiting Gaza while ignoring the catastrophic suffering in Tigray, the homeland of her parents.”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/29/26: Orthodox Jew running against anti-Israel dem socialist for Denver seat in Congress still ‘refining my talking points’ [“‘I’m running as a pro-Denver candidate on what I can do to make life better for people in Denver on a day-to-day basis,’ Dr. Shimon Blau told JNS.”]
• Complete Colorado 7/26/26: Jewish Denver doctor locks down spot to challenge Kiros in CD1
• Colorado Sun 7/24/26: Shimon Blau qualifies for ballot as unaffiliated candidate in 1st Congressional District, will face Melat Kiros [“Blau, a first-time candidate, is Jewish and posted on social media that he decided to enter the race because he was alarmed about Kiros’ statements on Israel and refusal to call the Boulder firebombing last year of a Jewish community rally antisemitic“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Connecticut

• The Bristol Edition 7/31/26: Larson, Bronin waging an ad war in waning weeks before primary
• WFSB 7/29/26: Larson faces challengers in first debate [“In the first televised debate Tuesday night, Larson was attacked over his positions on immigration, U.S. aid to Israel, Social Security and a mandatory retirement age.“]
• WSHU 7/29/26: Larson, challengers clash over military aid to Israel in CT’s 1st District debate
• CT Mirror 7/29/26: Candidates for CT’s 1st Congressional District clash in fiery debate
• CT Insider 7/29/26: Hot CT primary debate was full of zingers for Larson, Bronin: Dan Haar
• Hartford Courant 7/28/26: CT U.S. Rep. Larson draws political fire from challengers in 4-way primary debate
• Hartford Courant 7/25/26: Kevin Rennie: CT primary that’s first of a kind in 50 years devolves into tearing chunks from each other [“…Gilchrest’s social media comparison to Larson names only one specific donor: the Americans who have contributed to American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Florida

• South Florida Sun Sentinel 7/31/26: Can a democratic socialist topple incumbent congressman in Florida? Larkin takes on Moskowitz
• WLRN Public Media 7/29/26: Outraised 5-to-1, a Democratic Socialist challenger bets on doors, not dollars [“Larkin is campaigning on issues like medicare for all, raising the federal minimum wage to $25 an hour, paid family and medical leave and ending US aid to Israel…In contrast to Larkin, Moskowitz is a staunch defender of the US-Israel relationship.“]
• Jewish Insider 7/28/26: Moskowitz challenger runs on military record in contested GOP primary [“…he emphasized that, while he’s not Jewish himself, ‘there’s really not going to be any daylight between myself and [the Jewish candidates running in the seat] on supporting Israel and fighting antisemitism.’ He also said that the Republican Party is ‘better positioned to support Israel and fight antisemitism’ — a pitch to pro-Israel Jewish voters who have been a strong base of support for Moskowitz in the past.“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Kansas

• Kansas Helen 7/28/26: Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District Has Democratic and Republican Primaries

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Kentucky

• Vin News 7/28/26: Massie Claims Israeli Lobby Spent $30 Million To Defeat Him In Primary

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Maine

• The Forward 7/27/26: ‘Politically homeless’: As Maine’s Collins-Jackson Senate race kicks off, some Jewish voters find themselves adrift [“The November election pits Israel supporter and GOP Sen. Susan Collins against Democrat Troy Jackson, who accuses the country of committing genocide“]
• Time of Israel 7/26/26: Troy Jackson wins Maine Democratic Senate nomination, keeps mum on Israel, AIPAC [“Senate hopeful, who previously accused Israel of ‘genocide,’ skirts issue in victory speech, and will now replace Graham Platner; anti-Israel activists rally in support outside convention hall“]
• The Forward 7/26/26: Maine Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson raises eyebrows in the Jewish community [“After a career focused on economic issues, the former state Senate president is now railing against AIPAC and ‘genocide.’“]
• The Hill 7/26/26: Sanders says he does not regret supporting Graham Platner in Maine Senate race

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Maryland

• Jewish News Syndicate 7/31/26: Anti-Israel activist launches bid to unseat pro-Israel Maryland congressman [“Sam Husseini has repeatedly accused Rep. Glenn Ivey of enabling ‘imperial’ Israel’s war against Hamas through his support for U.S. military aid to Jerusalem.“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Massachussetts

• Jewish Insider 7/29/26: Auchincloss faces skeptical reception from Jewish voters upset over his vote to cut off Israel funding [“Many of the attendees at Temple Emanuel who listened to the congressman defend his position appeared critical of the stance he’d taken and unconvinced by his explanation, Jewish constituents said“]
• CNN 7/26/26: Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary sets up a battle of generations [“…Moulton, who ran closer to the center of the ideological pack in the 2020 Democratic primary, brushes off what Markey called a ‘big difference’ in their positions, ‘We both have progressive values,’ he said. The Marine Corps veteran, who was first elected to Congress in 2014, has recently tacked further to the left on some issues – calling to abolish US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and pledging to return donations from the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC.“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Michigan

• The Intercept 7/31/26: Abdul El-Sayed Answers: Can the Left Win in the Midwest? Yes. The Michigan Senate primary is the next biggest test for the direction of the Democratic Party.
• LA Times 7/31/226: In the voting booth, it’s the year of the not-at-all-close call
• Jewish Insider 7/31/26: In battle for Haley Stevens’ House seat, AIPAC dominates a race where it hasn’t even endorsed [“State Sen. Jeremy Moss says that attacks by his opponent, Don Ufford, over his ties to AIPAC-linked donors cross a line into antisemitism“
• MS Now 7/30/26: Will Black voters go with the establishment? Michigan’s Senate primary is a test. [“Rep. Haley Stevens is counting on older churchgoers and Obama-era loyalty. Abdul El-Sayed is betting on a generational split.“]
• Semaphor 7/30/26: Never-El-Sayed moment in Michigan?
• New Lines Magazine 7/30/26: Centrists and Progressives Clash in Michigan’s High-Stakes US Senate Primary [“The race between public health official Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and four-term Rep. Haley Stevens is a microcosm of the struggle for the future of the Democratic Party” and “The outsize role of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in the race has been widely discussed: AIPAC and affiliated groups have spent nearly $30 million in support of Stevens — their biggest investment ever in a single race. And the overall spending picture is extremely lopsided, with the Stevens campaign spending 12 times more than El-Sayed’s. AIPAC is, of course, hell-bent on defeating El-Sayed because of his critical stance on U.S. support for Israel. But the candidate doesn’t lead with Israel-Palestine or even bring it up much. His focus is decidedly domestic, as reflected in his campaign slogan: ‘Money Out of Politics. Money in Your Pocket. Medicare for All.’ (Medicare for All has been a signature issue for El-Sayed going back several years. It was the centerpiece of his unsuccessful 2018 run for Michigan governor, and he co-authored a ‘citizen’s guide’ on the subject, published in 2021.) El-Sayed approaches Israel as a ‘kitchen table’ issue. ‘Israel is an affordability issue,’ he said in a recent interview with the journalist Anand Giridharadas. ‘Maybe we should keep our money here instead of sending it there to drop bombs on people’s schools or their hospitals. That’s our money. … And you want to send my money over there? That’s insane.’ When Giridharadas noted that some have described this outlook as ‘America first from the left,’ El-Sayed responded enthusiastically. ‘I have no problem saying America first. Yes, America first,’ he said. He doesn’t limit this to Israel. ‘I don’t think Egypt should get any foreign military aid either, or Jordan or Pakistan or Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates or Qatar,’ he recently said in a podcast interview.’ What has received far less attention than AIPAC’s crusade against the Egyptian American is the considerable Jewish support he enjoys in Michigan…“]
• Michigan Advance 7/30/26: State of the Race: Michigan’s competitive congressional primaries will draw November battle lines
• The American Prospect 7/30/26: Abdul El-Sayed Lost in 2018. It Set Him Up for 2026.
• The Atlantic 7/30/26: Abdul El-Sayed Fuses Together Two Toxic Ideologies – The Michigan candidate for U.S. Senate has a profound weakness for conspiracism.
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 7/30/26: The El-Sayed effect: How Jews and Israel are factoring into Michigan’s other primary races [“Two House candidates backed by the Senate hopeful, plus a pro-Israel Jew and an ‘Uncommitted’ veteran, are in the wings.“]
• Politico 7/30/26: Pro-Israel Democrats face major test in key Midwest races [“A pair of primaries in Michigan and Missouri will reveal whether Democrats who have been critical of Israel can continue their momentum.“]
• NPR 7/29/26: As Democrats debate the future of the party, Michigan’s voters could have a big say
• WZMQ 19 7/29/26: Meet Kyle Blomquist: Democrat running for Congress in Northern Michigan [“We’ve seen Jack’s leadership has not really been leadership at all. I think his priority is sucking up to Donald Trump and being a sycophant to that administration. He thinks less about our people here in the Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan and more about his benefactors at Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and AIPAC.“]
• Haaretz 7/29/26: Four Years After AIPAC Boosted Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens, She Can’t Escape It
• Bridge Michigan 7/29/26: From AI to AIPAC: 6 issues defining Haley Stevens, Abdul El-Sayed race
• The Atlantic 7/29/26: The Anti-Democrat [“Abdul El-Sayed is calling out his party; Haley Stevens is embracing it.”]
• Common Dream 7/29/26: Markey Backs ‘Bold Progressive Leader’ El-Sayed as Pivotal Michigan Primary Nears
• Jewish Insider 7/29/26: ‘These are not ordinary times’: Inside Jewish Detroit’s get-out-the-vote campaign for Haley Stevens [“Leading rabbis across the state are urging their congregants to vote for Stevens — even if they’re not saying so explicitly“]
• Washington Examiner 7/29/26: El Sayed stays ahead of Stevens in final week of Michigan primary, but undecided voters outsize his lead
• Times of Israel 7/29/26: AIPAC features as key topic at last Democratic debate before Michigan primary vote [“Haley Stevens dodges repeated questions about her relationship to the pro-Israel lobbying group, as her rival Abdul El-Sayed continues to make its spending on the race a top issue“]
• Common Dreams 7/28/26: $60 Million ‘Crutch’ From Super PACs Is Proof That Stevens Isn’t Actually ‘Electable,’ Says El-Sayed[“In the final debate before Michigan’s pivotal Democratic Senate primary, Abdul El-Sayed continued to hammer on the idea that his opponent, Rep. Haley Stevens, is ‘bought off’ by AIPAC and corporate-funded super PACs.“]
• Zeteo 7/28/26: Are AIPAC and Haley Stevens… Working Together? [“Mehdi explains in this video why it’s no coincidence that AIPAC’s ads look exactly like what pro-Israel candidate Stevens has been asking for, despite campaign finance laws banning any coordination.”]
• News from the States 7/28/26: State of the Race: Democratic U.S. Senate race pits old guard, vanguard in battle for party’s soul
• Bridge Michigan 7/28/26: Fact checks: Haley Stevens’ record on AIPAC support, Obama endorsement and DTE
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/28/26: Stevens defends pro-Israel record as El-Sayed attacks AIPAC spending in Michigan Senate debate
• WFIN 7/28/26: Dem primary erupts as establishment favorite dismisses rival as ‘celebrity candidate’
• Oakland Press 7/28/26: Fact check: Haley Stevens, Abdul El-Sayed clash over AIPAC, electability
• WDET 7/28/26: Rashida Tlaib seeks fifth term in Congress
• Detroit Public Radio 7/28/26: Former state lawmaker aims to unseat Rep. Rashida Tlaib
• WDEB 7/28/26: Inkster mayor challenges Rep. Rashida Tlaib in Democratic primary
• Detroit Jewish News 7/28/26: Detroit’s Jewish Community Launches Aggressive Push to Turn Out Primary Voters
• Michigan Advance 7/28/26: State of the Race: Democratic U.S. Senate race pits old guard, vanguard in battle for party’s soul
• Roll Call 7/28/26: Contentious Democratic Senate contest dominates Michigan’s primary season
• Michigan Public Radio 7/28/26: El-Sayed and Stevens debate aid to Israel, campaign donations in final debate
• Democracy Now 7/28/26: El-Sayed and Stevens Clash over AIPAC Funding in Final Debate Before Michigan Senate Primary
• Jewish Insider 7/28/26: UDP hits El-Sayed for ‘uncommitted’ support in new ad [“The AIPAC-affiliated super PAC accused El-Sayed of ‘helping Trump win,’ in a continuation of its messaging strategy hitting far-left candidates over their opposition to the Biden administration“]
• Jewish Insider 7/28/26: Israel, AIPAC take center stage in final Michigan Senate primary debate [“Haley Stevens touted her support for a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians, while Abdul El-Sayed lambasted U.S. aid to the Jewish state“]
• The Forward 7/28/26: AIPAC is the top issue at final primary debate between Stevens and El-Sayed in Michigan [“Stevens repeatedly dodged questions about her relationship to the pro-Israel lobbying group“]
• Haaretz 7/28/26: Michigan’s Democratic Senate Primary Becomes 2026’s Most Significant Referendum on Israel and AIPAC [“AIPAC-backed Haley Stevens defends campaign funding while Abdul El-Sayed slams Israel aid as the primary rivals clash over millions in spending“]
• Fox News 7/28/26: Dems clash over AIPAC money, ‘ogre’ attack and electability during crucial Senate debate
• Fox News 7/28/26: Haley Stevens, Abdul El-Sayed both make case ahead of Aug. 4 Primary
• Jewish Insider 7/28/26: AIPAC reminds voters of far-left candidates’ hostility to Kamala Harris, Joe Biden [“From Michigan to Missouri, where tensions between the Democratic Party’s moderate and far-left factions are playing out in high-profile contests for the House and Senate, AIPAC is hitting its anti-Israel opponents for their past criticism of former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris in an effort to portray the candidates as hostile to mainstream policy goals.”]
• The Forward 7/28/26: In Detroit, pro-Israel Senate candidate Haley Stevens meets a pro-Palestinan El-Sayed supporter [“‘I don’t think we should be giving any more aid to the State of Israel,’ a local nonprofit manager told Stevens“]
• News from the States 7/28/26: Transparency becomes biggest issue in final Michigan Democratic US Senate debate
• Washington Free Beacon 7/28/26: Abdul El-Sayed Headlined Luxury Fundraising Cruises for Islamic Charity Linked to Muslim Brotherhood
• The New Arab 7/28/26: Abdul El-Sayed and the fight to remake the Democratic Party
• The Guardian 7/27/26: Michigan progressive Abdul El-Sayed says ‘ogre’ remark not directed at rival
• The Hill 7/27/26: Fiery Michigan Senate primary reaches final stretch: Takeaways from El-Sayed, Stevens debate
• Washington Times 7/27/26: El-Sayed hits Stevens over $30M AIPAC spending in Michigan Senate debate
• The Atlantic 7/27/26: A Battle for the Future of the Democratic Party
• CBS News 7/27/26: In final Michigan Senate Democratic debate, Stevens and El-Sayed spar over outside spending and personal attacks
• NBC News 7/27/26: Michigan’s Arab voters prepare for a crucial primary [“The influential voting bloc could be key to whether Democrats can retain a Senate seat in the fall.“]
• Washington Examiner 7/27/26: El Sayed clarifies ‘ogre’ remark as Stevens dismisses AIPAC concerns in final debate
• CNN 7/27/26: Black voters may decide the nation’s biggest Democratic primary. Many are clearly against the more progressive option
• The Left Hook with Wajahat Ali 7/27/26: Why Does The Establishment Loathe Progressives and Love AIPAC? with Jamaal Bowman
• Bridge Michigan 7/27/26: Fact check: Haley Stevens, Abdul El-Sayed clash over AIPAC, electability
• New York Times 7/27/26: AIPAC Attacks and an ‘Ogre’ Jab: 6 Takeaways From Michigan’s Senate Debate [“At the final debate before next week’s Democratic primary for Senate, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and Representative Haley Stevens showcased their wildly different ideological stances and political styles.“]
• The New Republic 7/27/26: The Democratic Establishment Is Running Scared in Michigan [“The Senate primary could be a window into what the 2028 presidential contest will be like—vicious, endless, with the establishment candidates conspicuously avoiding policy.”]
• The Intercept 7/27/26: Abdul El-Sayed Faces Islamophobic Attacks From GOP and Democratic Establishment [“AIPAC has spent nearly $30 million against the Michigan Democratic Senate candidate, fueling ads that paint him as a terrorist sympathizer“]
• Jewish Insider 7/27/26: Jewish leaders worried about Michigan’s prime position on Dems’ 2028 calendar [“The state has been the epicenter of the anti-Israel movement, and will play a key role in nominating the next Democratic presidential candidate“]
• CNN 7/26/26: Michigan, Missouri primaries will again lay bare the Democratic divide over Israel
• Metro West Daily News 7/25/26: El-Sayed vs Haley Stevens: Michigan is the race to watch in the midterms [“‘It’s probably the best showing for the progressive left and the democratic socialist wing of the party has seen since the rise of Bernie Sanders in 2016,’ said Matthew Dallek, a political historian at George Washington University. ‘I don’t know of another year when progressives have won at a fairly consistent clip in competitive primaries,’ he added. ‘Mamdani’s victories supercharged what has been for the past decade a growing element within the Democratic Party and its coalition.’ Those wins have inspired the activist left but reportedly alarmed some in the party’s establishment, which is backing Stevens. Groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, have spent nearly $30 million to support her campaign, which is their largest single investment this cycle, for instance.”]
• The Guardian 7/26/26: He’s a doctor and a progressive. Will he win a key US Senate race in Michigan?
• Jewish Insider 7/24/26: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorses Haley Stevens for Senate [“With less than two weeks until Michigan’s contentious Democratic Senate primary, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorsed Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) on Friday, offering a burst of momentum to the moderate Democrat’s campaign against progressive, anti-Israel firebrand Abdul El-Sayed.“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Minnesota

• Mound City Messenger 7/30/26: Antisemitism is Not on the Ballot – But Genocide is
• 19th News 7/29/26: Cori Bush is making her case for a comeback
• Mediaite 7/28/26: ‘Completely Disingenuous’: Minnesota Democrat Senate Candidates Take the Gloves Off Over AIPAC
• KARE 7/28/26: Three DFL primary candidates battle for U.S. House seat in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District
• KARE11 7/27/26: Flanagan and Craig go head-to-head in MPR News debate ahead of U.S. Senate primary [“On foreign policy, Flanagan opposes U.S. military aid to Israel and has called the Netanyahu government’s actions in Gaza a ‘genocide.’ She criticized Craig’s vote last week in Congress against an amendment that sought to eliminate more than $3 billion in assistance to Israel, which Craig had called a flawed proposal. Craig said she supports revisiting the federal government’s financial relationship with Israel, meaning ‘a complete look at the security assistance we provide in the future. What happened in Gaza, there were way too many civilian lives that were cost.’ Flanagan accused Craig of not going far enough: ‘She didn’t necessarily answer the question,’ Flanagan said. ‘I think her vote last week speaks for itself, she voted for an additional $3.3 billion dollars to be sent to Benjamin Netanyahu.’“]
• MPR News 7/27/26: Analysis of the MPR News U.S. DFL primary debate between Craig, Flanagan
• Minnesota Star Tribune 7/27/26: Israel, electability and endorsements dominate second US Senate debate in Democratic primary
• MPR News 7/27/26:  Beyond the nasty ads, there are key differences between Craig and Flanagan [“…The two also disagree on Israel and Palestine, though it’s an issue that comes with a lot of nuance. In her career in Congress, Craig has taken money from the pro-Israeli political group AIPAC, though the group has not directly donated to her Senate campaign. She has been a strong supporter of the U.S.-Israeli relationship. She has called for a two-state solution, and has become increasingly critical of Benjamin Netanyahu. She’s called for humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. Craig recently voted against an amendment that would cut off weapons sales to Israel, and talked to KSTP about it.“]
• KDH News 7/26/26: A pro-Israel lobbying group looms over Minnesota’s Senate race. Its role is less clear

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Missouri

• Jewish Insider 7/31/26: Jewish community works to turn out votes in Wesley Bell’s rematch against Cori Bush [“Some of the biggest Jewish and pro-Israel groups are working in tandem to boost Bell’s reelection campaign against a scandal-plagued former lawmaker”]
• The Daily Wire 7/30/26: The Cori Bush Comeback? Ex-Squad Member Hopes To Ride Left-Wing Wave Back To Congress
• Columbia Missourian 7/30/26: Bush, Bell donations show Democratic Party’s split loyalties
• Heartlander News 7/30/26: Democrats clash over Israel, Gaza in Missouri congressional primary debate
• PBS 7/30/26: In Missouri, Cori Bush and Wesley Bell’s primary rematch sets up key test for Democrats
• Politico 7/30/26: Pro-Israel Democrats face major test in key Midwest races [“A pair of primaries in Michigan and Missouri will reveal whether Democrats who have been critical of Israel can continue their momentum.“]
• The Cook Political Report 7/29/26: Missouri House Primary Preview: Another Clash Over AIPAC Cash
• Newsweek 7/29/26: Ex-Squad Member Cori Bush Chances of Defeating Wesley Bell in Missouri Race
• The Lever 7/29/26: Midterm Madness: Cori Bush’s AIPAC Rematch – A former Squad member is taking on the Israel lobby to get her seat back.
• St Louis Public Radio 7/29/26: Bell-Bush rematch could be critical test for where national Democrats are heading
• Washington Examiner 7/28/26: Cori Bush dodges debate stage as socialist eyes comeback
• Jewish Insider 7/28/26: AIPAC reminds voters of far-left candidates’ hostility to Kamala Harris, Joe Biden [“From Michigan to Missouri, where tensions between the Democratic Party’s moderate and far-left factions are playing out in high-profile contests for the House and Senate, AIPAC is hitting its anti-Israel opponents for their past criticism of former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris in an effort to portray the candidates as hostile to mainstream policy goals.”]
• KTTC 7/27/26: MN DFL race for U.S. Senate heats up as primary approaches
• Punchbowl News 7/27/26: Bush has ad on storm aid, AIPAC
• New Tribune 7/26/26: Missouri congressional incumbents flush with cash heading into primary election [“Outside spending in the primary has surpassed spending by both candidates. The United Democracy Project, funded by the American-Israel Political Action Committee, has spent $2.5 million and the New Democrat Majority PAC has spent $1.1 million, both to support Bell. No other incumbent faces a well-funded primary opponent.“]
• ABC News/AP 7/26/26: Cori Bush and Wesley Bell’s rematch sets up key test for Democrats in Missouri [“Bush lost to Bell by less than six points two years ago. She blamed her loss on the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s spending in the race and told supporters that ‘all they did was radicalize me.’ This time, her scathing criticisms of the war in Gaza and Democratic leaders have become more commonplace within the party, and she claims to have the ‘moral authority’ in the rematch.“]
• CNN 7/26/26: Michigan, Missouri primaries will again lay bare the Democratic divide over Israel

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New Hampshire

• NH Journal 7/29/26: Sanders-Aligned ‘Our Revolution’ Backs Urrutia in NH-01 Dem Primary [“Our Revolution is also an outspoken opponent of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s involvement in Democratic primaries. It has accused AIPAC of using big-money spending to defeat progressive candidates and supports banning super PAC spending in Democratic contests. That position could become significant in the NH-01 race. Urrutia has pledged not to accept support from AIPAC or affiliated groups and has called Israel’s military campaign in Gaza a ‘genocide.’ ‘No AIPAC money. No DMFI money. Not now. Not ever,’ Urrutia said previously. ‘Stop the weapons. Stop sending taxpayer dollars to fund it.’ He’s also called out Shaheen and Sullivan for refusing to say whether they would have joined more than 100 U.S. House Democrats and voted to end all military aid to Israel. ‘I would have voted for the Massie Amendment,’ Urrutia said. ‘Members of Congress have one main duty – to vote – and candidates have a related duty – telling voters where they stand.’ U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, who Urrutia is hoping to replace, voted ‘present.'”]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Pennsylvania

• Washington Examiner 7/31/26: John Fetterman took nothing from AIPAC. His possible 2028 Democratic challengers can’t say the same
• Semaphor 7/31/26: Fetterman still weighing his place in the Democratic tent
• The Hill 7/30/26: Sanders to Fetterman: ‘John — not going to take your advice’ 
• New York Post 7/30/26: Fetterman says he’s ‘proud’ to be ‘conscience of the Democratic Party’ on Israel during Netanyahu meeting
• Washington Examiner 7/30/26: Fetterman calls himself the ‘conscience of the Democratic Party’ in meeting with Netanyahu
• Local 21 News 7/29/26: ‘A very good member of Congress:’ Schumer says he wants Fetterman to stay with Democrats
• Washington Examiner 7/29/26: Ro Khanna calls Josh Shapiro ‘formidable,’ avoids Fetterman criticism in swing through Pennsylvania
• The Hill 7/29/26: Schumer urges Fetterman not to leave Senate Democratic caucus
• Jewish Chronicle 7/29/26: Fetterman has no right to leave the Democratic Party
• NBC News 7/27/26: As Republicans invite him to defect, Fetterman wonders if Democrats still want him in the party [“‘If the Democratic caucus doesn’t want me, they could just let me know,’ a frustrated Fetterman told NBC News, lamenting ‘the very anti-Israel party that we’re becoming.’”]
• The Intercept 7/27/26: Fetterman Might Leave Democratic Party Because the Only Thing He Loves More Than Israel Is Attention [“Why is the senator floating the idea of leaving the Democratic Party? Well, Israel, of course. Though he sure loves the media coverage.“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Virginia

• Cardinal News 7/29/26: Congressional primary campaigns reveal the fault lines that run through both parties

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Washington State

• The Spokesman-Review 7/26/26: Big money, dark money, union money: The cash trying to win Washington’s 5th Congressional district seat [“A strong defender of Israel and a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Baumgartner’s largest single donor, by far, is the Israeli-interest group AIPAC, which had single-handedly donated roughly $68,000 to the candidate by the end of July. Combine that with roughly $11,000 raised from Turkish- and Pakistani-interest PACs, and foreign interest groups make up Baumgartner’s second-largest support sector.“]

Lindsey Graham & His love of Israel & War on Iran

• Times of Israel 7/29/26: ‘He loved Israel’: Lindsey Graham eulogized by Trump and other dignitaries at DC funeral
• The State 7/29/26: How SC’s Lindsey Graham became one of the U.S. Senate’s most influential members
• Jewish Insider 7/29/26: World leaders honor Graham as Washington grapples with loss of top GOP foreign policy voice [“With Netanyahu and Zelensky in attendance, tributes underscored how difficult it will be to replace Graham’s influence on Iran, Ukraine and Israel policy“]
• New York Times 7/28/26: Graham and Netanyahu Worked Together to Denounce International Criminal Court [“Senator Lindsey Graham helped to coordinate a group of lawmakers to rebuke the I.C.C., which was investigating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel.“]
• Fox News 7/28/26: Israeli Ambassador honors Senator Lindsey Graham’s unwavering support for Israel
• New York Sun 7/28/26: Now More Than Ever We Must Follow Lindsey Graham’s Support of the Jewish State of Israel [“The late senator understood how important it was that America and Israel work together to destroy the Nazi-like Islamist Revolutionary Guard in Iran.”]
• Responsible Statecraft 7/28/26: Before Lindsey there was Fritz, an anti-Iraq war, Israel skeptic [“On foreign policy the former senior senator from South Carolina was as far from Graham as one could get, and was quite quite unapologetic about it“]
• New York Times 7/28/26: Graham and Netanyahu Worked Together to Denounce International Criminal Court [“Senator Lindsey Graham helped to coordinate a group of lawmakers to rebuke the I.C.C., which was investigating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel.“]
• Al Jazeera 7/28/26: Lindsey Graham ‘almost cried’ tears of joy over war on Iran, footage shows
• Jewish Federations of North America 7/28/26: Jewish Federations Honor the Late Sen. Lindsey Graham
• Wall Street Journal 7/27/26: Lindsey Graham’s Death Leaves Israel With a Bigger Problem in America [“The Republican stalwart’s burial comes as polls show Israel’s standing is declining among both Democrats and Republicans“]
• Jerusalem Post 7/26/26: Kushner, Witkoff unable to handle Iran due to conflict of interest, Graham said – report [“Graham had agreed to participate because he wanted the film to document his Senate career and encourage others to enter public service.“]
• Times of Israel 7/26/26: Netanyahu talked Graham out of lobbying Trump to join war on Hezbollah – report
• The Hill 7/26/26: Graham compared Trump and Netanyahu to FDR and Churchill, new footage shows
• YNet 7/26/26: Netanyahu reined in Lindsey Graham’s obsessive push to widen Iran war, footage shows
• CNN 7/26/26: Graham called yearslong push for war with Iran ‘the best thing I’ve ever done’ in new footage
• Wall Street Journal 7/26/26: Unreleased Documentary Footage Captures Graham’s Obsessive Push for Iran War [“A filmmaker followed the senator over the past three years, chronicling his relationship with Trump and Netanyahu”]
• Washington Institute for Near East Policy 7/25/26: Lindsey Graham’s Last Gift to the U.S.-Israel Alliance

Iran

• Jewish Insider 7/30/26: Sen. Rick Scott: Without regime change, U.S. will need to periodically strike Iranian nuclear program [“‘If there’s not a regime change, then maybe we don’t have to do this every day, but we’re going to have to do this every so often,’ Scott said at the Hudson Institute“]

Saudi Arabia Nuclear Deal

• The Hill 7/26/26: Van Hollen: Trump hit Saudi Arabia with ‘bait and switch’ by tying Israel relations to nuclear deal

Other Stuff

• The New Republic 7/29/26: Transcript: Inside AOC’s Foreign Policy Vision [“Writer Jonathan Guyer says that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is presenting a different foreign policy vision than previous Democrats who have ran for president.”]

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters & Reports
3. Hearings & Markups
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

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New from FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast:

• 7/22/26: Reeling Israel In: A Conversation with Seth Ackerman, ft. FMEP non-resident Fellow Ahmed Moor in conversation with Seth Ackerman (Jacobin Magazine) about the latter’s recent article on a speech by Rahm Emanuel (former White House Chief of Staff to President Obama), and what it might say about current political thinking in the the Democratic Party. They also discuss what opportunities exist to exert pressure on Israel and pursue accountable.

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1. Bills & Resolutions

House FY27 NDAA – HR 8800

(For state-of-play of the bill as of 7/2/26, when the House defeated the Rule to bring HR 8800 to the floor, see the 7/2/26 edition of the Round-Up)

Action in the Rules Committee this week: On 7/20/26 the House Rules Committee met (video) to approve a NEW Rule under which HR 8800 would be brought to the House floor, including deciding which of the now 1400 amendments to HR 8800 submitted to the Rules Committee (including some submitted AFTER the previous Rules Committee hearing on the bill would be considered “in order” – i.e., would be considered/voted on by the full House.

Action on the House Floor This Week:

• On 7/21, the House passed H. Res. 1438, the NEW Rule under which HR 8800 would come to the floor, by a vote of 214-211, with all Democrats plus Massie (R-KY) voting “No”, and all Republicans (other than Massie) voting “Yes.”
• On 7/21 – 7/22, the House voted on amendments to HR 8800, before passing HR 8000 by a vote of 216-212, with 6 Republicans joining 205 Democrats in voting “No”, and 7 Democrats joining 209 Republicans in voting “Yes.”

Amendments targeting Sec. 219 NOT made “in order” in the new Rule: Once again, the Rules Committee–meaning GOP leadership– chose to NOT make “in order” any of the amendments that sought to strip Sec. 219 from the bill [including, most prominently, one offered by Massie (R-KY)] . As a reminder, Sec. 219 is the highly controversial provision which would expand, deepen, and mandate — and make difficult to oversee and roll back — new cooperation/coordination/integration of between the U.S. military with Israel [covered in detail in previous Round-Ups]. This decision guaranteed that this highly controversial provision would pass as part of the overall bill, with no debate/discussion/opportunity to vote on it on the House floor. NOTE: It remains to be seen if down the road, when final FY27 NDAA text is being negotiated between the House and Senate, the provision will be removed/changed, given that a similar provision (and more!) is included in the baseline Senate version of the FY27 NDAA, which is currently stalled in the Senate – see the 7/17/26 edition of the Round-Up for details.

Amendments Made “In Order” in the new Rule:  A large number of Israel/Middle East-related amendments to HR 8800 were submitted to the Rules Committee. Only a small number of these were made “in order” — listed in the table below. All were adopted on the House floor by Voice Votes.

My analysis [based on what I posted on X]: On the heels of historic vote against US aid to Israel last week, House GOP leaders decided to NOT allow debate or a vote on an amendment to strip from FY27 NDAA a provision (Sec 219) legislating massive US support for Israel via new/expanded, hard-to-oversee/roll back, US-Israel military entanglement. Instead, House GOP leaders decided to let two wholly cosmetic amendments related to Sec. 219 come to the floor: one expands an a required annual report to Congress past 2030; the other strikes the word ‘integration’ in one place in the provision. As reported previously in the Round-Up, looking at Sec. 219 and related measures being pushed by Israel supporters in both the House and Senate, one would be hard-pressed to avoid concluding that Israel’s government and its allies in Congress & pro-Israel organizations want to ensure Israel’s prime minister will be functionally (& permanently) granted a seat in the US situation room — via legislation — much of it built on an edifice of pro-Israel measures passed into law, with little or no debate, over many years — that will accomplish three inter-related and mutually-reinforcing goals. The first goal: establishing/expanding the role and position of Israel within US national security processes, policies, strategies, and procurements — including deepening interoperability and inter-dependence of core military and intelligence functions. The second goal: achieving all of this in such a way that it cannot easily be undone (by either a future Congress or Administration). The third goal: codifying the transformation of Israel from a foreign state that enjoys US support & aid, into an actor whose interests, prerogatives, and entitlements are enmeshed, by law, with those of the US], such that Israel is legally woven into the fabric of U.S. national security apparatus functions — where its position will not only be less vulnerable to changing political tides (compared to today), but also even less transparent and accountable.  Love or hate these efforts, the fact is: vital US national security equities are in play, and apparently will be decided NOT via rigorous, transparent, informed deliberation/debate, but via text slipped into must-pass bills, on which debate/votes over meaningful amendments will be blocked.

Don’t Forget About the Bill Itself:  With all the focus this week was on the continued controversy over Sec. 219, there was little to no attention given to the many, many other Israel/Middle East provisions that the House passed as part of the base text of HR 8800. For full details see the 6/5/26 edition of the Round-Up; in its press release on HR 8800’s passage by the House, AIPAC lauded specific funding for Israel in the bill: “The House‑passed NDAA authorizes $750 million for U.S.-Israel cooperative programs—a $65 million increase over FY26—including $500 million for missile defense, $100 million for counter‑unmanned systems, $100 million for subterranean operations, and $50 million for emerging technologies. The bill also extends the War Reserves Stockpile Authority–Israel.”

What next? HR 8800 now goes to the Senate – where normally the next step would be for the Senate to delete the full House text and replace it with the text of its own Senate-passed version of the NDAA. However, as noted above and in previous Round-Ups, as of this writing the Senate version of the FY27 NDAA is stalled, in part over opposition to Israel-related provisions. Stay tuned to see what happens next!

Israel/Middle East Amendments to HR 8800 considered on the House Floor

Topic	Amdt # + Link	Intro’d by	Description/summary	Status
US should boycott intl defense exhibitions that in any way restrict Israeli participation	Amdt #1099 / #24 in Rule	Ogles (R-TN)	“This amendment expresses the sense of Congress that DOW participation in international defense exhibitions should be conditioned on the full participation of Israeli companies and the absence of discriminatory restrictions targeting Israel.”	Passed 7/21/26 as part of En Bloc amendment (H. Amdt. 246), by voice Vote
Fighting the ICC	Amdt #1255 / #25 in Rule	Gottheimer (D-NJ) & Tenney (R-NY)	“Late Requires the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State to use every opportunity at NATO forums/ forums with Major Non-NATO Allies to ensure that member countries do not enforce ICC warrants against one another’s militaries.”	Passed 7/21/26 as part of En Bloc amendment (H. Amdt. 246), by voice Vote
Gaza Tunnels report	Amdt #1256 / #147 in Rule	Gottheimer (D-NJ)	“Late Authorizes a Report Authored by the Secretary of Defense to study steps Israel, the US, and Egypt can take to enhance international security measures on the Gaza-Egypt border to ensure Hamas and other actors cannot use tunnels or methods via the Mediterranean Sea to smuggle weapons and illicit goods. Additionally, the report will outline/ map existing tunnel networks.”	Passed 7/21/26 as part of En Bloc amendment (H. Amdt. 262), by voice Vote
Iran buying land near US military installations	Amdt #1265 / #38 in Rule	Arrington (R-TX)	“Late Requires the Department of War to submit a report that identifies, assesses, and mitigates risks arising from acquisitions of land near U.S. military installations from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and foreign terrorist organizations.”	Passed 7/21/26 as part of En Bloc amendment (H. Amdt. 246), by voice Vote
Amending Sec. 219 (cosmetic)	Amdt #1393 // #319 in the Rule	Luna (R-FL)	“Late Requires an annual report to Congress for as long as the executive agent under Section 219 position exists at the Department of Defense. Currently the reporting requirement is only there until 2030.”	Passed 7/22/26 as part of En Bloc amendment (H. Amdt. 265), by voice Vote
Amending Sec. 219 (cosmetic)	Amdt #1394 // #320 in the Rule	Luna (R-FL)	“Late Strikes the word “integration” from Section 219 of the NDAA titled “United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative.”	Passed 7/22/26 as part of En Bloc amendment (H. Amdt. 265), by voice Vote

Selected media related to this week’s consideration of HR 8800:

• Jewish Insider 7/24/26: Boebert claims Hegseth, White House want U.S.-Israel cooperation provision stripped from NDAA
• Mondoweiss 7/23/26: House passes spending bill that critics say will integrate the U.S. and Israeli militaries
• Newseek 7/23/26: US and Israel Military Integration: What NDAA Vote Does and Does Not Do
• Fox News 7/23/26: AOC roasted over defense bill claim as GOP lawmaker tells her to ‘stop stoking Jew hatred’
• Times of Israel 7/23/26: US House approves $1 trillion defense bill that would boost security ties with Israel
• Legis1 7/23/26: House Passes Defense Authorization Bill on Largely Party-Line Vote
• Military.com 7/22/26: US-Israel Defense Integration on Horizon as House Keeps Section 219 in NDAA 
• Fox News 7/22/26: SENATOR TIM SHEEHY: Crazy conspiracy theories are undermining America’s defense
• International Business Times 7/22/26: Massie Loses Section 219 Fight Again, Vows No Vote on NDAA
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/22/26: House passes defense spending bill over objections to Israel provision
• Common Dreams 7/22/26: Progressives Urge Senate to Reject Israel Military Integration in NDAA Passed by House
• TruthOut 7/22/26:  AOC: US-Israeli Military Integration Measure “Existential Threat” to Democracy
• The Intercept 7/22/26: GOP Rep. Called Israeli–U.S. Defense Tech Integration “Dangerous.” The House Passed It Anyway.
• The Guardian 7/22/26: House passes $1.15tn defense bill despite standoff over Israel and Trump’s voter agenda
• The Hill 7/22/26: 6 Democrats cross aisle, join GOP to back annual defense policy bill
• The Hill 7/22/26: House narrowly passes massive annual defense policy bill
• Fox News 7/22/26: Chaos erupts as House passes $1.15T defense bill with Israel provision: ‘Stop stoking Jew hatred’
• Reuters 7/22/26: US House passes $1 trillion defense bill despite Iran, Israel concerns
• Politico 7/21/26: Defense bill finally advances as House GOP steers rightward

Selected Members on the Record on HR 8800:

• Ramirez (D-IL) 7/23/26: X-post – “ICYMI: Yesterday, 209 Republicans and 6 Democrats voted to authorize $1.15 trillion in military spending to continue endless wars, merge Israel and U.S. military capacities to make it more difficult to hold Israel accountable, and attach the Save Act to the bill to suppress our votes. Pretty much every dangerous, immoral, destructive thing that could be done by the House wrapped up into one terrible bill. I was a HELL NO. The Senate must hold the line and reject the NDAA.”
• Foushee (D-NC) 7/23/26: X-thread – “My office continues to get calls about Section 219 in the defense budget, which expands defense cooperation with Israel. I want to reiterate that I voted against this budget, and do not support this policy. As a cosponsor of the Block the Bombs Act, I will continue to fight to ensure our taxpayer dollars are only being spent in accordance with our humanitarian values.”
• Massie (R-KY) 7/22/26: X-post – “Final vote total for the NDAA today which tragically merges our military technology and supply chains with Israel’s. Let’s hope this version fails in the Senate because Section 219 is a betrayal of our sovereignty.”
• Omar (D-MN) and Pocan (D-WI) 7/22/26:”Today, we voted NO on the National Defense Authorization Act because Congress cannot continue to write blank checks for endless wars. While millions of Americans are struggling to afford basic necessities, Congress is choosing to authorize over $1 trillion for the Pentagon, once again funneling billions of taxpayer dollars to defense contractors instead of investing in the needs of working people. The American people are sick and tired of funding atrocities abroad and want this war with Iran to end. Yet year after year, the Pentagon fails its audit with virtually no accountability, while Congress continues to increase military spending. We should be investing in affordable housing, healthcare, education, and good-paying jobs—not bankrolling defense contractors. This bill also includes provisions that continue to fund and partner with Israel to develop weapons to further their campaign of terror. At a time when Americans are demanding an end to funding Netanyahu’s genocidal regime, Congress should not be quietly deepening our military entanglement. For all of these reasons, we voted NO on this reckless defense bill.”
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 7/22/26: Gottheimer Champions Six Amendments and Other Key Priorities Passed in Annual Defense Bill [“Provisions Invest in Anti-Drone Technology, Military Students, Bolstering Gaza-Egypt Border Security, and Guarding Against Foreign Surveillance Technology“]
• Barr (R-KY) 7/22/26: X-post – “I voted YES on the NDAA to strengthen America’s military and keep our nation safe. @HouseGOP delivered: Pay raises for our troops / Investments to modernize our military and deter China / Strong support for Israel and our allies as we confront Iran…”
• Omar (D-MN) 7/22/26: X-post – “The NDAA includes a provision that would deepen military ties with Israel. This is an outrageous threat to our country’s security and autonomy. Americans want no part in Netanyahu’s genocidal regime. Congress cannot continue to bankroll Israel’s campaign of terror. Voting NO.”
• Foushee (D-NC) 7/22/26: X-post – “The defense budget also includes the GOP’s voter disenfranchisement bill, the so-called Save America Act, as well as Section 219, which expands defense cooperation with Israel. These are policy riders that I cannot support. The Senate must reject this legislation immediately.”
• Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) 7/22/26: X-post – “Tomorrow, the House will vote on the NDAA, which includes a provision to merge parts of our military with the IDF. This amendment is an existential threat to American sovereignty and democracy. Every member of Congress must vote NO.”
• Massie (R-KY) 7/21/26: X-post – “Unfortunately the Rule passed just now and no debate or vote was allowed on section 219, integration of US military technology and supply chains with Israel’s. The NDAA will receive a recorded vote tomorrow with section 219 in it. I’ll vote no.”
• Khanna (D-CA) 7/21/26: X-post – “.@RepThomasMassie and I are leading the fight against military integration with Israel. Congress was denied a vote on an amendment to stop it. Now we will fight to strip this provision in the conference between the House and Senate.”

Selected statements on HR 8800:

• AIPAC 7/22/26: House Includes Key U.S.–Israel Defense Measures in FY27 NDAA
• New Jewish Narrative 7/22/26: NJN Slams House Passage of NDAA as the Wrong Bill at the Wrong Moment
• Jewish Virtual Library 7/22/26: FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act: Israel-Related Provisions

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Senate FY27 NDAA – S. 4784

As covered in last week’s edition of the Round-Up, the Senate version of the FY27 NDAA, S. 4784, was stalled in the Senate as of 7/17/26. This week – on 7/20/26 – Senate Majority Leader Thune (R-SD) offered another motion to proceed with S. 4784.  Three days later, on 7/23/26, that motion was withdrawn. What happens next? Nobody knows – stay tuned!

Statements:

• Moreno (R-OH) 7/23/26: X-post, quoted by Julian Andreone, Drop Site News – “SCOOP: Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) tells me he is NOT in favor of NDAA Section 219 and does not think the provision will make it into the final bill. ‘There’s nobody here who’s more of an ardent supporter of Israel’s right to exist and ability to defend themselves, but I don’t think we should integrate our military with anybody, not even the Bahamas.’”
• Sanders (I-VT) 7/22/26: X-post – “Americans are saying loudly and clearly: No more U.S. military support for the extremist Netanyahu government. That is why Congress must vote NO on the defense spending bill, which brings the U.S. and Israeli militaries even closer together.”
• Excellent discussion of the issues with Israel-related provisions in the NDAA (and in the Senate Intelligence Authorization bill – Beinart Notebook 7/19/26: “There Are Lots of Members of Our Caucus Who Refuse to Recognize the Truth.” – Senator Chris Van Hollen on changing the Democratic Party’s approach to Israel-Palestine

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Targeting Palestinians/UNRWA

(NO FUNDS FOR UNRWA) HR 9893 [bill text]: Introduced 7/23/26 by Smith (R-NJ) and 9 Republican cosponsors, “To prohibit contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and for other purposes,” aka the “Stop Support for UNRWA Act of 2026 .” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Also see:

• press release: Smith introduces legislation to permanently bar U.S. contributions to ‘child soldier factory’ UNRWA [NOTE: the press release states, erroneously, that “During both terms, President Trump rightly halted U.S. funding for UNRWA over credible reports that the organization was infiltrated by members of foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) and its employees were involved in Hamas’ October 7, 2023 massacre.” During Trump’s first term he did cut off funding to UNRWA, but no Trump Administration official during that period in any way connected that decision to allegations of links between UNRWA and terror. For a review of what Trump Administrations officials actually said  about UNRWA at that time, see my comprehensive report].
• Media: New House bill would bar United States from donating to UNRWA (Jewish News Syndicate 7/23/26); Dismantling UNRWA: What’s Needed Now? (Jewish Institute for National Security of America  – JINSA 7/23/26).

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Targeting Free Speech / Protest / Non-Profits [with Palestine as the hook]

(LABELING NON-PROFITS “TERRORISTS, TARGETING PALESTINE PROTEST ORGS) S. 5083 [bill text] // HR 9721: Introduced in the Senate 7/22/25 by Cotton (R-AR), and in the House 7/16/25 by Smucker (R-PA), “A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require reporting by certain charitable organizations relating to fiscal sponsorship arrangements, and for other purposes,” aka the “Fiscal Sponsorship Transparency Act.” Referred to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee, respectively. On 7/22/25, HR 9721 was marked up in/passed by the House Ways and Means Committee (along with 3 other measures targeting non-profits and their funding).  Referred to the Committee on Finance. 

• Cotton’s press release characterizes groups targeted under this bill as terrorists organizations – “Cotton Introduces Bill to Close Tax Loopholes Exploited by Far-Left Terrorist Organizations.” In that press releases offers a single example of the kinds of organizations he wants targeted under the bill: “Under current law, a charity can collect tax-deductible donations and hand the money to a group that isn’t a charity at all, which allows far-left radical groups—like the Palestinian Youth Movement[emphasis added]—to manipulate the U.S. tax code. The Fiscal Sponsorship Transparency Act would force charities to report these arrangements and impose a steep tax when they blindly pass money along without any oversight to how it’s spent.”
• Smucker’s press release on the House Ways and Means Committee’s passage of the bill similarly focuses on Palestine-related work — with an example that is wholly misleading: “…While most fiscal sponsorship arrangements serve legitimate charitable purposes, there are currently no uniform public reporting requirements for these arrangements, making it difficult to identify abuse. That lack of transparency has already been exploited. One recent example involved Samidoun, an organization sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury for supporting the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Samidoun was able to receive charitable donations through a fiscal sponsorship arrangement while operating under the umbrella of a U.S. tax-exempt organization.” In fact, the funding for Samidoun to which the press release is referring happened BEFORE the Trump Administration added Samidoun to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List (in October 2024). Once the group was added to the SDN list, it became 100% illegal for any U.S. person or organization (including a fiscal sponsor) to provide funds to it.
• The argument that there is a some kind of fiscal sponsor “loophole” that needs to be closed to prevent funds going to SNDs via fiscal sponsors is at best mistaken, and at worst a deliberate and cynical lie designed to obfuscate the actual purpose of this legislation.
• Further reading: House Committee Advances Nonprofit Bills in Contentious, Partisan Markup (Independent Sector 7/23/26); Policy Alert: Fiscal Sponsorship Transparency Act of 2026 Could Undermine Longstanding Nonprofit Infrastructure (TSNE 6/20/26); HR 9721 – The New Fiscal Sponsorship Transparency Bill (Nonprofit Law Blog 7/19/26); EXCLUSIVE: Senate Bill Cracks Down on Shady Charities That Funnel Cash From Left-Wing Donors to Extremists, Including Israel-Hating Groups That Back Hamas (Washington Free Beacon 7/23/26); New US legislation aims to eliminate tax-deductible gifts to terror-tied groups [“’Far-left terrorist organizations shouldn’t be able to manipulate our tax code for their advantage,’ said Sen. Tom Cotton, who sponsored the measure.“] (Jewish News Syndicate 7/23/26)

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Iran / Iran War

(IRAN WAR POWERS) H. Con. Res. 89: Introduced 4/23/36 by Jayapal (D-WA) and having 16 cosponsors, “Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.” Considered on the House floor 7/22/26, and passed 7/23/26 by a vote of 214 – 208.

(IRAN WAR POWERS) S. J. Res.180: Introduced 4/13/26 by Van Hollen (D-MD) and having 9 cosponsors, “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.” Considered on the Senate floor 7/23/26 and rejected by the Senate 7/23/26 by a vote of 47-49 [on a procedural vote on a motion to discharge the bill from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.]

• Also see: Jewish Insider 7/23/26: House passes another Iran war powers resolution; Hours later, the Senate rejected a similar measure

(COMPELLING HOUSE SPEAKER TO FILE IRAN WPR LAWSUIT AGAINST TRUMP ADMIN) H. Res. 1456 [resolution text]: Introduced 7/23/26 by Meeks (D-NY) and 6 cosponsors, “Directing the initiation of litigation for actions by the President or other executive branch officials inconsistent with their duties under the Constitution of the United States.” Referred to the Committee on Rules, and the Committee on House Administration. Also see press release – Larson, Meeks File Resolution to Enforce War Powers Resolution in Court Against President Trump

(TARGETING IRAN) HR 9795 [bill text]: Introduced 7/21/26 by Gillen (D-NY) and Malliotakis (R-NY), “To expand the temporary borrowing authority and mandatory distribution for the United States Victims Of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund,” aka the “Never Forget the Victims of Terrorism: Joseph D. Mistrulli and Alan Kleinberg USVSST Fund Solvency Act.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Also see: press release – Reps. Gillen and Malliotakis Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Secure Justice for 9/11 Families and Victims of Iranian State-Sponsored Terrorism

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Other Stuff

(KEEPING THE AMIA CASE ALIVE FOREVER) H. Res. 1445: Introduced 7/21/26 by Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and 5 bipartisan cosponsors,  “Condemning the attack on the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July 1994, and encouraging accountability for the attack.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. NOTE: Wasserman Schultz previously introduced this resolution – or something like it – in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and 14 other Senate Democrats introduced a resolution demanding that the Senate’s legal counsel bring a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging that the gift of a Qatari 747 jet to serve as Air Force One constitutes an illegal foreign emolument banned by the constitution…

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Reporting/posts on other previously introduced legislation:

• Jewish Insider 7/24/26: Auchincloss: Voting against aid to Israel was a vote against the Iran war [“‘I represent a pro-Israel, anti-Netanyahu district and this is a pro-Israel, anti-Netanyahu vote,’ Rep. Jake Auchincloss told JI“]
• Rosen (D-NV) 7/23/26: VIDEO: Rosen Calls on Senate Colleagues to Support Legislation to Fight Rising Antisemitism in the United States
• Baird (R-IN) press release 7/23/26: Congressman Baird Applauds Passage of Four Priority Bills in House Foreign Affairs Committee [“Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) released the following statement after four of his bills, the No Official Palestine Entry (NOPE) Act, Passports for Purple Hearts and Medals of Honor Act, Tech Diplomacy Training Act, and FORGE Act, passed out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday, as part of a comprehensive package to modernize U.S. State Department policies.” – NOTE: As of this writing (7/24/26 at 10am EDT, I can find nothing on the HFAC website to suggest that the Committee took any action on these bills on 7/22/26, or indeed at anytime this week; nothing was on the schedule about a markup of these measures, and nothing shows up now to suggest such a markup took place.]

2. Letters & Reports

• (INVESTIGATE EPSTEIN’S ACTIONS AS AN UNREGISTERED AGENT OF ISRAEL & OTHERS) 7/21/26: Ranking Member Raskin Launches Investigation Into Evidence Epstein Acted as Unregistered Agent for Foreign Powers, Leveraging Ties to Trump – Judiciary Democrats’ Review of Epstein Files Uncovers Extensive Interactions Between Epstein and Foreign Officials from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia, and Israel, Including Efforts to Influence Trump Administration Policy [letter text]. Also see: House Democrats launch investigation into whether Jeffrey Epstein acted as a foreign agent (CNN 7/21/26)
• (CONFLATING “ISRAELIS” WITH JEWS” IN SLAMMING MALAYSIA FOR TARGETING ISRAELIS, & CONFLATING DEPORTING ISRAELIS WITH “HUNTING DOWN JEWS”) 7/21/26: Landsman Leads Letter to Marco Rubio on Malaysia Hunting Down and Removing Jews [letter text]. Even per Landsman’s letter, Malaysia is NOT targeting Jews, it is targeting Israelis: “We write with grave concern over the recent announcement by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim that his government will track down and immediately deport any Israeli citizens found in Malaysia.” Note that it is Malaysia’s longstanding policy to ban entry of Israeli passport holders (including Palestinian citizens of Israel), based on Malaysia’s non-recognition of Israel [Malaysia also does not permit its own nationals to travel to Israel]. So why is this now in the news? Because the government of Malaysia has learned that Israelis in the tech industry are using second passports to enter and reside in Malaysia, in violation of Malaysia’s immigration law. Also see: House Democrats urge Rubio to pressure Malaysia to reverse plan to deport Israelis (Jewish Insider 7/21/26); Malaysia’s Anwar rejects ‘totally absurd’ US lawmakers’ demand to lift Israel ban (SCMP 7/23/26 – Anwar: “This is totally absurd because, as far as we are concerned, this policy has been adopted by Malaysia for decades…We are against the presence here of any Israeli citizen – not Jews, but Israeli citizens because they are complicit in the murders, crimes and continuous oppression and colonisation of Palestine and Gaza.”). Also see: Gottheimer (D-NJ) 7/22/26: X-post – “Malaysia just declared it will hunt down and deport any Israeli citizen found in the country, solely because of their nationality. That’s why I’m leading a letter with @RepGregLandsman demanding answers from @SecRubio. Malaysia must reverse this antisemitic policy or we suspend security assistance.”

3. Hearings & Markups

July 22, 2026: The House Foreign Affairs held an Israel/Greater Israel hegemony-in-the-region-while-marginalizing-&-making-clear-the-open-contempt-for-Palestinians love fest of a hearing entitled, Building a New Regional Security Architecture: The Next Phase of the Abraham Accords (hearing video – watch it for yourself; I don’t have the stomach to excerpt it here). The witness list, along with their written statements, says it all:

• Former US Ambassador to Israel (and longtime settlement/Greater Israel supporter) David Friedman, Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel (statement);
• Asher Fredman, Executive Director of the Israeli organization the “Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy” [that last part of the name, “and Zionist Strategy,” is mysteriously absent from the meeting notice] – note that this is the organization that shortly after the 10/7/23 Hamas attacks published a paper making the case for Israel to use the 10/7 attacks as a pretext for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza. As reported at the time: “On October 17, the Misgav Institute for National Security & Zionist Strategy published a position paper (PDF) advocating for the ‘relocation and final settlement of the entire Gaza population.’ The report advocates exploiting the current moment to accomplish a long-held Zionist goal of moving Palestinians off the land of historic Palestine. The report’s subtitle makes it clear: ‘There is at the moment a unique and rare opportunity to evacuate the whole Gaza Strip in coordination with the Egyptian government.’”  (statement); and
• Former US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro (who shortly after finishing his role as ambassador decided to stay in Israel [“Shapiro acknowledged it was somewhat unusual for him to remain in country after his service. But his ties to Israel are much more than professional. The six years he spent representing the Obama administration here were part of a lifelong commitment to the country“] and joined a think tank in Tel Aviv, the Institute for National Security Studies, as a fellow; he is now at the Atlantic Council) (statement).

Also see:

• Lawler (R-NY) 7/23/26: X-post – “This week, I chaired a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing on building the next phase of the Abraham Accords and strengthening regional security. I emphasized the importance of keeping Israel at the center of regional economic integration through initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and discussed ways to strengthen Israel’s partnership with Jordan. As we look ahead, Congress must continue advancing policies that expand regional cooperation, deepen economic ties, and strengthen the alliances that promote lasting peace and stability across the Middle East.” & Lawler: Israel should remain part of Middle East trade corridor [“The New York Republican said Turkey envoy Tom Barrack’s efforts to route trade through Syria instead were ‘unacceptable’”] (Jewish Insider 7/23/26)
• Ex-US ambassador says Palestinian state would be ‘suicide’ for Israel; In a hearing on the Abraham Accords, witnesses lamented the end of bipartisan support for Tel Aviv (Responsible Statecraft 7/23/26)

July 22, 2026: The House Foreign Affairs held what proved to be exactly what one would have expected– an exercise in anti-UN, anti-UNRWA, pro-Israel grandstanding in the form of a hearing entitled, United Nations Accountability and Reform: Advancing an America First Foreign Policy Through Strategic Diplomacy and Burden Sharing [hearing video]. Witnesses were US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz (statement – weighing in at a grand total of 963 words, excluding the greeting at the beginning and the “thank you” at the end); and US Representative to the UN (for management and reform) Jeff Bartos (no statement posted). Also see:

• Baird (R-IN) 7/23/26: X-post with video clip – “Today, I spoke with United Nations Ambassador @michaelgwaltz on how America can have greater oversight on UN agencies and help the peace process in Israel and Gaza. See my discussion here”
• McCormick (R-PA) 7/23/26: X-post w/ video clip of Bartos attacking UNRWA: “The future of Gaza will be written by the people of Gaza.”

Israel/AIPAC (and Iran) in US elex & politics – GENERAL

• Haaretz 7/24/26: After October 7, Many Wrote Off the DSA. Then It Started Winning
• Times of Israel 7/24/26: Why are US politicians so focused on Israel, when voters say it’s not a priority? [“Polls show that, when asked open-ended questions about political priorities, Israel and foreign policy don’t make the cut, even though the Jewish state seems to be everywhere“]
• Jewish Insider 7/24/26: Dems facing tension between their principles and primary politics [“How largely pro-Israel Democrats in solidly-blue districts balance the pressures from the base against their longstanding principles will speak volumes about whether the U.S.-Israel relationship can maintain support within their party“]
• The Message Box/Dan Pfeiffer 7/23/26: What Everyone Gets Wrong About the Politics of Israel [“It’s not just Democrats who’ve shifted — independents have too. That changes the math on moderation.“]
• Zeteo 7/23/26: ‘Five-Alarm Fire’: Top Senate Democrat on ‘Corrupt’ Elections, AIPAC Funding, and Ending the Iran War [“Mehdi challenges Mark Warner, the pro-Israel vice-chair of the Senate Intel Committee, on why he won’t say genocide, the future of ICE, and whether the Dems should be the ‘antiwar party.’“]
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/23/26: Ro Khanna’s war on Israel’s American supporters
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/23/26: Beware ‘braided bitterness’ that merges anti-Zionism and anti-Americanism
• Jewish Insider 7/22/26: The left’s real test isn’t the primaries. It’s November [“The anti-Israel activists have certainly captured a faction of the Democratic Party, but their ties to so many unpopular views and causes make the whole movement politically toxic in middle America”]
• Mondoweiss 7/22/26: Voters are forcing Democrats to shift on Israel, but this doesn’t mean U.S. support is ending anytime soon [“When 100 Democrats voted last week to block $3.3 million in U.S. aid to Israel, it was the clearest sign yet that lawmakers are responding to voters’ overwhelming sentiment. But it still remains unclear whether this will lead to actual policy change.”]
• WTOP News 7/22/26: Messy primaries plague both major political parties, causing chaos and confusion in the midterms
• Jewish Insider 7/22/26: Adam Smith blasts progressive left for enabling harassment of pro-Israel lawmakers
• Responsible Statecraft 7/22/26: Israel targets X users, right-wing media with $2 million ad push
• The Nation 7/21/26: Crypto, AI, and AIPAC Super PACs Are Spending in Lockstep Against Progressives [“Unprecedented sums are being spent on Democratic primaries, reshaping races while keeping their policy agendas largely out of public view.“]
• Huffington Post 7/21/26: AIPAC Is Losing Its Sway Over Democrats [“The pro-Israel group’s absolutist stance has alienated even moderate Democrats who support the Jewish state.“]
• Washington Post 7/21/26: Meet the megadonors pouring more than $1.6 billion into the 2026 elections [“Top 10 organizations – Individual donors pumped the most money into this cycle, but a variety of groups also weighed in with big donations. The list includes organizations that are focused on advancing a cause rather than being affiliated with a political party. Among them are the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee, as well as the cryptocurrency companies Coinbase and Ripple and sports gambling company DraftKings.”]
• The Atlantic 7/21/26: The DSA Is a Parasite – The left-wing faction is hijacking the Democratic Party.
• Jewish Insider 7/21/26: Bernie Sanders’ 2020 Jewish liaison says his old boss is promoting antisemitism [“Joel Rubin: Sanders has endorsed ‘the most categorically anti-Israel, antisemitic candidates that we’ve seen in a generation, if ever’“]
• Axios 7/20/26: Inside House Democrats’ fear-driven turn against Israel [fear of VOTERS using their votes to hold incumbents/candidates accountable for their policies re Israel/Palestine – so yeah, kinda saying these Democrats are afraid of DEMOCRACY]
• Jewish Insider 7/20/26: House vote on Israel aid forces pro-Israel advocates to reassess trusted allies [“After 104 members of the House voted last week in favor of an amendment to eliminate military aid to Israel, pro-Israel activists who have spent years building ties with lawmakers are now wondering how to approach those relationships“]
• Fox News 7/20/26: Reporter’s Notebook: The Republican-led vote that revealed Democrats’ new divide on Israel
• Haaretz 7/20/26: The Millions Fueling Israel’s Frantic Battle to Win Back U.S. Public Opinion [“As Israel’s global standing plummets amid the wars in Gaza and Iran, government documents and U.S. filings reveal that Jerusalem has poured unprecedented sums into public diplomacy campaigns and influence operations abroad since October 7“]
• The Hill 7/20/26: 2028 Democratic hopefuls try to seize narrative on Israel
• Lithub 7/20/26: There’s a New Coalition in the Democratic Party—and the Price of Membership is Criticizing Israel
• Data for Progress 7/20/26: Polling on Israel Military Aid (July 2026) [finding that 58% of voters support ending aid to Israel, comprised of 63% of Democrats and 52% of Republicans – see data for additional crosstabs]
• The Guardian 7/20/26: House Democrats are finally shifting on Israel. Party leaders must listen
• CNN 7/18/26: Inside the fight over Israel tearing Democrats on the Hill apart
• Wall Street Journal 7/18/26: Israel’s $50 Million Experiment to Change U.S. Public Opinion [“The Israeli government is trying to shore up its U.S. reputation with help from influencers, Trump insiders and millions of AI-driven texts“]
• Times of Israel 7/19/26: AIPAC stops taking donations for House Democrats who voted to cut military aid to Israel
• Jewish Insider 7/19/26: Rep. Steve Cohen says he left progressive caucus over ‘socialist’ shift [“The retiring liberal Democrat also pointed out the contingent of anti-Israel lawmakers in the caucus“]
• Jerusalem Post 7/19/26: What Ro Khanna, Tucker Carlson, and Rahm Emanuel have in common – opinion [“From Ro Khanna to Tucker Carlson, critics across the political spectrum are finding political value in attacking Israel.”]
• MS Now 7/19/26: Democrats toe a line on Israel as AIPAC’s grip on Congress starts to slip [“A wave of 2026 primary defeats and an extraordinary House vote suggest the consensus AIPAC long enforced on U.S.-Israel relations is breaking down.“]
• Washington Times 7/18/26: AIPAC withholds funds for House Democrats against aid to Israel
• The Cradle 7/18/26: AIPAC ‘blacklists’ dozens of US lawmakers that backed cutting military aid to no Israel
• New Y0rk Times 7/18/26: These AIPAC-Backed Democrats Voted to Nix Israel Aid. AIPAC Punished Them. [“Of the 103 Democrats who voted to eliminate aid to Israel, more than a dozen had been endorsed by the pro-Israel lobbying group. AIPAC quickly closed off online donations for them.“]
• The New York Times 7/18/26: The Interview – Zohran Mamdani Knows He Has Political Capital. And He Intends to Spend It.

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Arizona

• Times of Israel 7/22/26: Arizona congressman fends off anti-Israel challenger in Democratic primary
• Al Jazeera 7/21/26: Arizona’s primary elections: Which US races to watch and why they matter [“From the governor’s race to Democratic divisions over Gaza, here’s what could shape Arizona elections on Tuesday.”]
• The Forward 7/21/26: Democratic socialist rails against AIPAC in uphill primary bid against pro-Israel incumbent in Arizona
• Haaretz 7/20/26: Arizona House Primary Brings Israel’s U.S. Influence Campaign to the Ballot [“Progressive challenger Kai Newkirk argues that Israel’s public opinion campaign constitutes election meddling in favor of the AIPAC-endorsed Rep. Greg Stanton.“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – California

• Jewish Insider 7/22/26: Connie Chan embraces anti-Israel group’s endorsement in Bay Area House race [“Chan’s opponent, state Sen. Scott Wiener, has been harassed by far-left activists shouting antisemitic slurs at him”]
• Jewish News of Norther California 7/22/26: Scott Wiener surprises with Dolores Huerta endorsement as Track AIPAC backs Connie Chan
• The Intercept 7/21/26: Nancy Pelosi’s Pick for Her SF House Seat Takes Anti-AIPAC Pledge [“House candidate Connie Chan is backed by Pelosi, Adam Schiff, and now TrackAIPAC, signaling the growing influence of a politics skeptical of Israel.”]
• Mission Local 7/21/26: Anti-AIPAC group that denounced Connie Chan now endorsing Chan

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Florida

• Jewish Insider 7/22/26: Florida Democratic Senate candidate Alex Vindman calls out rising left-wing antisemitism [“I’ve become used to the right-wing, nationalist, nativist, antisemitic tone, but I’m really shocked about what I’m seeing from the far left — the DSA wing, that is deeply troubling, Vindman said”]
• News From the States 7/21/26: Vindman, Nixon weigh in on congressional vote to ban funding for Israel
• Hidabroot 7/21/25: Boca Raton Rabbi Urges Jewish Voters to Join Democratic Primary to Block Anti-Israel Challenger [“Rabbi Efrem Goldberg says voters can switch back before November after helping pro-Israel Rep. Jared Moskowitz defeat Oliver Larkin”]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Illinois

• Politico 7/23/26: Schakowsky’s AIPAC pivot

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Maine

• Jewish Insider 7/24/26: ‘The tattoo should have been enough’: Top Platner advisor seeks repentance for Platner support [“Appearing on ‘The Ezra Klein Show,’ Morris Katz admitted he had erred in continuing to champion the failed Senate candidate as he was repeatedly dogged by scandals“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Michigan

• WDET 7/24/26: Michigan’s Democratic senate primary is a tight, expensive race
• The Hill 7/23/26: Smith backs El-Sayed in Michigan Senate race
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/23/26: AIPAC super PAC spent almost $25 million to help Stevens beat El-Sayed in Michigan
• Jewish Insider 7/22/26: Democrats hope Navy SEAL can block far-left activist from nomination in Michigan battleground district [“Matt Maasdam is gaining late momentum running on his national security credentials, but Bernie Sanders-backed William Lawrence is winning over the base”]
• YNet 7/21/26: Progressives’ doomsday weapon: ‘Michigan’s Obama’ could be the first Muslim senator [“Dr. Abdul El-Sayed grew up near Detroit, spent his summers in Egypt, and resents comparisons to Mamdani; he accuses Israel of ‘genocide’ and is fighting in the Democratic primary against an incumbent who receives millions from AIPAC”]
• Detroit Free Press 7/21/26: AIPAC tests whether money can buy Michigan’s U.S. Senate primary | Opinion
• Michigan Advance 7/21/26: A former AIPAC-linked group is now supporting Abdul El-Sayed to elect a doctor to the U.S. Senate
• Punchbowl News 7/20/26: El-Sayed, Stevens and Democrats’ future [“‘The electable candidates don’t need $50 million crutches,’ Abdul El-Sayed told us in an interview here ahead of a rally with progressive leaders Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). ‘If we’re serious about winning elections as a party, I do hope that some party elites in D.C. are watching right now.’ … El-Sayed later added, ‘it doesn’t matter who wins’ a race in which the Democrat and the Republican both take money from AIPAC and other special interest groups, claiming that AIPAC is the only winner.”]
• Responsible Statecraft 7/20/26: Pro-Israel GOP donors fueling Rep. Stevens’ Dem primary in Michigan [“AIPAC and United Democracy Project are getting millions from Republican billionaires and out-of-state donors to beat back challenger Abdul El-Sayed“]
• USA Today 7/20/26: Michigan Democrat butts heads with CNN’s Jake Tapper. What to know [“In Michigan, a Bernie Sanders-backed Senate candidate could upend a Democratic primary. The race will test progressives’ popularity in a key swing state Trump won.”]
• The Forward 7/20/26: How Michigan’s Senate race is testing pro-Israel Jews’ loyalty to the Democratic Party [“Some Jewish communal leaders in the state say they would vote, or fundraise, for Mike Rogers if the strident Israel critic beats Haley Stevens“]
• Jewish Insider 7/20/26: Michigan Dem who praised grandfather’s Nazi military service hosting fundraiser for Abdul El-Sayed
• Haaretz 7/19/26: AIPAC Takes Center Stage at Abdul El-Sayed Michigan Primary Rally Headlined by Bernie Sanders and AOC [“El-Sayed declared that ‘it’s time to decide that we are no longer going to send unconditional foreign military aid to foreign governments,’ while Sanders railed against AIPAC and what he described as an ‘election between Abdul and the billionaire class’“]
• Associated Press 7/19/26: AIPAC Has Spent a Record Amount on Michigan’s Senate Primary, the Biggest Test of Its Influence Yet
• The Hill 7/19/26: Stevens: ‘Fool’s run’ to blame Israel for pushing Trump toward Iran
• The Hill 7/19/26: El-Sayed rips Jake Tapper over Israel, Iran questions on CNN
• CNN 7/17/26: Barack Obama hasn’t endorsed a Michigan Senate candidate. An AIPAC-linked group is spending millions on ads with him anyway

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Missouri

• The Argus 7/20/26: Missouri Dem. Congressmen Bell and Cleaver Break With a Majority of House Democrats on Israel Aid Vote

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Minnesota

• Minnesota Star Tribune 7/24/26: A pro-Israel lobbying group looms over Minnesota’s Senate race. Its role is less clear. [“The fight over AIPAC has become a proxy for Democrats’ broader divide over Israel, even as its involvement in the contest between Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is difficult to measure.“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New Hampshire

• New Hampshire Journal 7/23/26: Pappas, Sullivan Under Fire For Taking AIPAC, Pro-Israel Campaign Cash
• New Hampshire Journal 7/20/26: From ‘Ironclad’ Support to No Jewish State: NH Democrats Shift on Israel

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – North Carolina

• WFAE 7/20/26: North Carolina Dems Foushee, Ross vote to cut aid to Israel

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Pennsylvania

• Spotlight PA 7/21/26: Fetterman’s ultimatum is giving some Democrats anxiety he’ll switch parties
• Jewish Insider 7/21/26: John Fetterman says Democratic Party ‘flirting with’ adopting official anti-Israel stance [“The Pennsylvania senator told JI his ‘views aren’t controversial, or they shouldn’t be. What should be controversial is the trash that’s coming out from many Democrats and out of J Street’“]
• Jerusalem Post 7/19/26: ‘Our special ally’: Fetterman says he will leave Democratic Party if it stops supporting Israel [“Fetterman’s comments came after lawmakers defeated a measure to end US aid to Israel. Nearly all Republicans and a narrow majority of Democrats voted against the bill.”]
• REMINDER New York Magazine 5/21/26: The Man Who Explains Israel to John Fetterman

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Texas

• Express News 7/22/26: How AIPAC is operating differently in Texas ahead of midterm election

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Washington State

• Jewish Insider 7/21/26: Washington state’s Jewish Democrats fight for a place in a party they no longer recognize
• OPB 7/21/26: Washington’s 3rd District could be among the most competitive House races this fall [“Gluesenkamp Perez has been the focus of intense criticism from Democrats and progressives in her district. Angry constituents have packed town halls over her support for Israel in its war with Hamas, and her 2025 vote in favor of the Save Act.“]
• Nisqually Valley News 7/20/26: Commentary: How the Democratic Party’s divide over Israel has reached Washington state

Iran

• New York Times 7/20/26: G.O.P. Boxed In on Iran War as Trump Sidelines Congress [“Republicans now face a worst-case political scenario of being asked to fund an unpopular war over which they have exercised little oversight.“]
• Jewish Insider 7/20/26: Trump’s push to add Iran to Russia sanctions bill confuses Democrats [“Sens. Blumenthal and Shaheen said the late Sen. Lindsey Graham never sought to include Iran sanctions in the legislation he spent months negotiating before his death”]

Saudi Arabia Nuclear Deal

• Jewish Insider 7/22/26: Democrats line up against Saudi nuclear deal, while Republicans largely back it
• Times of Israel 7/22/26: Trump to seek Congress approval for US-Saudi nuclear energy pact without safeguards

Other Stuff

• Jewish News Syndicate 7/23/26: Gottheimer calls out ‘Squad’ member for confusing him with other Jewish Dem named Josh [reminder from 2024: Donald Trump Appears to Mix Up Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib]
• Jewish Insider 7/22/26: RJC creates Lindsey Graham Statesman Award as Jewish leaders pay tribute [“The new award will be given at the group’s yearly leadership summit in August“]
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/21/26: After Rep. Ro Khanna says armed ‘thugs’ detained him in Judea, details still murky about closed military zone [“Sharren Haskel, recently resigned deputy Israeli minister of foreign affairs, told JNS that the Jewish state had offered the congressman full coordination, briefings, tours and security arrangements for his visit, ‘all of which he declined and didn’t even bother to reply to.'”]
• Jewish Insider 7/20/26: Lawmakers split on whether Trump should have tied Syria sanctions relief to Israel normalization

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters & Reports
3. Hearings & Markups
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

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New from FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast:

• 7/15/26: The betrayal of Gaza’s journalists, ft. FMEP President Lara Friedman in conversation with Anan Quzmar, a Palestinian researcher focused on the systematic targeting of Palestinian journalists and the broader destruction of Gaza’s documentation ecosystem; and  Zo Brown (an alias), the founder of Databases for Palestine
• 7/13/26: The Biden administration and genocide: An interview with investigative journalist Akbar Shahid Ahmed – FMEP fellow Ahmed Moor in conversation with award-winning foreign affairs journalist Akbar Shahid Ahmed into the backstory of and some key themes in his new (and eagerly awaited) book: Crossing the Red Line – Biden, His Advisors, and Israel’s War in Gaza.

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1. Bills & Resolutions

ISRAEL/MIDEAST IN HOUSE FY27 NSRP BILL [formerly SFOPS]

(FY27 NSRP Bill) HR 8595 — State-of-play:

THE BILL

On 7/13/26, the House Rules Committee adopted yet another Rule governing consideration of HR 8595 – the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027 (NSRP) – on the House floor (the THIRD Rule it has adopt on this bill). This comes on the heels of the failure of the House to pass the previous Rule to bring HR 8595 to the floor – bundled with HR 8800 (the NDAA) and attaching to the whole thing the “Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act” (S. 1383) — a gambit intended to assuage demands of some GOP members, covered in excruciating detail in the 7/2/26 edition of the Round-Up. The new Rule – which became H. Res. 1423 – is the same as the previous ones with respect to the amendments ruled “in order” [listed in the table below], and also reprises the gambit of attaching the SAVE Act. This week that gambit actually worked: the House passing H. Res. 1423 by a party-line vote of 215-211.

On 7/15/26 – following debate/grandstanding/votes on amendment, the House passed HR 8595 – the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027 (NSRP) – by a party-line vote of 217-209.

The far-reaching Israel/Middle East-related provisions (funding, reports, conditions, etc) in the bill are laid out in this special edition of the Round-Up.  Also see: previous reporting on the bill, actions in the Rules Committee regarding the bill, and Israel/Middle East-related amendments offered to the bill, in the 7/2/26 edition of the Round-Up.

The bill now goes to the Senate (which will delete the entire text approved by the House and replace it with its own version of the bill).

THE MASSIE AMENDMENT

On 7/14 – 7/15/26, the House took up HR 8595 – including, notably, the Massie Amendment to bar all U.S. aid to Israel — which reads: “SEC. __. No funds for Israel. (a) None of the funds made available under this Act shall be obligated or expended for Israel. (b) The amount otherwise made available by this Act for ‘Foreign Military Financing Program’ is hereby reduced by $3,300,000,000.”

Notably, Massie introduced a similar amendment to the FY26 NSPR bill (see: the 1/16/26 edition of the Round-Up) and to the FY26 NDAA (see the 12/12/25 edition of the Round-Up) — in neither of those cases did Republican leaders allow the amendment on the floor for a vote. Their decision to do so this time around comes in the context of rising grassroots opposition to aid for Israel and criticism of the US-Israel relationship — grounded in nearly 3 years of live-streamed destruction and genocide in Gaza, escalating Israeli terrorism in the West Bank, Israel’s mass destruction and ethnic cleansing in Lebanon, and the widely-held view that Israel pushed/manipulated the Trump Administration into war with Iran. The objective in bringing the amendment to the floor appeared to be: to engineer a politically costly no-win situation for Democrats, weaponizing the issue of support for Israel to divide the caucus and ensure that, no matter what Democrats did, important constituences would be enraged — pro-Israel groups/constituents/funders angered if members vote YES, and the grassroots and increasingly energized/effective progressive groups angered if they vote NO. And all of this on an amendment that never had any chance of passing (thanks to Republican votes). The actual outcome, however, was something quite different.

On 7/15/26, the House REJECTED the Massie Amendment by a vote of 104-314.  A closer look at that vote, and the statements/positions made by Democrats irrespective of their vote, tells a much bigger story.

• Nearly 50% of Democrats voting in favor of the amendment (103 our of a total of 212 Democrats currently in the House).
• 10 Democrats voted “present.” This means that, between the “yes” and “present” votes, more than 50% of Democrats opted to NOT oppose an amendment to cut off aid to Israel, despite opposition from House Leader Jeffries (D-NY) [whose opposition included permission for members to vote their consciences] and lobbying by AIPAC and other legacy pro-Israel groups.
• Almost every member who voted “yes” or “present”, and many of those voting “no,” issued statements laying out powerful criticisms of Netanyahu and/or Israeli policies, along with concrete/explicit expressions of readiness to support different legislative measures targeting US aid for and policy with respect to Israel — such that the bottom line impact of this vote is to fundamentally reset Democratic party policy on Israel, including with respect both to current/future aid, the next MOU, and the question of pressure/sanctions.
• Among those voting “yes” or “present” are a number of members who are a significant number who are actively supported by AIPAC
• Among those voting “no” are a number are being or have already been primaried by candidates from the left (in races where support for Israel may be a key difference between the candidates).

Statements/comments about the vote from Democrats are collected here.

• The compilation offers a useful snapshot into the framing/language/policies articulated in relation to this amendment, much of which represents unprecedented public expressions of criticism of Israel and unprecedented expressions of readiness and intent to change the US-Israel relationship.
• Individually and collectively, these statements underscore that, regardless of how members voted on this amendment, for most Democrats in Congress the era of knee-jerk support for unconditional, unquestioned/unexamined, ceaselessly expanding U.S. aid for Israel is well and truly OVER, as is the era of knee-jerk accusations that anyone who dares to question or oppose aid to Israel is “antisemitic.”.

REVIEW OF ALL MIDDLE EAST-RELATED AMENDMENTS

The table below runs down the fate of all Middle East-related amendments to HR 8595 that were voted on by the House. Floor debate on all of these amendments is here.

Amendments offered to HR 8595 that were made “in order” & How They Fared

Topic	Amdt # + link	Intro’d by	Description/Summary	Status
Israel	Amdt #5 [In Rule: #8]	Massie (R-KY)	“Strikes $3,300,000,000 in grants for Israel, prohibits funds appropriated by the Act from being used for Israel, and accordingly reduces the Foreign Military Financing Program account by $3,300,000,000.”	FAILED by a vote of 104-314-10
Jordan	Amdt #6 [In Rule: #9]	Massie (R-KY)	“Strikes $2,100,000,000 in assistance for Jordan, prohibits funds appropriated by the Act from being used for Jordan, and accordingly reduces the National Security Investment Programs, the Foreign Military Financing Program, the Global Health Programs, and other programs accounts, collectively, by $2,100,000,000.”	FAILED by a vote of 6-421
Targeting the UN	Amdt #93 [In Rule: #20]	Roy (R-TX)	“Late Prohibits any funds from being made available to the United Nations.”	FAILED by a vote of 136-291
Targeting Palestine Aid (et al)	Amdt #94 [In Rule: #21]	Roy (R-TX)	“Late Strikes the exemption provision that allows foreign assistance to flow through nongovernmental organizations in countries subject to aid restrictions, ensuring such restrictions apply equally to NGOs and foreign governments.”	PASSED by Voice Vote as part of En Bloc amendment
Jerusalem/Temple Mt  [Making the Temple Mt Israeli Again!]	Amdt #101 [In Rule: #28]	Tenney (R-NY)	“Late Increases and decreases funding for the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom by $1M to emphasize the importance of ensuring religious freedom and equal access for all with respect to the Temple Mount.”	PASSED by Voice Vote [see: US House passes Temple Mount amendment to advocate for Jewish prayer rights (Jerusalem Post 7/16/26]
Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI)	Amdt #157 [In Rule: #23]	Roy (R-TX)	“Late Prohibits funds appropriated or otherwise made available by the Act from being used for the Middle East Partnership Initiative.”	Not Offered

Pro-Israel organizations on this Massie Resolution:

• Democratic Majority for Israel 7/17/26: The Right Lessons From the Massie Vote [“We’re now seeing the consequences of Netanyahu’s bad bet.“]
• American Jewish Committee – reported in Jewish Insider 7/17/26: Ted Deutch criticizes ex-colleagues’ votes on ‘meaningless,’ ‘ridiculous’ Massie amendment [“the AJC CEO told JI on the sidelines of the Aspen Security Forum that he was ‘glad to see’ that many of his colleagues acknowledged that the amendment to cut military aid to Israel was ‘bad policy’”]
• AIPAC 7/15/26: “Today, the House of Representatives voted to fully fund $3.3 billion in lifesaving security assistance to Israel, overcoming a dangerous amendment that would have stripped all the resources for Israel from the NSRP appropriations bill. We are deeply appreciative of the 314 Republicans and Democrats who voted to reject Thomas Massie’s latest anti-Israel effort and are disappointed by the 103 Democrats who voted with Massie to weaken America and our ally Israel. This so-called messaging vote on Israel’s security sends a dangerous signal to both our allies and our enemies around the world. The Rules Committee allowed this vote at the behest of Rep. Massie, who is seeking every opportunity to undermine the U.S.-Israel relationship in the wake of his primary defeat in May.  Security assistance helps our democratic ally protect its families from unparalleled threats and advances a partnership integral to America’s national security. The appropriations bill passed today by the House funds the ninth year of the 10-year U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) negotiated by President Obama. Under the terms of the MOU, nearly all of this year’s assistance will be spent in the United States, creating American jobs and strengthening our industries. Next year, the final year of the MOU, 100% of the assistance will be spent in the United States. In addition to fully funding the $3.3 billion in annual security assistance to Israel, the House included several other key pro-Israel provisions in its National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) Appropriations Act. AIPAC appreciates the House funding the Nita Lowey Partnership for Peace Act and prohibiting any U.S. funding for anti-Israel bodies, including UNRWA, the ICC, ICJ, and the UNHRC’s Commission of Inquiry (COI) against Israel. AIPAC applauds the leadership of the Appropriations Subcommittee, Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart and Subcommittee Ranking Member Lois Frankel, for their work to include the pro-Israel provisions in the bill. We remain committed to strengthening support in Congress among Democrats and Republicans for America’s partnership with Israel. AIPAC members will be actively engaged throughout this election cycle, and future election cycles, to support members of Congress of both parties who support a strong U.S.-Israel alliance and oppose those who don’t.“
• J Street 7/15/26: “Today’s vote marks a turning point in the Democratic Party’s approach to U.S. policy toward Israel. J Street opposed the Massie amendment, as it was an overly broad and poorly drafted political stunt designed to divide Democrats rather than advance a responsible strategy for reshaping American policy and ending the conflict. Yet, the outcome of today’s vote sends a strong message. Through statements and votes, the majority of House Democrats demonstrated that there is now broad agreement within the Democratic caucus that it is time for a fundamentally different American approach to the U.S.-Israel relationship and the region. That sentiment was echoed by Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who voted no when he said, ‘American policy in the Middle East must change.’ And it was picked up by Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, who voted yes and said, ‘We must change course.’ Today’s vote reflects the emerging consensus in the Party – the debate will no longer be about whether U.S. policy should change, but rather how it must change. That new policy must reaffirm America’s enduring commitment to Israel and its security while equally advancing the rights, freedom and self-determination of the Palestinian people. It must end the blank check support for Israeli policies that have long been the hallmark of U.S. strategy and instead be willing to use American leverage and incentives to drive changes in behavior that advance the interests of both Israelis and Palestinians.  This is a moment that signifies an end to the era of paying lip service to the need to change the reality in the region. We welcome House Democratic leadership taking a stronger stance on using U.S. leverage to pressure the Israeli government to change course. Such an approach is the best way to achieve both a sovereign Palestinian state and a secure Israel at peace, integrated with all of its Arab neighbors – the 23-state solution.  The old Washington consensus has come to an end. The work of building a new one has begun.”
• Union of Reform Judaism 7/15/26: “On behalf of the Reform Jewish Movement, which encompasses 825 congregations, 2000 rabbis, and 1.8 million Reform Jews, we write to urge you to vote No on the Massie amendment to the FY 2027 National Security, State Department, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. This harmful amendment would eliminate U.S. aid to Israel, damaging both U.S. interests in the Middle East as well as Israel’s long-term security. We write from a place of resolute love for the people of Israel and unwavering dedication to strengthening robust Israeli democracy and national security – alongside a firm commitment to Palestinian self-determination, clear rejection of settlement expansion, and unyielding opposition to extremists whose actions and ideologies threaten Israel’s well-being and the ability of its citizens and all people in the region to live in peace and security. Many have expressed genuine concerns about Israel’s conduct of its military campaigns. Yet a vote to dissolve aid to Israel is the wrong way to send that message. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Netanyahu said in an interview with The Economist that he wants to end U.S. military aid within the next 10 years. Unfortunately, this amendment acts with haste, immediately suspending $3 billion in aid. It ignores the genuine security challenges Israel faces from hostile state actors and terror entities. It makes no distinction between aid for offensive, defensive, and dual use weapons. Voting against this amendment is not an endorsement of any leader, government, or policy. It is, rather, a commitment to remaining in a meaningful relationship with one of the United States’ key allies, including engaging forcefully and candidly where there are areas of disagreement. We urge you to oppose the Massie amendment when it comes to the floor for a vote.”
• Democratic Majority for Israel 7/15/26: “The House was right to reject Representative Thomas Massie’s reckless amendment. It would have weakened Israel, emboldened Iran and its terrorist proxies, and undermined American security interests. We thank the House Democrats who voted no, including Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, Appropriations Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, and Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Gregory Meeks. Republican leaders should never have brought this sweeping amendment to the floor. It was a naked attempt to drive a wedge within the Democratic Party, and it threatened longstanding funding not only for security assistance, but also humanitarian aid, peacebuilding, and joint programs that benefit Americans, Israelis and Palestinians. At the same time, the number of Democrats who supported it sends a loud and clear message. Many said they were expressing deep frustration with the Netanyahu government over settlement expansion, violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, extremists in its coalition, and the devastation in Gaza. The Israeli government should not dismiss those concerns. Frankly, this vote should serve as a wake-up call that significant work is needed to repair its relationship with Democrats — not only to preserve bipartisan support in the United States, but also to protect Israel’s long-term security and prosperity. The Massie amendment deserved to fail. But defeating it is not enough. Pro-Israel Americans must rebuild the bipartisan coalition that has sustained the U.S.-Israel alliance and make the case for it to the next generation.” Also see DMFI video clip here.
• J Street 7/14/26: “J Street opposes Rep. Massie’s amendment on Foreign Military Financing (FMF) for Israel. It is poorly drafted, overly broad and being used by Republican leadership to divide Democrats rather than advance a serious debate about US policy. We support Leader Jeffries’ decision to oppose the amendment while not whipping against it. We also recognize that, for many Democrats, this is one of the few opportunities to cast a recorded vote expressing opposition to the way American military assistance and American-supplied weapons have been used by the Israeli government in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and elsewhere. Members may reasonably conclude that voting no, present or yes is the best way to reflect those competing concerns. We support those members who vote yes to signal their opposition to unconditional FMF and support for stronger oversight of how US security assistance is used. We likewise support members who vote no or present while making clear their opposition to the Netanyahu government’s conduct and their commitment to a different US policy. What unites the overwhelming majority of Democrats is far more significant than this procedural vote: support for the security and rights of both Israelis and Palestinians; opposition to settlement expansion, occupation and the misuse of American weapons; and a commitment to a diplomatic resolution that delivers freedom, security and self-determination for both peoples. We hope, as Leader Jeffries articulated, that members on all sides of this vote will make those shared principles clear.”
• Democratic Majority for Israel 7/15/26: “It is deeply irresponsible that Rep. Massie is pushing this sweeping amendment and that Republican leaders are using it to politicize the U.S.-Israel relationship by bringing it to the floor. Leader Jeffries has long been a strong supporter of the U.S.-Israel alliance, and we’re pleased he will vote against the Massie amendment, which would eliminate most, if not all, U.S. assistance to Israel and undermine programs that advance American security, regional cooperation, and peacebuilding. We urge all Democrats to follow his lead. While we do not agree with every policy outlined in Jeffries’ letter, we appreciate his commitment to ensuring that America’s support for Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state remains ironclad. We also appreciate Leader Jeffries’ commitment to preserving Israel’s qualitative military edge and support for mutually beneficial defense programs that will promote the security of Israelis and Americans alike.”

Media:

• MS Now 7/16/26: Rep. Ro Khanna: Why I voted against further U.S. aid to Israel [“I was detained recently in the West Bank. I oppose selling weapons to Israel that are used to kill Palestinians or sending U.S. aid that furthers the apartheid status quo.“]
• Jewish Insider 7/16/26: Smith says he was pressured to vote against Israel aid by violent, far-left activists
• Wall Street Journal 7/16/26: The House Vote on Israel Echoes Past Betrayals [“103 Democrats vote to deny arms to a U.S. ally in wartime.”]
• Jewish Insider 7/16/26: Jeffries pledges new approach to Israel policy if Democrats retake House majority
• Times of Israel 7/16/26: US House defeats amendment to end Israel aid, but nearly half of Democrats vote in favor [including lots of member quotes]
• Haaretz 7/16/26: Democrats Rejected U.S. Aid to Israel, and AIPAC Couldn’t Stop Them [“AIPAC’s standing in American politics is at an inflection point like never before: its lobbying efforts cannot make a difference on the most essential votes on U.S.-Israel ties, and its electoral efforts have made it toxic for many voters and candidates alike“]
• Democracy Now 7/16/26: We Are Sending a Message to Netanyahu: Rep. Jayapal on 100+ Dems Voting to Cut Israeli Military Aid
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/15/26: Reform movement urges lawmakers to reject Massie amendment that would end US aid to Israel
• Jewish Insider 7/15/26: House Democrats attempt to appease party base in voting for resolution cutting off aid to Israel [“Over a dozen Democrats recently supported by AIPAC swung to support the amendment by far-right GOP Rep. Massie in a move that would have been unimaginable not long ago”]
• Politico 7/15/26: Katherine Clark, No. 2 House Democrat, backs cutting Israel aid [“Her support for an amendment poised for a vote Wednesday breaks with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.“]
• Politico 7/15/26: In seismic shift, more than 100 House Democrats vote to end Israel aid [“The amendment to block military assistance failed, but partisan split cemented the increasingly polarized view of the U.S. ally.”]
• Haaretz 7/15/26: 103 House Democrats Vote to Cut U.S. Aid to Israel in Landmark Symbolic Vote [“The amendment sponsored by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ken.) failed to pass, but revealed the shift in the Democratic Party’s consensus on U.S.-Israel relations.”]
• Haaretz 7/15/26: Congress Votes Force Democrats to Make a Stand on the Future of U.S.-Israel Relations [“Two pieces of legislation on military assistance – the NDAA and NSRP – might mark the moment the Democratic Party began moving past decades of largely unconditional support for Israel.“]
• Jewish Insider 7/15/26: No. 2 House Democrat Katherine Clark will vote to cut off aid to Israel [“Clark called the amendment a Republican stunt and ‘overly broad,’ but said she’ll support it anyway because the U.S. ‘must change course’“
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/15/26: Minority of House Dems vote to continue aid to Israel, as amendment to cut funding fails 104-314 [“Only 93 members of the Democratic caucus opposed an amendment to end aid Israel in a vote that split the Democratic leadership and further revealed one of the sharpest divides in politics on the American left.“]
• Washington Post 7/15/26: House vote exposes Democrats’ widening divide over Israel
• Punchbowl News 7/15/26: House Dems continue sharp turn against Israel
• Jewish Insider 7/15/26: Nearly half of House Democrats vote to cut off aid to Israel [“Even as the amendment was overwhelmingly rejected, the vote underscores the anti-Israel mood within the Democratic Party is growing“]
• Democracy Now 7/15/26: Progressives Push Back as House Democratic Leader Opposes Ending Military Aid to Israel
• Sludge 7/14/26: Jeffries Opposes Bid to Cut Israel Aid After Record AIPAC Earmark [“…On May 20, AIPAC PAC sent two earmarked payments—$87,500 and $61,800, totaling $149,300—to the Jeffries Battleground Protection Fund, a joint fundraising committee that splits proceeds between Jeffries’ own campaign, the DCCC, and more than a dozen frontline House Democrats…“]
• New York Times 7/14/26: Jeffries to Oppose Cutting Off Aid to Israel but Calls for a ‘Major Reset’
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/14/26: Democrats split ahead of vote whether to cut $3.3 billion in U.S. aid to Israel
• Politico 7/14/26: Hakeem Jeffries says he will oppose bid to cut off Israel aid
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/14/26: Jeffries opposes Massie bid to eliminate US aid to Israel
• Axios 7/15/26: Democrats squirm over vote to shut off aid to Israel
• Punchbowl News 7/14/26: Jeffries opens door to distancing from Israel
• Jewish Insider 7/14/26: Jeffries opposes effort to cut all aid to Israel, but calls for ‘urgent change’ to relationship

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ISRAEL/MIDEAST IN THE FY27  NDAA (SENATE)

(FY27 SENATE NDAA) S. 4784 — state of play:

On 7/14/26, Senate leaders tried to bring S. 4748 to the Senate floor for debate/amendments/votes. In order to do this they first needed the Senate to pass a motion agreeing to bring the bill to the floor (technically a motion to end debate on whether to bring it to the floor). That motion, which required a 2/3 vote to pass (60 votes), FAILED by a vote of 50-46. This was immediately followed by a motion to reconsider that vote, which also FAILED, also by a vote of 50-46. All Republicans voted “yes” both times; all Democrats voted “no” except for four who didn’t vote: Fetterman (D-PA), Justice (R-WV), McConnell (R-KY), and Padilla (D-CA). Democrats’ reasons for voting “NO” varied, but prominent among them were opposition to funding Trump’s Iran War and opposition to provisions in the base bill that would effectively weld the US and Israeli militaries.

As of this writing it remains to be seen whether/how the NDAA will make it to the Senate floor.

Members re: Voting Against the FY27 Senate NDAA

• Van Hollen (D-MD) 7/13/26: speech on the Senate floor (full text in the Congressional Record)
• Van Hollen (D-MD) 7/14/26: X-post w/ video clip – “Today, the Senate will take a key vote on a $1.1 TRILLION defense bill. Not only does this effectively green light Trump’s illegal Iran war, it also gives the Israeli govt immense leverage over our national security. In 2023, we saw firsthand the risk that could pose“
• Van Hollen (D-MD) 7/14/26: X-post w/ video clip – “Tomorrow, the Senate will take a key vote on the $1.1 TRILLION defense bill. It not only fails to rein in Trump’s Iran war, it also has a provision touted by PM Netanyahu to MANDATE more U.S. defense cooperation with Israel. None of this is in our national security interests. I will vote NO.“
• Van Hollen (D-MD) 7/13/26: X-post with video of his floor statement – “Senators should vote NO on proceeding with the Pentagon funding bill. It supports a huge increase in spending, gives a blank check to Trump’s Iran war, & includes Netanyahu’s proposal REQUIRING more cooperation with the Israeli military…:”
• Markey (D-MA) 7/14/26: X-post – “I just voted to block Trump’s defense budget on the Senate floor. No more funding for endless war. Slash the Pentagon now.”
• Wyden (D-OR) 7/14/26: X-post – “I cannot support a blank check for Trump’s illegal war in Iran and fast-tracking deeply troubling and dangerous surveillance collaboration with Netanyahu’s government. I voted no.” Also Wyden statement: “I also cannot support new authorities included in the bill which seek to deepen and accelerate cooperation with Israeli contractors on surveillance and AI technologies that are ripe for abuse. On Netanyahu’s watch, surveillance technologies developed by Israeli companies have repeatedly been used by repressive regimes, contributed to human rights violations in Gaza, and have been used against Americans. The Netanyahu government’s actions in Gaza and West Bank make clear that the current Israeli government’s actions are not aligned with U.S. interests and the safety of civilians.”
• Sanders (I-VT) 7/14/26: X-post – “At a time when millions struggle to pay the bills, virtually every Senate Republican voted for a staggering $1.15 trillion Pentagon bill, which includes funding for the illegal and immoral war in Iran and a special provision to provide even more weapons to Israel with almost zero oversight. It’s time to invest in the American people, not endless war.”
• Merkley (D-OR) 7/14/26: X-post – “I’m a NO on the NDAA. I can’t support excessive military spending, de facto approval of Trump’s illegal war with Iran, and deeply troubling provisions that force deeper U.S.-Israeli defense and intelligence sharing.”

Media

• Jewish Insider 7/15/26: Amid Iran war concerns, Democrats pump brakes on Senate defense bill [“Senate Democrats voted in lockstep to block a procedural motion to open debate on the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act“]
• New York Times 7/14/26: Senate Democrats Block Defense Bill Over War in Iran [“The vote reflected how the political debate over the conflict in the Middle East has sapped bipartisan support for a normally popular measure.” [Article completely omits mention of senators’ opposition to Israel-related provisions]

Additional Amendments Introduced Since the Last Round- Up

New Middle East-related amendments to S. 4784 introduced since the last update on amendments in the Round-Up are included at the end of the table below.

Topic	Amdt # + link	Intro’d by	Description/Summary	Status
Iran/Hezbollah	S. Amdt. 5892	Curtis (R-UT)	STRATEGY TO COUNTER IRANIAN AND HEZBOLLAH INFLUENCE OPERATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA.	Introduced
Iran/Hezbollah	S. Amdt. 5895	Curtis (R-UT)	COUNTERING TERRORISM BY HEZBOLLAH.	Introduced
Iran	S. Amdt. 5898	Duckworth (D-IL)	IRAN WAR ACCOUNTABILITY.	Introduced
Iran	S. Amdt. 5902	McCormick (R-PA)	Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026	Introduced
Israel/West Bank	S. Amdt. 5932	Welch (D-VT)	PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO ASSIST IN ANNEXATION OF THE WEST BANK.	Introduced
Israel	S. Amdt. 5936	Wyden (D-OR)	STOP FOREIGN SPYWARE ACT.	Introduced
Iran	S. Amtd. 5943	Warnock (D-GA)	JUSTICE FOR UNITED STATES VICTIMS OF STATE SPONSORED TERRORISM. [adding new Iran-related provision]	Introduced
Iran	S. Amdt. 5952	Gallego (D-AZ)	REPORT ON MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IMPACTED BY CONFLICT WITH ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN.	Introduced
Israel/Mideast	S. Amdt. 5960	Kaine (D-VA)	REPEAL OF JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROMOTE PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST.	Introduced
No flags but US flags (no exception for Israel)	S. Amdt. 6032	Marshall (R-KS)	PROHIBITION ON FLAGS OTHER THAN THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES.	Introduced
Israel	S. Amdt. 6055	Scott (R-SC)	REPORTS ON FOREIGN BOYCOTTS OF ISRAEL.	Introduced
Iran	S. Amdt. 6056	Scott (R-SC)	STATEMENT OF POLICY ON REPEAL OF SUNSET OF IRAN SANCTIONS ACT OF 1996.	Introduced
Iran	S. Amdt. 6093	Kaine (D-VA)	PROHIBITION ON USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES WITH RESPECT TO IRAN.	Introduced
War Powers	S. Amdt. 6094	Kaine (D-VA)	MEANING OF INTRODUCTION OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES INTO HOSTILITIES FOR PURPOSES OF THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION.	Introduced
Qatar	S. Amdt. 6131	Murphy (D-CT)	GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REVIEW OF CERTAIN AIRCRAFT PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENT OF QATAR.	Introduced
Qatar	S. Amdt. 6132	Murphy (D-CT)	PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN TRANSFERS OF AIRCRAFT PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENT OF QATAR.	Introduced
Israel [targeting Sec. 845]	S. Amdt. 6139	Van Hollen (D-MD)	Strike section 845. Strike section 1217 and insert the following: SEC. 1217. STUDY ON ISRAEL DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION INITIATIVE.	Introduced
Israel [targeting Sec. 1217]	S. Amdt. 6140	Van Hollen (D-MD)	Strike section 1217.	Introduced
UAE	S. Amdt. 6141	Van Hollen (D-MD)	PROHIBITION ON SALE, EXPORT, OR TRANSFER OF MAJOR DEFENSE EQUIPMENT TO CERTAIN COUNTRIES. [“No sale, export, or transfer of major defense equipment (as defined in section 47 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2794)) may be provided to any country that the President identifies as supporting the Rapid Support Forces or the Sudanese Armed Forces through provision of materiel or other resources or equipment.”]	Introduced
UAE	S. Amdt. 6142	Van Hollen (D-MD)	LIMITATION ON SALES AND EXPORTS OF COVERED DEFENSE ARTICLES TO THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.	Introduced
Israel (targeting Sec. 845)	S. Amdt. 6143	Van Hollen (D-MD)	“At the end of section 845, add the following: (d) Limitation.–No funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act for the Department of Defense may be made available for the implementation of section 1217 until the feasibility study required under subsection (a) and the briefing required under subsection (c) have been provided to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives.”	Introduced
Israel (targeting Sec. 1217 & Sec. 845)	S. Amdt. 6144	Van Hollen (D-MD)	“Strike section 845. Strike section 1217.”	Introduced
Iran	S. Amdt. 6155	Gallego (D-AZ)	PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO RECOGNIZE IRANIAN AUTHORITY TO RESTRICT COMMERCIAL NAVIGATION THROUGH THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ.	Introduced
Law of War	S. Amdt. 6163	Durbin (D-IL)	SENSE OF CONGRESS ON COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW OF WAR.	Introduced
South Africa/Israel	S. Amdt. 6223	Kennedy (R-LA)	U.S.-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act [linked to SA criticism of Israel]	Introduced
Genocide perpetrators	S. Amdt. 6224	Kennedy (R-LA)	PROHIBITION ON ALLOCATIONS OF SPECIAL DRAWING RIGHTS AT INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND FOR PERPETRATORS OF GENOCIDE AND STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORIZATION. [for sure not intended to apply to Israel, but Israel not exempted]	Introduced
Persian Gulf	S. Amdt. 6251	Schatz (D-HI)	REPORT ON EXPOSURE OF INSTALLATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES AT RISK IN THE PERSIAN GULF.	Introduced
Iran	S. Amdt. 6253	Schatz (D-HI)	REPORT ON IMPACTS OF SANCTIONS ON MILITARY CAPABILITIES OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.	Introduced
Iran	S. Amdt. 6268	Schatz (D-HI)	PROHIBITION OF REPROGRAMMING OF FUNDS TO PAY FOR DAMAGES FROM IRANIAN STRIKES WITHOUT EXPLICIT CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL; REPORT ON DAMAGES.	Introduced
Israel/Hamas	S. Amdt. 6269	Schatz (D-HI)	REPORT ON ENFORCEMENT BY CIVIL-MILITARY COORDINATION CENTER OF ISRAEL-HAMAS CEASEFIRE. (a) to include ” (1) An overview of the process the Center used to monitor the agreed upon Israel-Hamas ceasefire that went into effect in October 2025. (2) The number of ceasefire violations the Center registered between the Israel Defense Forces and Hamas. (3) An assessment of the ability of the Center to intervene to stop ceasefire violations, including the number of ceasefire violations that were averted as a result of intervention by the Center. (4) An assessment of casualties associated with each ceasefire violation, including who or what was targeted and the resulting damage. (5) An assessment of the civilian casualties in Gaza impacted by ceasefire violations. (6) An assessment of how often the demarcated “yellow line” factored into ceasefire violations and resulting casualties.”	Introduced
War Powers	S. Amdt. 6276	Kaine (D-VA)	WAR POWERS RESOLUTION AMENDMENTS	introduced
War Powers	S. Amdt. 6277	Kaine (D-VA)	MODIFICATION OF TIMELINES APPLICABLE TO REMOVAL OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FOR PURPOSES OF THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION.	Introduced
Iran	S. Amdt. 6283	McCormick (R-PA), Rosen (D-NV)	Stop Corrupt Iranian Oligarchs and Entities Act of 2026	Introduced
Iran	S. Amdt. 6317	Slotkin (D-MI)	PROHIBITION ON USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR IRAN.	Introduced
Bahrain/region	S. Amdt. 6323	Rosen (D-NV), Ernst (R-IA), Booker (D-NJ)	REPORT AND STRATEGY ON INCREASING MEMBERSHIP IN THE COMPREHENSIVE SECURITY INTEGRATION AND PROSPERITY AGREEMENT.	Introduced
Yemen	S. Amdt. 6324	Rosen (D-NV), McCormick (R-PA)	Houthi Human Rights Accountability	Introduced
Iran	S. Amdt. 6327	Rosen (D-NV), McCormick (R-PA), Blumenthal (D-CT),  Cornyn (R-TX)	REPORT ON INTERNET FREEDOM IN IRAN	Introduced
Israel Normalization – Eastern Med	S. Amdt. 6357	Booker (D-NJ), McCormick (R-PA)	EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN GATEWAY ACT	Introduced
Turkey/Cyprus	S. Amdt. 6358	Booker (D-NJ), Moran (R-KS)	MODIFICATION TO WAIVERS OF LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER OF ARTICLES ON UNITED STATES MUNITIONS LIST TO THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS.	Introduced
Israel	S. Amdt. 6373	Cotton (R-AR)	To add the entire FY27 Intelligence Authorization Act to the NDAA, including the section mandating far-reaching US intelligence sharing with Israel	Introduced
Israel	S. Amdt. 6403	Welch (D-VT)	“Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, provide to all members of Congress and appropriately cleared staff of members and committees of Congress a classified briefing, and submit to Congress and such members and committees a classified report, on counterintelligence threats posed by the Government of Israel.”	Introduced
Israel (targeting Sec. 1217)	S. Amdt. 6404	Welch (D-VT)	“At the end of section 1217, add the following: (c) Effective Date.–This section shall take effect upon certification by the Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, that the military and security forces of the Government of Israel have not, during the three years preceding the date of the enactment of this Act, engaged in wanton destruction of civilian infrastructure, crimes against humanity, or ethnic cleansing in Lebanon, Gaza, the West Bank, or any other geographic area that came under the administration of the Government of Israel after June 5, 1967.”	Introduced
Turkey	S. Amdt. 6441	Lankord (R-OK)	LIMITATION ON USE OF WAIVER AUTHORITY FOR TRANSFER OF F-35 AIRCRAFT TO TURKEY.	Introduced
Algeria	S. Amdt. 6480	Shaheen (D-NH)	IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UNITED STATES-ALGERIAN DEFENSE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.	Introduced
Yemen	S. Amdt. 6487	Shaheen (D-NH)	“Degrading Houthi Networks in the Horn of Africa”	Introduced
West Bank	S. Amdt. 6488	Shaheen (D-NH)	“LIST OF INSTANCES OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN THE WEST BANK. — The Secretary of State shall submit to Congress– (1) a list of all instances of political violence that have occurred in the West Bank during the period beginning on July 19, 2024, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act, including–(A) attacks by Palestinians against Israelis; and (B) attacks by Israelis, including violent extremist settlers, against Palestinians; and (2) a list of individuals involved in such attacks whose actions may be sanctionable under existing law.”	Introduced
Egypt	S. Amdt. 6489	Shaheen (D-NH)	ASSESSMENT OF MILITARY COOPERATION BETWEEN EGYPT AND THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.	Introduced
Iran	S. Amdt. 6493	Shaheen (D-NH)	ANNUAL REPORT ON FOREIGN MALIGN INFLUENCE ACTIVITIES [including Iran]	Introduced
Lebanon	S. Amdt. 6504	Shaheen (D-NH)	SECURITY STABILIZATION STRATEGY – requires strategy to “1) to expand Lebanese state services; and (2) to increase legitimate political participation in Lebanese communities that are currently dependent on parallel services from Hezbollah.”	Introduced
Lebanon	S. Amdt. 6505	Shaheen (D-NH)	Authorizing security assistance for Lebanon: contingent on: “(i) the Government of Lebanon has declared Hezbollah’s military activities illegal; and (ii) the Lebanese Armed Forces are implementing directives of the Government of Lebanon regarding– (I) the establishment of a monopoly of force within Lebanon; and (II) the disarmament of Hezbollah.” [plus other stuff	Introduced
Lebanon	S. Amdt. 6506	Shaheen (D-NH)	LEBANON ILLICIT GOODS AND FINANCES PROGRAM.	Introduced
Lebanon	S. Amdt. 6507	Shaheen (D-NH)	Lebanon Sanctions, Stabilization, and Support Act	Introduced
Syria	S. Amdt. 6508	Shaheen (D-NH)	REPEALS OF SYRIA SANCTIONS STATUTES.	Introduced
Syria	S. Amdt. 6509	Shaheen (D-NH)	Requiring a report that “describes the foreign assistance strategy of the United States in support of United States-Syria policy and provides comprehensive details on foreign assistance programs (including humanitarian and nonhumanitarian efforts) inside Syria paused or canceled since January 2025”	Introduced
Lebanon	S. Amdt. 6525	Shaheen (D-NH)	To support continued humanitarian assistance “in furtherance of the political and economic stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Lebanon...”; on “reconstruction,” to establish incentive fund for reconstruction of Lebanese government services and infrastructure and mandating US diplomacy to raise funds for this purpose; requiring a report to Congress	Introduced
Israel	S. Amdt. 6574	Cotton (R-IN)	To add the entire FY27 Intelligence Authorization Act to the NDAA, including the section mandating far-reaching US intelligence sharing with Israel	Introduced
Israel	S. Amdt. 6600	Fischer (R-NE)	To insert into the bill Sec. 1219, the “UNITED STATES-ISRAEL COOPERATION ON EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES.” That section reads: “The amount authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2027 by section 4201 for Combating Terrorism Technology Support, Defense-wide, is hereby increased by $50,000,000, with the amount of the increase to be available for emerging technology cooperation between the United States and Israel.”	Introduced
Iran	S. Amdt. 6607	McCormick (R-PA)	Requiring a “REPORT ON OLIGARCHS AND CORRUPTION IN IRAN.”	Introduced
Iran	S. Amdt. 6608	McCormick (R-PA)	Adding to the bill a lengthy new section entitled: “Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026”	Introduced
Israel	S. Amdt. 6609	McCormick (R-PA)	To add a section, “Unmanned System Command and Control Integration Assessment”, which includes a review of “Israel’s Multiple Drone Operating System, including an analysis of its technical architecture, its demonstrated operational effectiveness in managing simultaneous civilian, commercial, and military unmanned aircraft systems operations, the interoperability and integration lessons learned from its deployment that are applicable to United States Armed Forces unmanned aircraft systems command and control operations, and its cybersecurity and emergency prioritization mechanisms.”	Introduced
Iran/Hezbollah	S. Amdt. 6638	Curtis (R-UT)	To add to the bill the “Barring Adversarial Networks and Notorious Extremist Destabilizers in Latin America Act” or the “BANNED in Latin America Act”	Introduced
Houthis	S. Amdt. 6650	Shaheen (D-NH)	To add to the bill a new section entitled, Degrading Houthi Networks in the Horn of Africa	Introduced
Turkey	S. Amdt. 6653	Lankford (R-OK)	To add to the bill a new section entitled,”ASSESSMENT OF PROCUREMENT BY TURKEY OF DUAL-USE MILITARY COMPONENTS AND TECHNOLOGIES.”	Introduced
Iran	S. Amdt. 6658	Schatz (D-HI)	To add to the bill a section entitled, REPORT ON IMPACTS OF SANCTIONS ON MILITARY CAPABILITIES OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.	Introduced
Iran	S. Amdt. 6659	Schatz (D-HI)	To add to the bill a section entitled, REPORT ON EXPOSURE OF INSTALLATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES AT RISK IN THE PERSIAN GULF.	Introduced
Iran	S. Amdt. 6673	Scott (R-SC)	To add to the bill a new section, STATEMENT OF POLICY ON EXTENSION OF SUNSET OF IRAN SANCTIONS ACT OF 1996.	Introduced
Israel	S. Amdt. 6683	Cotton (R-AR)	An amendment to add a whole bunch of stuff to the bill, including the Intelligence Authorization Act	Introduced
Israel	S. Amdt. 6691	Wicker (R-MS)	Amendment from the Chair of the Armed Services Committee to attach a slew of amendments on this table to the bill, including Cotton’s Intelligence Authorization Act, with its provisions mandating far-reaching US intelligence sharing/cooperation with Israel	Introduced

 

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Other Stuff

(DISMANTLING UNRWA) HR 9680 [bill text]: Introduced 7/14/26 by Lawler (R-NY) and 24 cospsonors [23 Republicans plus Gottheimer (D-NJ)], “To require the Secretary State to submit to Congress a strategy to dismantle United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East operations, and for other purposes,” ala the “Replace UNRWA with Real Humanitarian Assistance Act.” Also see: Lawler press release – Chairman Lawler Introduces Bill to Replace UNRWA with Accountable Humanitarian Assistance [which includes endorsements from exactly as diverse a set of groups as one would expect: AIPAC, JINSA, CUFI, and FDD Action]; Reps. Lawler, Gottheimer introduce bill to dismantle and replace UNRWA (Jewish Insider 7/14/26); Bipartisan House bill calling for UNRWA to be permanently dismantled, replaced ‘long overdue,’ experts say (Jewish News Syndicate 7/15/26). Also see Lawler X-post w/ video clip. 7/16/26: “Humanitarian aid must reach those who truly need it, not strengthen organizations with ties to terrorism. But the fact is, UNRWA has been corrupted by Hamas for years, with documented ties to terrorism. That’s why @repJoshG and I have introduced the bipartisan Replace UNRWA with Real Humanitarian Assistance Act to abolish UNRWA and replace it with trusted partners that will deliver aid to those who need it, without empowering terrorist organizations.”

(IRAN WAR POWERS) S. J. Res. 200: Introduced 76/13/26 by Schiff (D-CA) and 5 cosponsors, “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: press release – Sen. Schiff Files New War Powers Resolution After Collapse of U.S.-Iran Ceasefire

(BARRING TRUMP FROM KEEPING PLANE GIFTED BY QATAR) S. 4999 [bill text]: Introduced 7/15/26 by Murphy (D-CT) and 8 cosponsors (all Democrats), “A bill to prohibit certain transfers of aircraft provided by the Government of Qatar, and for other purposes,” aka the “Luxury Jet Ethics and Transparency Act.” Referred to the Committee on Armed Services. Also see: Murphy press release – Murphy Introduces Bill to Block Trump from Taking Qatari Jet With Him When He Leaves Office

(BARRING ENTRY TO THE US OF PALESTINIANS & OTHER ALIENS “OF CONCERN”) HR 9710: Introduced 7/15/26 by Mace (R-SC), “To prohibit aliens who are nationals of certain countries of identified concern from entering the United States, and for other purposes” aka the “Third World Immigration Moratorium Act.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Also see: Mace press release – Rep. Nancy Mace Introduces Bill to Slam the Door on Third World Countries Endangering American Communities (including list of nations whose citizens would be barred entry to the US: “Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and aliens with travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. [emphasis added]”

(US SHOULD JOIN THE ICC!) H. Res. 1435 [resolution text]: Introduced 7/15/26 by Omar (D-MN) and 4 cosponsors (all Democrats), “Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should ratify the Rome Statute and join the International Criminal Court.“ Referred to the Committees on Foreign Affairs and the Judiciary. Also see: press release – U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar Introduces Resolution Urging U.S. to Join International Criminal Court; Ilhan Omar introduces resolution urging US to join international criminal court (The Guardian 7/15/26)

(LEVERAGE CRITICISM OF GRAHAM TO ATTACK US MUSLIMS [and Democrats]) H. Res. 1436: Introduced 7/15/26 by Van Duyne (R-TX) and 24 cosponsors (all Republicans), “Condemning Omar Suleiman for celebrating the death of Senator Lindsey Graham and acknowledging that House Democrats invited him to serve as the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2019.” Referred to the House Committee on House Administration. Note that the “resolved” clauses of the resolution include stating that the House “recognizes Senator Graham’s role in strengthening the relationship between the United States and Israel” and “supports the work of House Republicans in raising awareness about the dangers of Sharia Law and its incompatibility with American legal principles, constitutional governance, and individual liberty.”

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Reporting/posts on Block the Bombs:

• Ramirez (D-IL) 7/17/26: X-post – “Netanyahu has not ended his genocidal campaign in Gaza. The Israeli military continues to drop US-made bombs to murder Palestinian children and families. Congress must act now to pass my Block the Bombs Act and end the genocide of Palestinians!”
• Sanchez (D-CA) 7/14/26: Sánchez cosponsors Block the Bombs Act
• Foster (D-IL) 7/13/26: X-post – “NEW: I am officially a cosponsor of the Block the Bombs Act.  I initially supported the Ceasefire Compliance Act, which would have withheld offensive weapons from the Israeli government if it refused to change course in the West Bank and Gaza. Netanyahu refused. With that in mind, I believe that unconditional restrictions on our arms transfers, like those included in the Block the Bombs Act, are now necessary.  The United States simply cannot continue sending unconditional military aid to the Israeli government. We must work toward a two-state solution that ensures peace, security, and self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians.“

Reporting/posts on other previously introduced legislation:

• VoteLog 7/14/26: AIPAC disclosed lobbying Pentagon on U.S.-Israel technology provisions in defense bill, filings show
• The Hill [op-ed by Sens. Rosen (D-NV) and Lankford (R-OK) 7/10/26: With alarming rise in antisemitism, Congress must pass the Jewish American Security Act

2. Letters & Reports

• (STOP POLITICIZING ANTI-TERROR POLICY) 7/16/26: Meeks, Keating Lead Dems in Letter to Rubio on Politicization of Counter Terrorism [letter text]
• (INVESTIGATE MAMDANI OVER OFFICIALS SCHEDULED MEETING WITH IRANIAN AMBASSADOR) McDowell Leads Letter Calling on DOJ to Investigate Potential Logan Act Violations by New York City Mayor’s Office [letter text]. Also see: House Republicans call for investigation into Mamdani staffer’s planned Iran meeting  (Jewish Insider 7/16/26); McDowell (R-NC) X-post 7/16/26: “Mamdani doesn’t speak for America. President Trump does. Today I led a letter calling on the DOJ to investigate whether Mamdani’s Administration violated the Logan Act by engaging in unauthorized communications with the Islamic Republic of Iran.” REMINDER: On March 9, 2019 – in the midst of Obama Administration negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, 47 Republican senators issued an open letter to “leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran” warning Iranian leaders that any agreement that they sign with Obama that does not have congressional approval could be reversed by the next president “with the stroke of a pen.”
• (INCLUDE ISRAEL IN INDIA-MIDEAST-EUROPE ECONOMIC CORRIDOR) 7/15/26: See Lawler (R-NY) X-post – “Israel must remain a central part of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Today, I urged Secretary Rubio to ensure the United States stands firmly behind Israel’s continued inclusion in this landmark economic and infrastructure initiative. Removing Israel from IMEC would undermine the vision of greater regional connectivity, economic integration, and long-term stability that the corridor was designed to advance. The U.S. should use every diplomatic tool available to ensure Israel remains an essential partner in this effort.“
• (ACCOUNTABILITY FOR US BOMBING OF IRANIAN SCHOOL) 7/13/26: Gillibrand, Colleagues Demand Pentagon Release Long-Awaited Report On U.S. Bombing Of Iranian Elementary School [letter text]
• (OPPOSING PROVISION IN SENATE NDAA TO WELD US/ISRAEL MILITARIES, & EFFORT TO MANDATE US INTELL SHARING/COOPERATION WITH ISRAEL)  7/9/26: Dear Colleague letter signed by Van Hollen (D-MD), Sanders (I-VT), Merkley (D-OR), Welch (D-VT), Markey (D-MA) and Warren (D-MA) [letter text]

3. Hearings & Markups

July 22, 2026: The House Foreign Affairs will hold what promises to be an Israel/Greater Israel hegemony-in-the-region-love-fest of a hearing entitled, Building a New Regional Security Architecture: The Next Phase of the Abraham Accords. Scheduled witnesses are:

• Former US Ambassador to Israel (and longtime settlement/Greater Israel supporter) David Friedman;
  Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel;
• Asher Fredman, Executive Director of the Israeli organization the “Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy” [that last part of the name, “and Zionist Strategy,” is mysteriously absent from the meeting notice] – note that this is the organization that shortly after the 10/7/23 Hamas attacks published a paper making the case for Israel to use the 10/7 attacks as a pretext for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza. As reported at the time: “On October 17, the Misgav Institute for National Security & Zionist Strategy published a position paper (PDF) advocating for the ‘relocation and final settlement of the entire Gaza population.’ The report advocates exploiting the current moment to accomplish a long-held Zionist goal of moving Palestinians off the land of historic Palestine. The report’s subtitle makes it clear: ‘There is at the moment a unique and rare opportunity to evacuate the whole Gaza Strip in coordination with the Egyptian government.’”; and
• Former US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro (who shortly after finishing his role as ambassador decided to stay in Israel [“Shapiro acknowledged it was somewhat unusual for him to remain in country after his service. But his ties to Israel are much more than professional. The six years he spent representing the Obama administration here were part of a lifelong commitment to the country“] and joined a think tank in Tel Aviv, the Institute for National Security Studies, as a fellow; he is now at the Atlantic Council).

July 22, 2026: The House Foreign Affairs will hold what promises to be an exercise in anti-UN and pro-Israel grandstanding in the form of a hearing entitled, United Nations Accountability and Reform: Advancing an America First Foreign Policy Through Strategic Diplomacy and Burden Sharing. Scheduled witnesses are US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz and US Representative to the UN (for management and reform) Jeff Bartos.

July 15, 2026: The House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing entitled, “Training Activists, Not Physicians: The Impact of DEI on Medical Schools [hearing video].” Witnesses were: Dr. Steve Dubinett, University of California (statement); Dr. Sam Hawgood, University of California (statement); Dr. Roger A. Mitchell, Jr., National Medical Association (statement); and Dr. Enrico Benedetti, University of Illinois College of Medicine (statement). See: Med school deans tell House panel they’ve axed anti-Israel, ‘settler colonialism’ courses [“Republican lawmakers on the House Committee on Education and Workforce grilled the leaders of three public medical schools over their past diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.“] (Jewish News Syndicate 7/15/26)

• Jerusalem Center for Security & Foreign Affairs 7/15/26: The Ro Khanna Stunt and Israel’s Missing Strategic Response: What Must Now Be Done [“The controversy surrounding U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna’s visit with Palestinians underscores the need for a national strategy to counter political provocation, coordinated influence operations, and the erosion of Israel’s diplomatic legitimacy.“]
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/15/26: Huckabee disputes Khanna account of Judea and Samaria stop
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/14/26: ‘High-level sources’ say Khanna’s description of Judea and Samaria incident didn’t happen, Gottheimer tells JNS [“’This was just an opportunistic move and then not really sincere,’ the Jewish congressman said of his fellow House Democrat.“]
• Times of Israel 7/14/26: US lawmaker detained by settlers says lack of punishment shows Israeli complicity [“Israel’s ‘genocidal’ response to October 7 and the ‘apartheid’ conditions in the West Bank lead Ro Khanna to drop ‘pro-Israel progressive’ label he was using 4 years ago“]
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/14/26: Israeli envoy accuses Rep. Khanna of staged provocation [“Amb. Yechiel Leiter said the U.S. congressman ignored coordination offers and used a brief military stop to spark an anti-Israel media frenzy.”]
• Jerusalem Post 7/13/26: Ro Khanna’s West Bank detention exposed Israel’s settler dilemma – analysis  [NOTE: This article, from the notably not-left-wing Jerusalem Post, by the notably not-left-wing Yonah Jeremy Bob, wholly backs up the version of events offered by Rep. Khanna and those accompanying him. Nonetheless, US defenders of Israel, including fellow Democrats in Congress, continue to push the narrative that Khanna is lying about what happened.]
• Jerusalem Post 7/12/26: Souring Israel: When American Jews favor Mamdani over Netanyahu – editorial
• Jewish Insider 7/12/26: Khanna calls for investigation into West Bank incident as IDF disputes lawmaker’s account [“Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter said Khanna had declined a request to coordinate with the embassy for the trip where he was stopped by Israeli settlers in the West Bank“]
• Jerusalem Post 7/12/26: One detail in the IDF statement changes the whole Ro Khanna story [“The army’s account has one armed man. His tweet has settlers, plural, brandishing rifles. Somebody’s description is wrong, and it can be checked.“]
• Jerusalem Post 7/12/26: Netanyahu denies settler community behind Khanna West Bank incident
• The Intercept 7/11/26: Armed Israeli Settlers Detained Ro Khanna. He Wants Their Illegal Outposts Demolished. [“In an interview, Khanna recounts the fear at being detained and says anyone who visits the West Bank ‘would conclude that it is apartheid.‘”]
• New York Post 7/11/26: Lefty California Dem drops veiled threat to IDF after claiming he was detained in West Bank
• Reuters 7/11/26: US Democrat Ro Khanna detained by Israeli settlers during West Bank visit
• New York Post 7/11/26: Ro Khanna blew off offer to meet former Israeli hostages, Oct. 7 survivors on ‘campaign trip’: source
• Times of Israel 7/11/26: US Democrat Ro Khanna says he was detained by armed settlers during West Bank visit [“California congressman, who is weighing run for presidency, says men with rifles blocked his group’s vehicles for over an hour as he toured destroyed Palestinian village, were then backed up by soldiers“]
• Politico 7/11/26: Khanna says he was detained by the Israeli military and settlers in the West Bank [“As the congressional Democrat visited an abandoned Palestinian village, masked men with guns stopped his group and refused to let them leave.“]
• New York Times 7/11/26: An American Politician Is Blocked by Israeli Settlers in the West Bank [“Representative Ro Khanna was barred from leaving for 90 minutes. Where past U.S. leaders toured the region to show support for Israel, today’s Democratic presidential aspirants are going to bolster their credentials as critics.”]

Death of Lindsey Graham, standard-bearer in Senate for Israel

• Jewish Insider 7/17/26: Lindsey Graham’s sudden death leaves his legislative priorities in limbo
• Haaretz 7/16/26: Lindsey Graham Wasn’t Israel’s Friend – He Was a Friend of Its Worst Instincts
• Jerusalem Post 7/15/26: Netanyahu set to attend Lindsey Graham’s funeral in DC, meet with Trump
• NBC News 7/14/26: With Graham’s death, Israel loses a staunch ally for its increasingly unpopular cause [“’Within the Republican Party, he stood for a faction that is getting smaller, one that viewed Israel as a stalwart ally of the United States,’ one analyst told NBC News.“]
• Jewish Insider 7/13/26: Tributes pour in after death of Lindsey Graham, Israel’s staunch defender in the Senate [“Trump, Cruz, Fetterman, Coons and Jewish organizations remembered the South Carolina Republican, who died suddenly at 71“]
• Reason 7/13/26: Last of the Neocon ‘Three Amigos’: Lindsey Graham Dies Unexpectedly [“…Sometimes, Graham complained that Americans were too bigoted against Muslims to support spreading democracy in the Middle East. Other times, he claimed that the doctrine of Shiite Islam “compels them to kill all the Jews” and implied that dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza would be acceptable. In between his statements of support for the “brave Iranian people,” he declared that “Iranians cheat and they lie” and made wisecracks about their bad genes….after an American protester was shot by Israeli commandos in 2010, Graham stated: “I’m not asking the Israeli government to apologize to me for killing an American citizen. I’m urging American citizens to act responsibly.”]
• Al Jazeera 7/13/26: Lindsey Graham’s legacy: Israel advocate, Trump ally, Iran war supporter [“Late US senator backed invasion of Iraq, war on Iran and approach of ‘more for Israel’ as he became a Trump confidant.”]
• Jerusalem Post 7/12/26: ‘One of Israel’s greatest friends’: Netanyahu, Herzog lead tributes as Israel mourns Lindsey Graham
• Haaretz 7/12/26: Lindsey Graham’s Death Leaves Israel Without a Clear Voice in Trump’s Ear [“Lindsey Graham knew how to speak Trump’s language like few others, and there is no obvious successor among Republican hawks with his charisma and access. His death leaves an open question: Who will take up the mantle as the most effective conduit for Netanyahu’s messages to Trump?“]
• The Forward 7/12/26: Lindsey Graham, pro-Israel Trump confidant in the Senate, dies suddenly at 71 [“Graham’s last visit to Israel was in February, just before the U.S.-Israel war on Iran“]
• YNet 7/12/26: ‘A great friend’: Israeli leaders bid farewell to Lindsey Graham after reported cardiac arrest
• YNet 7/12/26: Lindsey Graham was more than Israel’s friend; he was its iron shield in Washington [“Graham was not merely a standard “friend of Israel” on Capitol Hill. He was an iron defender and a moral shield who never hesitated to stand before the cameras and proclaim the justice of Jerusalem’s cause.”]
• AIPAC 7/12/26: AIPAC mourns the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham
• Axios 7/12/26: Inside Lindsey Graham’s final push for Saudi-Israel peace
• Al Jazeera 7/12/26: What made US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham a controversial figure [“Known for his hawkish views on US defence and foreign policies, Graham strongly supported Ukraine in its war with Russia and Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.”]
• Jerusalem Post 7/12/26: Lindsey Graham advocated for Israel through his policies until the end [“He was a vocal advocate for relocating the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and consistently promoted US security assistance for Israel.”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/12/26: ‘Israel has lost one of its greatest friends’: Netanyahu mourns Lindsey Graham [“‘I have lost a beloved friend,’ said the Israeli premier.“]

Israel/AIPAC (and Iran) in US elex & politics – GENERAL

• Jewish Insider 7/17/26: Small dollars, big wins: the new money behind the Democrats’ anti-Israel wing [“In our decentralized political environment, it’s easier than ever for a critical mass of ideologically committed small-dollar donors to power insurgent, ideologically driven campaigns” [THIS IS A SCANDAL! HOW DARE SMALL FUNDERS ENGAGE TO ORGANIZE ENERGETICALLY AND EFFECTIVELY AT THE GRASSROOTS, GAIN CREDIBILITY WITH WITH VOTERS, AND BUILD POLITICAL POWER??!!! DON’T THEY UNDERSTAND THAT POLITICAL POWER/INFLUENCE IN US DEMOCRACY IS SUPPOSED TO BE CONFINED SOLELY TO THE RICH AND ALREADY POWERFUL!!!]
• Jewish Insider 7/17/26: How socialist candidates cashed in during the left-wing wave [“JI looked into how ascendant anti-Israel candidates raised and spent money just before and after their primaries“]
• Punchbowl News 7/16/26: House Democrats’ Israel problem
• NBC News 7/16/26: Sen. John Fetterman says he’ll leave the Democratic Party if it ‘officially’ becomes ‘anti-Israel’ [“The Pennsylvania Democrat laid out a red line that would cause him to quit his party, although he didn’t say whether he would become an independent or a Republican.“]
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/16/26: Ro Khanna and the weaponization of anti-Zionism in American politics [“The California congressman’s Judean misadventure was an attempt to boost his long-shot presidential hopes and move on from his sponsorship of the disastrous Graham Platner.“]
• Haaretz 7/15/26: Rep. Ro Khanna: ‘Israel Has Lost Americans Under 50. Bibi Netanyahu Has Antagonized an Entire Generation’
• ADL 7/15/26; updated resource page attacking the DSA, promoted by X-post – “When you threaten to expel members for saying “Israel has a right to defend itself,” when you make anti-Zionism a loyalty test, and when your leaders routinely celebrate terrorist attacks against Jews, you are trafficking in antisemitism. We’re not talking about a fringe movement. We’re talking about the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which has become an increasingly influential force in American politics. As DSA’s influence has grown, so has the impact of its rhetoric and agenda, posing direct consequences for Jewish Americans and other communities targeted by its extremism.“
• The Hill 7/15/26: Fetterman warns he would leave Democratic Party if it turns its back on Israel
• New York Times 7/15/26: Republican Ads Take Aim at Mamdani to Attract Jewish Voters [“New York Republican leaders began a targeted ad campaign, trying to persuade Jewish voters to change parties by accusing Mayor Zohran Mamdani of fostering antisemitism.”]
• Times of Israel 7/15/26: New York Republicans make pitch to Jewish voters: ‘You have a home with us’
• The Forward 7/14/26: Israel is dominating Democratic politics. How did we get here? [“Prospective candidates once traveled to Iowa to preview presidential campaigns. Now it’s Tel Aviv and the West Bank, as U.S. voters demand a way out from war“]
• Wall Street Journal 7/13/26: Schumer’s Tragedy—and Ours [“Jewish Democrats have found their loyalty to the party isn’t being returned.“]
• Drop Site 7/13/26: The New Israel-Backed Nonprofit Feeding Lawmakers Model Legislation [“The State Legislator Israel Caucus says it’s an independent nonprofit. The Israeli government discreetly paid for its first D.C. junket.”]
• Institute for National Security Studies (Israel) 7/13/26: U.S.–Israel Alliance as a Litmus Test: The Democratic Primaries and the Struggle over the Party’s Future
• New York Post 7/13/26: Ro Khanna’s West Bank ‘hostage’ stunt is a new low for a total phony
• Times of Israel 7/12/26: A Jew at CUFI: Rediscovering the Biblical Heart of Zionism
• The Forward 7/11/26: More US Jews feel ‘politically homeless’ than ever. What are we to do?
• Times of Israel 7/11/26: Why US politics feels like it’s all about Israel — and what that does and doesn’t mean for Jews
• The Argument 7/10/26: It really is about Israel — Gaza as the new Vietnam
• Front Page 7/1026: Jewish Democratic Council of America Backs Candidates Accusing Israel of Genocide [“This is what the official Jewish Democrat organization supports now”]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Arizona

• Zeteo 7/14/26: Socialist Arizona Candidate Says Israel Is Interfering in His Election [“Kai Newkirk, a democratic socialist, is challenging an incumbent Democratic lawmaker in Arizona.“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – California

• Jewish Insider 7/14/26: Khanna pressed to support Oct. 7 attacks in Drop Site interview [“The congressman angered Drop Site co-founder Jeremy Scahill by refusing to condone the attacks; Scahill accused Khanna of promoting a ‘double standard’“]
• Honest Reporting 7/14/26: Scott Wiener and the Progressive Purity Test [“The Jewish U.S. democratic senator’s “progressive” views on Israel wasn’t enough to protect him antisemitic attacks.“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Georgia

• Jewish Insider 7/13/26: In Georgia’s Senate race, tough choices ahead for the state’s Jewish community [“Some Jewish Georgians say they feel politically homeless as they have to choose between Sen. Jon Ossoff and Rep. Mike Collins“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Kentucky

• The National News Desk 7/13/26: Thomas Massie says the Israeli lobby funded ads that claimed he dated AOC, Ilhan Omar

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Maine

• Haaretz 7/17/26: Maine Democratic Senate Candidates Echo Platner’s anti-Israel Rhetoric at Debate [“All four candidates at Thursday’s debate aligned with the former nominee’s positions, accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and pledging to halt U.S. military aid“]
• The Forward 7/13/26: Another Graham Platner potential replacement now says Israel committed genocide in Gaza [“Shenna Bellows became Maine’s secretary of state after leading the state’s Holocaust center“]
• The Intercept 7/10/26: Maine Senate Candidates Claim They’re Just Like Platner — But Entirely Different

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Maryland

• Maryland Matters 7/13/26: Q&A: A conversation with Chris Van Hollen

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Massachusetts

• Newton Beacon 7/26/26: Survey shows Auchincloss with 47-point lead over Poulos [“Auchincloss, who was first elected in 2020, has been a target of progressive voters over his support for Israel throughout Israel’s controversial military operations in Gaza and Lebanon. Critics have called him out over campaign contributions from the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and surveillance tech Palantir, run by the infamous right-wing billionaire Peter Theil.“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Michigan

• The Intercept 7/17/26: Two-Thirds of Shri Thanedar’s Campaign Cash Came Through AIPAC as He Lost Over $600K [“AIPAC bundlers have propped up the Michigan congressman, who has invested millions in campaign funds in crypto.”]
• CNN 7/17/26: Barack Obama hasn’t endorsed a Michigan Senate candidate. An AIPAC-linked group is spending millions on ads with him anyway
• Detroit News 7/17/26: Haley Stevens has a lopsided spending advantage against Abdul El-Sayed
• Common Dreams 7/16/26: AIPAC, ‘Murky’ Donors Spend $50 Million to Help Stevens Beat El-Sayed in Michigan
• Newsweek 7/16/26: AIPAC Is Betting Big on Michigan Democrat In Public Feud with Netanyahu
• New York Times 7/16/26: Can a Pro-Israel Democrat Still Win a Big Primary? She’s Going to Try. [“To prevail in Michigan’s crucial Senate primary, Representative Haley Stevens will need to overcome Democratic voters’ skepticism of Israel. Pro-Israel groups are spending heavily to help her.”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/15/26: Poll: Haley Stevens holds seven-point lead over Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan Senate primary
• Batya Ungar-Sargon (Substack) 7/15/26: Black and Working-Class Voters See Through Millionaire Socialist Abdul El-Sayed
• Jewish Insider 7/15/26: Michigan Democrats scramble to avoid a Platner repeat [“After socialist candidates scored several surprise victories, party leaders are fighting with renewed vigor to rally behind Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) in the primary against her left-wing challenger, Abdul El-Sayed“]
• Detroit News 7/14/26: Stevens gains edge in Dems’ Senate race that remains ‘wide open,’ poll finds
• Detroit News 7/14/26: AIPAC draws ire of half of Michigan Democratic voters in new poll
• Current Affairs 7/14/26: Haley Stevens Is an Extremist, Not a Centrist [“Stevens takes the radical position that U.S. support for Israel should ‘go unquestioned.’ If never questioning support for a genocidal state is ‘moderate,’ then our definition of ‘moderate’ needs to change.“]
• Washington Free Beacon 7/14/26: Abdul El-Sayed’s Father-in-Law, a Top Donor to an El-Sayed Super PAC, Is Among Top Leaders of Muslim Brotherhood Organization Linked to Terror Funding
• Jewish Currents 7/14/26: Insurgent Democrats Face Their Toughest Test Yet in Michigan [“Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is looking to extend the left’s winning streak. It won’t be easy.”]
• Jewish Insider 7/14/26: Mainstream Democrats rally to block far-left candidate from nomination in swing Mich. district [“William Lawrence, a virulent Israel critic gaining momentum among progressives in Michigan’s battleground 7th Congressional District, is facing a wave of criticism over past comments denigrating Black political leadership, attacking former Vice President Kamala Harris.”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/13/26: Ilhan Omar endorses anti-Israel El-Sayed in Dem primary for Michigan Senate race [“Abdul El-Sayed said that the Minnesota congresswoman is ‘one of the most courageous and unwavering fighters in Congress right now.‘”]
• Bridge Michigan 7/13/26: Outside spending floods Michigan’s US Senate race — most for Haley Stevens
• Washington Free Beacon 7/13/36: Abdul El-Sayed Wants Medicare for All ‘From Cradle to Grave.’ His Psychiatrist Wife Doesn’t Accept Medicare—or Any Insurance at All. [with Batya Ungar-Sargon doubling down on the story on Substack]
• Jewish Insider 7/12/26: Abdul El-Sayed calls Israel a ‘rogue state’ [“The far-left Senate candidate is facing off in the Aug. 4 primary against Rep. Haley Stevens“]
• Current Affairs 7/12/26: How An AIPAC Smear Campaign Works [“The Israel lobby’s attempt to destroy Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign is a disturbing example of how money warps democracy.“]
• Times of Israel 7/10/26: NY’s Lander endorses Michigan candidate El-Sayed, who said Dem support for Israel is only about money
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/10/26: Haley Stevens opposes new US strikes on Iran, Brad Lander endorses Abdul El-Sayed [“The Democratic contenders for U.S. Senate in Michigan remain statistically tied in a new poll, as foreign policy and Israel emerge as flashpoints in the campaign.“]
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/10/26: El-Sayed’s anti-AIPAC antisemitic conspiracy mongering is winning votes [“The Michigan Senate race tells us more about the future of the Democrats and the centrality of antisemitism in our public discourse than the demise of the disgraced Graham Platner in Maine.“]
• Fox News 7/10/26: Michigan Senate hopeful calls AIPAC donations ‘legalized bribery,’ remains silent on other donations

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Missouri

• The Forward 7/14/26: Cori Bush to fellow progressives: My reelection would be ‘the knockout’ punch to AIPAC [“Progressive candidates cast opposition to Israel and AIPAC as part of their movement’s ascent“]
• Missouri Independent 7/14/26: Cori Bush targets Wesley Bell’s Israel stance in St. Louis congressional rematch [“Two years after pro-Israel spending helped Bell defeat Bush, the former congresswoman is betting shifting views on the Middle East can power her comeback“]
• Jerusalem Post 7/14/26:  Cori Bush vows to deliver ‘knockout’ punch to AIPAC in upcoming congressional primary rematch [“Now, as AIPAC has rapidly transformed into a radioactive bogeyman among Democrats and Bush’s fellow progressives have mounted an ascent across the party, Bush is out for revenge.“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Minnesota

• Jerusalem Post 7/12/26: Ilhan Omar: Prove your Gaza genocide claims or stop making them

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New York

• Jewish Telegraphic Agency/New York Jewish Week 7/17/26: NY Rep. Pat Ryan, an AIPAC endorsee, says he will return its funds after voting to halt aid to Israel
• Jewish Insider 7/17/26: Pat Ryan says he’ll refund AIPAC donors who ask following vote to end U.S. aid to Israel [“The statement came after the New York congressman voted to cut off all U.S. aid to Israel”]
• Washington Examiner 7/16/26: New York Democrat Pat Ryan pledges to refund AIPAC money. It could cost him $790,000
• USA Today 7/13/26: How a Brooklyn coffee shop got caught in a political firestorm
• Times of Israel 7/11/26: NYC House candidate doubles down in defending attendance at pro-Hamas rally a day after Oct. 7 [“Darializa Avila Chevalier insists she condemns Palestinian terror group’s slaughter of civilians, says she was at the protest because Israel ‘has a pattern of engaging in retribution against civilians’”]
• New York Jewish Week 7/10/26: Against Peter Beinart’s pushback, Darializa Avila Chevalier doubles down on attending Oct. 8 pro-Palestinian rally [“The congressional candidate in NY-13 also discussed her support for a one-state solution in the Middle East.”]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – South Carolina

• Jewish Insider 7/15/26: Rep. Russell Fry, a Trump loyalist, emerging as front-runner in race to succeed Graham [“Fry has been a reliably conservative and party-line vote in the House since elected, and also holds a solidly pro-Israel voting record. AIPAC congratulated him on his primary victory in 2024.“]
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/14/26: South Carolina likely to elect pro-Israel senator with less foreign policy expertise, focus than Graham, experts say [“‘Whoever ends up getting this seat, they’re not going to have as much foreign policy experience as Lindsey Graham,’ Christopher Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University, told JNS.“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Washington State

• Jewish News Syndicate 7/14/26: Muslim hoping to unseat longtime Dem congressman for supporting Israel says pro-LGBT messages alienate Muslims [“Melissa Chaudhry, who is running in Washington state as a Democrat but has said she would switch to the Green Party, told JNS that she was ‘forced into a corner by an aggressive and dishonest political opponent.‘”]
• KOMO News 7/10/26: Washington State Democratic Party draws criticism over reparations, antisemitism language

Targeting Free Speech/Civil Society

• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 7/10/26: New Israel Fund decries House GOP investigation over its alleged Israeli election spending [“’NIF will not be deterred in our work to defend democracy, promote equality, and advance peace in Israel,’ the group said.”]
• YNet 7/10/26: US: House committees investigating New Israel Fund
• Haaretz 7/10/26: U.S. House Republicans Threaten New Israel Fund’s Tax-exempt Status Over Alleged anti-Netanyahu Electioneering [“Judiciary and Ways and Means committees say the U.S.-based nonprofit may have violated tax-exempt rules by funding organizations involved in Israeli elections • The New Israel Fund calls the allegations meritless”
• Times of Israel 7/10/26: GOP-led House panel launches probe of umbrella group that backs Israeli progressive causes

Iran

• Jewish Insider 7/16/26: Gulf states need to take the lead, negotiate with Iran over Strait of Hormuz, Murphy says [“Sen. Chris Murphy said that the U.S. could no longer guarantee regional security, but that might have a ‘silver lining’ by obligating the Gulf states to negotiate directly with Iran“]
• Jewish Insider 7/14/26: Democrats denounce Trump’s return to Iran war [“The president implied that the renewed strikes reset the 60-day clock for operations without congressional authorization“]

Other Stuff

• Jewish Insider 7/15/26: Board of Peace officials lobby Capitol Hill for peacekeeping funds [“Three senior officials with the board are requesting $200 million from Congress to support the International Stabilization Force in Gaza“]
• Wall Street Journal 7/10/26: A Congressional Campaign Against Jewish Charities [“Democratic lawmakers enlist the GAO to investigate ‘compliance with IRS requirements’ by groups supporting Israel’s presence in the West Bank.“] Also see X-post from Mark Goldfeder, which including a pdf of the 7/9/26 letter he and Eugene Kontrovich sent to signers of the GAO letter, and in which they lay out accusations and questions, and demand an answer within 7 days.
• Forbes 7/9/26: The FBI Told Apple To Keep Quiet About Spying On A Republican Staffer. Apple Bit Back. [“The DOJ served Apple with repeated gag orders related to extensive surveillance of a senior Republican Congressional staffer in a Qatari-influence investigation.“]

The week of July 13, 2026 saw an unprecedented vote in the House of Representatives regarding aid to Israel. The vote was on an amendment offered by Massie (R-KY) to the HR 8595 – the FY27 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) Appropriations Act. The amendment states: “No funds for Israel. (a) None of the funds made available under this Act shall be obligated or expended for Israel. (b) The amount otherwise made available by this Act for ‘Foreign Military Financing Program’ is hereby reduced by $3,300,000,000.”

The decision by House Republican leaders to make this amendment [which Massie has been introducing on this bill every year] “in order” — i.e., to let it come to the floor for a vote — comes in the context of rising grassroots opposition to aid for Israel and criticism of the US-Israel relationship — grounded in nearly 3 years of live-streamed destruction and genocide in Gaza, escalating Israeli terrorism in the West Bank, Israel’s mass destruction and ethnic cleansing in Lebanon, and the widely-held view that Israel pushed/manipulated the Trump Administration into war with Iran. The decision appeared to reflect a goal of forcing a politically awkward/costly vote on Democrats that would divide the caucus — on an amendment that has no chance of passing (thanks to Republican votes), amending a bill that most Democrats would vote NO on anyway. The actual outcome, however, was something quite different.

The actual outcome, however, was something quite different.

On 7/15/26, the House REJECTED the Massie Amendment by a vote of 104-314 — with 103 Democrats voting NO and another 10 voting PRESENT.

• Nearly 50% of Democrats voting in favor of the amendment (103 our of a total of 212 Democrats currently in the House).
• 10 Democrats voted “present.” This means that, between the “yes” and “present” votes, more than 50% of Democrats opted to NOT oppose an amendment to cut off aid to Israel, despite opposition from House Leader Jeffries (D-NY) [whose opposition included permission for members to vote their consciences] and lobbying by AIPAC and other legacy pro-Israel groups.
• Almost every member who voted “yes” or “present”, and many of those voting “no,” issued statements laying out powerful criticisms of Netanyahu and/or Israeli policies, along with concrete/explicit expressions of readiness to support different legislative measures targeting US aid for and policy with respect to Israel — such that the bottom line impact of this vote is to fundamentally reset Democratic party policy on Israel, including with respect both to current/future aid, the next MOU, and the question of pressure/sanctions.
• Among those voting “yes” or “present” are a number of members who are a significant number who are actively supported by AIPAC
• Among those voting “no” are a number are being or have already been primaried by candidates from the left (in races where support for Israel may be a key difference between the candidates).

Below is a collection of floor statements/press releases/social media posts from members on the amendment — offering a useful snapshot into the framing/language/policies articulated in relation to this amendment, much of which represents unprecedented public expressions of criticism of Israel and unprecedented expressions of readiness and intent to change the US-Israel relationship — and virtually all of which underscore that for Democrats in Congress, the era of knee-jerk support for unconditional, unquestioned/unexamined, ceaselessly expanding U.S. aid for Israel is well and truly OVER, as is the era of knee-jerk accusations that anyone who dares to question or oppose aid to Israel is “antisemitic.”

Quotes are in alphabetical order, for ease of reading/searching.

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Members of Congress voting NO on the Massie Amendment to bar all US aid to Israel:

• Adams (D-NC) 7/15/26: “I share the deep frustration so many Americans feel about how conflicts in Gaza and Iran have unfolded, and I have not been silent about the need for accountability and lasting peace. That is why I have co-sponsored the Block the Bombs Act to end the shipment of destructive weapons to Israel. However, a vague amendment that jeopardizes humanitarian and diplomatic efforts in the region is the wrong vehicle. The Massie Amendment was broadly written; it included non-military funding cuts that would limit humanitarian aid, cut refugee resettlement support programs, reduce U.S. Embassy operations, and inhibit peacebuilding efforts in the Middle East. I could not support a measure this broad, even to make an important point. My opposition to this amendment is a rejection of a blunt instrument that would have caused collateral damage to programs that save lives.”
• Aguilar (D-CA) 7/15/26: “I believe this amendment is the wrong approach to U.S. policy in the Middle East. By undermining the Obama-led Memorandum of Understanding, this amendment would compromise our national security, hurt our efforts to achieve peace in the region, and sabotage our ultimate goal of a two-state solution. This amendment could have far-reaching and unintended consequences, including threatening the U.S. embassy in Israel, undermining peace-building efforts and cutting off humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. In the future, we will have the opportunity to review the nature and scope of our direct security and diplomatic assistance to Israel, but we should not do it as part of a rushed response to a poorly-drafted amendment to one appropriations bill. I believe it’s wrong to abandon our allies and walk away from our agreements during such a fragile moment. That is why I opposed this amendment and similarly opposed the Massie amendment to eliminate aid to Jordan. I also voted against the underlying bill because it weakens our national security and undermines our goal of building a lasting peace in the Middle East.”
• Bell (D-MO) 7/15/26: X-post – “Today I voted against a slew of reckless amendments offered by Republicans following a ‘Trump doctrine’ that does nothing but destabilize the Middle East, weaken our allies and global institutions like the UN, and withhold humanitarian aid from those who need it most. At a time when our allies, including Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Jordan, and others, are on the frontlines against our sworn enemies, we cannot afford to turn a blind eye and withhold support and assistance. No ally is perfect, and just like the U.S. government, I do not agree with all of the actions of our allies abroad. But instead of trying to find a comprehensive solution to the issues Republicans want to address in this bill, these amendments are blunt, broad, and carelessly drafted,. This is a political stunt designed to drive a wedge through the House Democratic Caucus rather than have the serious and honest debate these issues deserve. For nearly 80 years, the United States has played a vital role in promoting peace in the post-World War II international order. While the Trump Administration and Republicans are perfectly fine with turning our back on our allies, I am not. I will continue to support our allies, ensure humanitarian assistance is provided, and ensure our policies do not put our civilians and servicemembers in harm’s way.“
• Bishop (D-GA) 7/16/26: “Today, I opposed the Fiscal Year 2027 funding bill that funds our State Department and provides the resources to implement American foreign policy. This bill will lead to the continued erosion of American diplomacy, a foreign policy that ignores our highest ideals, and compromises our national security.  I also could not support the Massie Amendment. While it drew attention to how our support, including military aid, can be misused and abused, its broad language effectively cut off our nose to spite our face. I remain committed to supporting the rights, security, freedom, and self-determination of both Israelis and Palestinians. I remain opposed to expanding settlements and occupation. But this amendment does not limit its effects to just Israelis and Palestinians. It jeopardizes the investment we need in regional missile defense and our ability to counter other regional state and non-state groups that threaten the United States. This amendment did not enjoy bipartisan support and no Republicans, other than Congressman Massie, supported the measure. If we are going to help Israelis and Palestinians achieve a just and sustainable resolution, we need to work together to find a bipartisan solution.”
• Cleaver (D-MO) 7/16/26: “This Republican foreign aid bill debated yesterday decimates needed humanitarian aid and undercuts American diplomacy around the world. Republicans included an amendment to the bill by Rep. Massie that could block all foreign aid to Israel, including programs I strongly support that are focused on peacebuilding and humanitarian aid. I voted no on Rep. Massie’s amendment because I ardently believe in peacebuilding programs which are working daily to bring people together, rather than divide them. Despite its title and messaging, the amendment was drafted in such a broad way that it leaves the Trump Administration, who will implement it, with wide discretion to decide which funding accounts should be blocked. This creates the false impression that Congress had ended their support. That’s not honest policymaking, and it’s not how we should approach an issue with such profound humanitarian consequences. Israel has the right to exist and the right to defend their people, and I believe the U.S. should continue to have a strong strategic alliance with Israel. However, the status quo is not tenable; not for the Israeli people long term, not for the Palestinians trying to live in an ever-shrinking territory in the West Bank, and certainly not for the people still suffering in Gaza. It is outrageous that this Republican bill provided no aid for the Palestinian people continuing to suffer in Gaza. If Congress is serious about examining and changing U.S. policy, then we should debate and vote on legislation that actually does what it claims to do.”
• Craig (D-MN) 7/15/26: “Today’s vote was an unserious attempt by Rep. Thomas Massie to implement sweeping and irresponsible changes to America’s foreign policy. Let me be clear. Benjamin Netanyahu’s reckless policies and the humanitarian crisis he has created in Gaza have damaged Israel’s reputation on the world stage and therefore jeopardized any progress toward weakening Hamas and implementing a necessary two-state solution. Not to mention, President Trump and Netanyahu’s dangerous and illegal war with Iran has driven up costs and put American troops in harm’s way. I firmly believe that the best thing for the U.S.-Israel relationship is for Netanyahu to lose his next election. That said, the U.S.’ longstanding partnership with Israel is critical for maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East and a blanket ban on all foreign aid, including humanitarian programs, would not only endanger the Israeli people, but also American troops and our allies in the region. Attempting to litigate these complex foreign policy conversations through an amendment to the national security appropriations bill undermines the importance of our alliance with Israel and threatens to undercut ongoing efforts to restore peace in the Middle East.”
• DeLauro (D-CT) 7/15/26: “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.”
• DelBene (D-WA) 7/15/26: “The American relationship with Israel must change for the good of both the Israeli and Palestinian people. We must find a path towards peace, and that requires thoughtful discussions and vetted policy. This poorly drafted and overly broad amendment does not just cut military aid to Israel. It also eliminates vital humanitarian assistance, halts funding that supports refugee resettlement, prevents the rebuilding of Gaza, disrupts U.S. diplomatic efforts, and weakens our ability to fight terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. We should not let Republicans dictate America’s position on the Middle East. The way forward must be anchored in a two-state solution that provides a commitment for Israel’s security alongside a viable, independent Palestinian state. This must include a surge of humanitarian aid to alleviate civilian suffering, aid to rebuild Gaza, and an end to the illegal settler expansion in the West Bank. The Netanyahu government is actively blocking this path. By pursuing a military-only strategy, Netanyahu has isolated Israel internationally, damaged its standing in the United States, and killed and displaced civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. Americans should not be subsidizing this reckless and dangerous behavior. As the Israeli Prime Minister says, Israel can finance its own military. While Israel has a right to exist and defend itself from Iran and terrorists, that right does not excuse the horrifying destruction of innocent life or actions that destabilize the entire region. The path forward will not be an easy one, but we cannot accept the status quo. Today’s amendment would move us in the wrong direction by cutting humanitarian assistance and diplomatic aid. I voted against it and the underlying funding bill. I will keep working toward real solutions that bring us closer to a lasting and just peace in the Middle East.”
• Diaz-Balart (R-FL): floor statement – “Madam Chairwoman, as chairman of this subcommittee since 2023, I am proud to be a leader in this body in providing unwavering support to our friend and ally, Israel, especially– especially–after the October 7 terrorist attack. The $3.3 billion in foreign military financing for Israel included in this bill supports American–our–national security interests overseas. We see the same terrorists and terrorist entities that threaten Israel also threaten the United States and our people directly. When we give Israel the tools and capabilities to eliminate these terrorist threats and to protect their homeland, while including the many Americans who visit and live there, we are making America and the American people safer. The United States and Israel have worked together on successful military operations like those in the past year to decimate Iran’s nuclear program and missile capabilities. Israel is also using the overwhelming majority of this funding to actually purchase American- made weaponry, so it actually helps our defense industrial base and our economy. We have worked together extensively on developing military capabilities and other capabilities. Because of these advancements for our mutual interest and security, there is currently a discussion of moving to a new security partnership with Israel after fiscal year 2028. Just to be clear, the assistance in this bill for fiscal year 2027 is under the terms of the existing MOU, memorandum of understanding, which runs for 2 more fiscal years. This does not, in any way, prejudge the outcome of ongoing negotiations. This is about fulfilling our commitment to one of our closest and most important allies that we have in the entire world at a time when terrorists are butchering people around the world. We made that commitment because it makes the American people–our country–stronger. Madam Chair, I urge defeat of the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.”
• Diaz-Balart (R-FL): floor statement – “Madam Chair, as I have said before with this bill, and I have said it many times: If you are an ally and a friend of the United States, this bill supports you. If you are an adversary, you are not going to like this bill. We have no stronger ally than the State of Israel. This is our commitment under the MOU, which is why I respectfully, but very strongly–very strongly–oppose this amendment…”
• Frankel (D-FL): floor statement – “Madam Chair, I rise in very strong opposition to this amendment. Maintaining stability in the Middle East has long been a vital United States strategic interest. What happens there affects our economy, national security, and the safety of our American servicemembers. As written, this amendment is overbroad in that it prohibits or could limit the use of funds for longstanding initiatives related to peace building, refugee settlement, and U.S. Embassy operations. This amendment would restrict our country’s ability to confront Iran’s proxies: Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations in the region who are sworn enemies of the United States, Israel, and our allies. Madam Chair, a 10-minute debate is not the way to change policy as we have a mission of peace in the region and prosperity, both for Israelis and Palestinians.“
• Frankel (D-FL): floor statement – “…there is no question that going forward there needs to be a thoughtful conversation how we spend our foreign aid money. I know we are all committed to that. My heart breaks for the suffering of innocent people in Gaza. We must find a way to infuse humanitarian support, how to find a peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians, but let me tell you how we got here. Since 1979, Iran has repeatedly called for Israel’s elimination while arming terrorist proxies. In the past 3 years, those proxies have launched more than 30,000 rockets, missiles, drones, and mortars into Israel while Hamas hid in their billion dollars’ worth of building of tunnels, 450 miles of tunnels, beneath civilian areas to wage war, not peace. This is not a way to handle foreign policy. I join all rational people who say let’s have a deliberate conversation how to move forward, but not with a 10-minute debate on the floor of the House. Let’s have our efforts aimed together to a two-state solution where Palestinians and Israelis can live peacefully and prosperously together.”
• Gillen (D-NY) 7/15/26: “The State of Israel is one of our most important allies and the only democracy in the Middle East. I firmly support Israel’s right to exist and defend itself from threats, including Iran and terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. This extremely harmful amendment would threaten our strategic alliance, undermine our national security interests and eliminate funding for important research and diplomacy in the region, including the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act, which supports Israeli-Palestinian people-to-people initiatives. That is why I staunchly opposed it. In Congress, I remain committed to ensuring the U.S.-Israel relationship remains a bipartisan issue and promoting peace, stability and a better future in the region.”
• Hayes (D-CT) 7/15/26: “I support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and homeland for the Jewish people, and recognize the close military, economic and strategic alliance we share. During my time in Congress, I’ve had a long-standing voting record in support of defense funding for Israel and remain committed to ensuring its safety and security. I am also horrified by UNICEF reports that children in Gaza have been killed, maimed, and displaced in a devastating war that is an affront to our shared humanity. The security and humanitarian situation in the region remains catastrophic, characterized by widespread destruction, mass displacement, severe aid blockages and high levels of acute food shortages. I continue to believe the Palestinian people have a right to self-determination and American actions should support that goal. It is unfortunate that Massie Amendment #8 is poorly written and extremely broad and fails to acknowledge the humanitarian efforts, potential impacts on Embassy operations, educational and cultural exchanges, and the ongoing support for Palestinian Security Forces which are funded through this aid. I do not believe this amendment was drafted in pursuit of longstanding solutions, but instead to be another political wedge issue. While I do not agree with the entirety of the amendment, I do believe it opens the door to long overdue, hard conversations on U.S. military aid. In the same way I have voted no to domestic funding for agencies who refuse to implement necessary reforms, I cannot vote to send American taxpayer dollars anywhere in the world without that same level of scrutiny. In this moment, my constituents in the Fifth district of Connecticut are demanding more thoughtful and deliberate consideration of the path forward for the Israeli and Palestinian people. For these reasons I voted in support of the amendment.“
• Hoyer (D-MD) 7/15/26:  floor statement – “I rise in strong disagreement with this amendment, which would dangerously undermine America’s national security. If adopted, it would – as Leader Jeffries rightly pointed out – limit our ability to confront terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah that expressly target American citizens and military personnel. And it would make it harder for America to use our relationships with Israel and regional partners to promote a negotiated two-state solution, the only realistic path to deliver on the promise of peace, security, and self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians. I understand the frustration many Members feel with some of the policies and actions of the current Israeli government – as well as their concerns about its commitment to the peace process and a two-state solution. However, this amendment would embolden the enemies of peace, those who seek the complete elimination of Israel, and those looking for an excuse to murder Jews. It is a vote to weaken our ability to engage in the region, and it is a vote against American security, against American interests, and against Americans’ safety. Vote ‘no.’“
• Jeffries (D-NY) – Democratic House Leader – 7/14/26 Dear Colleague: “Consistent with the position articulated by Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro, Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee Greg Meeks and pro-peace organizations like J Street, I will be voting no on Republican Amendment #8 being offered to the National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations Act. As written, it is overly broad in that it prohibits or would limit the use of funds for longstanding initiatives related to humanitarian aid, refugee resettlement, peace-building and U.S. Embassy operations. In addition, the so-called Massie amendment would restrict our country’s ability to confront Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations in the region who are sworn enemies of both the United States and Israel. In my view, there are more decisive ways to achieve the urgent change necessary when it comes to the far-right Netanyahu government. Republican leaders are desperately trying to weaponize an amendment they do not support for nakedly partisan reasons. However, given the strongly held views throughout the Caucus in this important area of foreign policy, we are not whipping this vote. Based on the extensive conversations we have had as a Caucus, there are good faith reasons that will result in Members voting in a variety of different ways with respect to the amendment. Moving forward, it is my strongly held view that for the good of Israel and the Palestinian people, American policy in the Middle East must change. Commitment to a Just and Lasting Peace: The far-right Netanyahu government has isolated Israel from much of the world, severely damaged its standing in the U.S., jeopardized normalization efforts in the region and repeatedly undermined prospects for peace. A major reset is necessary based on two core principles. To begin with, America’s commitment to Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state and homeland for the Jewish people must remain ironclad. Equally significant, the United States must strongly support the creation of an independent Palestinian state that provides dignity, respect and self-determination for the Palestinian people. A process to achieve that goal, ultimately including regional partnerships similar to the Abraham Accords, should be set into motion forthwith. Gaza and the West Bank:  There must be a complete reconstruction and modernization of Gaza. Humanitarian assistance should be surged to alleviate the suffering that Palestinian civilians have experienced as a result of the devastating war. Hamas must be disarmed and removed from power. Financial resources to support peace-building efforts between Israel and the Palestinian people should be enhanced. Economic development efforts in the West Bank and Gaza must be substantially strengthened. As outlined in H.R. 3045, legislation I support, West Bank settlement activity and expansion is illegal under international law. The reprehensible settler violence against the Palestinian people must end. All perpetrators of this violence, settlers or otherwise, should be sanctioned and held criminally accountable. The Future of the Memorandum of Understanding: The current 10-year Memorandum of Understanding entered into by President Barack Obama and the Israeli government in 2016 expires imminently. A meaningful change in direction is needed. Israel has an advanced economy and is capable of paying for its own sophisticated weapons, as the Prime Minister recently acknowledged. Accordingly, any future security arrangement between our two countries should be structured consistently with defense agreements that exist with our other Western allies and strictly adhere to our human rights laws and values. At the same time, a new security arrangement should undergird the maintenance of Israel’s qualitative military edge against Iran and other malign actors in the region. Mutually beneficial joint technology, innovation, research and further development of defensive programs like Iron Dome, Arrow and David’s Sling should be prioritized…”
• Larsen (D-WA) 7/15/26: “I voted ‘no’ on a Republican amendment that would have prohibited any diplomatic, humanitarian, development or security funding related to Israel. I support Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself. The amendment would have stopped critical U.S. efforts in the region to distribute humanitarian aid, resettle refugees, support security collaboration with Palestinians and promote peace. I continue to support humanitarian aid to Palestinians, a ceasefire, reconstruction in Gaza and a two-state solution where Israel and a Palestinian state exist securely side-by-side. I continue to oppose extremism in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government, any effort by Israel to take over Gaza and the continued expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.“
• Larson (D-CT) 7/15/26: “The humanitarian crisis in Gaza demands an immediate surge of aid to innocent civilians. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s blockade and President Trump’s failure to enforce existing human rights laws have prolonged needless suffering for far too long. The amendment before us today would make that crisis worse by blocking aid to Palestinian refugees, defunding peacebuilding programs, and pushing a two-state solution further out of reach. That is why I voted against it. Hamas’s attack on October 7 was abhorrent. The indiscriminate bombing and suffering of the Palestinian people are abhorrent. The rise in antisemitism around the world is abhorrent. We must condemn all of these injustices clearly and without contradiction. I will continue to oppose anyone who undermines peace, including actions by the Netanyahu government that threaten a viable two-state solution. The Trump Administration must enforce existing restrictions on weapons transfers while ensuring that food, medicine, shelter, and other humanitarian aid reach civilians. Prime Minister Netanyahu must restore access to Gaza for aid workers and halt any effort to annex the West Bank. I am a cosponsor of the West Bank Violence Prevention Act, which would sanction those who commit violence in the West Bank, and I support restoring funding for UNRWA to help deliver humanitarian relief at the scale this crisis requires. The United States must protect civilians, uphold international law, and pursue a lasting peace in which Israelis and Palestinians can live with safety, dignity, and self-determination.”
• Lee (D-NV) 7/15/26: X-post – “Today, I voted against an amendment that would eliminate all U.S. aid to Israel – including funds for humanitarian aid, peacebuilding programs, and refugee resettlement. Ripping the rug out from under our ally amidst active attacks from Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other sworn enemies of the U.S. and Israel would endanger not only innocent civilians and U.S. personnel in the region, but also our national security here at home. Current U.S. funding for Israel is not, and should never be, a “blank check.” It is subject to congressional oversight, longstanding laws, and a 10-year agreement signed by then-President Obama. This agreement expires soon, and for the U.S.-Israel alliance to continue standing strong, reforms are desperately needed. We cannot turn a blind eye to the horrors being committed by the Netanyahu government against innocent Palestinians, attempts to annex the West Bank, or violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the region. Israel must uphold international humanitarian standards and adhere to the laws of armed conflict, even when those who seek to do harm to the country and its people might ignore those principles. The U.S. has both a moral and strategic imperative to ensure Israel can defend itself. I have been steadfast in my support for funding to protect innocent civilians – funding that this amendment would immediately end. At the same time, as Israel continues to evolve economically, the terms of U.S. aid to Israel should also evolve. To be clear: under future agreements, we must ensure Israel abides by the same terms we require of other allies purchasing U.S. arms. As we renegotiate the terms of the agreement, the U.S. should maintain an ultimate goal of fostering long term peace in the region. That process should not fall solely on our shoulders, but also on a coalition of nations, and should include economic, diplomatic, and military support.“
• Levin (D-CA) 7/15/26: “The suffering caused by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is staggering. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and families across the region, Israeli and Palestinian alike, have endured unimaginable loss. American policy must confront these realities honestly, not diminish them. The Massie amendment on the House floor today does not live up to that standard. Its overly broad language could strip funding from peacebuilding initiatives between Israelis and Palestinians, humanitarian aid for Palestinians in desperate need, refugee resettlement, and American diplomacy. It would hand the Trump Administration the power to decide what gets funded and what does not. The communities I represent know all too well what happens when President Trump spends taxpayer dollars however he sees fit. In my role on the House Appropriations Committee, I refuse to cede a single inch of my fight to reclaim Congress’s power of the purse from rogue, unelected Trump officials like Russ Vought. This amendment gives them more discretion, not less. I firmly believe in a future where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace, security, and self-determination. Prime Minister Netanyahu and the extremists he has empowered are actively working to make that future impossible. He has prolonged the war to preserve his own political survival and given a platform to those who dream of permanent occupation and annexation. I have made clear that Netanyahu must go. This fall, Israelis will have the chance to elect a new government dedicated to the dignity and security of both peoples, and I hope they will seize it. The violence settlers are inflicting on Palestinian families in the West Bank is abhorrent. It must end. That is why I have cosponsored the West Bank Violence Prevention Act to hold perpetrators accountable. Gaza must be rebuilt, and aid to its residents must flow unimpeded. Palestinians deserve to live free from bombardment, displacement, and blockade. Hamas must be disarmed so a viable path to peace exists. And as the United States negotiates the next Memorandum of Understanding on security assistance, I will insist it include real accountability. American aid must comply fully with American law, and it must never underwrite settlement expansion, annexation, or the collective punishment of civilians. None of this is easy. It demands a more principled, inclusive, and constructive kind of American leadership than the one we have now. I will keep fighting for policies that bring us closer to a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”
• Liccardo (D-CA) 7/15/26: “...Last week, I reached out to more than a dozen leading voices in our Jewish community to personally deliver bad news about my position on U.S. military funding to Israel. The response I received was telling: while most didn’t agree with me on cutting military aid, several (on both sides of the issue) urged that I pick any other opportunity to do so, rather than associating myself with a deeply divisive right-wing figure like Mr. Massie. I’m reminded of the words of Ron Heifetz and Marty Linsky: leadership requires disappointing your friends at a rate they can tolerate.“
• McClain Delainy (D-MD) 7/15/26: “The future of the U.S.-Israel relationship requires serious, thoughtful policy, not political grandstanding. I voted against Representative Massie’s amendment stripping foreign military financing for Israel because it was poorly drafted, overly broad, undermined humanitarian aid, and failed to reflect the critical threats facing our country and global order.  My vote should not be mistaken as support for unconditional military aid to Israel. I do not support providing a blank check to any government, and U.S. assistance must be consistent with our laws, interests, and values. I believe the Democratic Caucus stands united in our hopes for a lasting peace and a two-state solution. We must consider the long-term effects of changing U.S. foreign policy. Forcing a vote on a cynical, unserious amendment that won’t be made into law is counterproductive. The United States should continue to support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and to defend itself. That said, I urge the Netanyahu government to demonstrate a deeper commitment to humanitarian assistance, to safeguard innocent civilian lives, to put an end to settler violence on the West Bank, and advance a realistic path towards a two-state solution. Next Congress, we will thoroughly and intelligently revisit the expiring Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Israel. We will have an opportunity to reshape the U.S.-Israel relationship to ensure respect for human rights and strong regional defense for U.S. interests and our Middle Eastern allies. As we look to the future, I want to be clear: the question is not whether we should change U.S. policy, but instead about what those changes should be.”
• Nadler (D-NY) 7/15/26: “Today the House voted on H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2027. This legislation will weaken diplomatic and development capacities critical to national security and further isolate America on the global stage. Among other devastating cuts, it slashes $1.1 billion from international organizations—a blatant attempt to undermine American diplomacy around the world, as well as efforts to bolster global health and combat the climate crisis. The bill also includes specific and heinous attacks on women and LGBTQ+ individuals globally. Republicans also cruelly attached unrelated legislation to this bill that would undermine Americans’ democratic rights, including the fundamental right to vote, in service of a cynical partisan political agenda. In addition to the underlying bill, the House also considered several dangerous amendments, including amendments that would undermine efforts to build a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Most significantly, the overly broad Massie amendment, which imposes a blanket prohibition on any funds in the bill being used for Israel, including embassy operations, critical peacebuilding programs like the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Program (MEPPA), and more. MEPPA is the legacy of my dear late friend and colleague Nita Lowey and plays a critical role in peacebuilding and people-to-people relations between Israelis and Palestinians. Such efforts are absolutely necessary for real progress ever to be made in the region towards a viable, lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. I have made no secret my opinion of Prime Minister Netanyahu. I have often called him the worst leader in Jewish history since the Maccabean king who invited the Romans into Jerusalem over 2100 years ago. Netanyahu is responsible for Israel’s war crimes in Gaza, growing isolation in the region and around the world, and partisan politicization within American politics. He is responsible for the attempts to undermine Israel’s democratic character in service of keeping himself from facing justice, and for using the lives of innocent Israeli and Palestinian civilians as political pawns in his monomaniacal quest to cling to power. Under his leadership, Hamas grew a stronghold in Gaza with tragically disastrous results, and the Palestinian Authority has been shortsightedly weakened, undermining any viable alternative. Settler violence has surged in the West Bank, and new Palestinian terrorist entities have arisen. In short, Netanyahu has been a disaster for Israel and for all those around the world concerned with the future of the region. I do not question the many well-intentioned supporters of the amendment who voted for it as a means of sending a message of disapproval of Israel’s actions. I share their disapproval of these actions, and I will never shy away from expressing my critiques of Israel’s behavior loudly and publicly without fear. However, I refuse to support prohibiting funding for the very peace-building programs and activities that are perhaps our best hope at present of improving the reality on the ground and building towards long-term peace. These programs, funded in memory of Chairwoman Lowey, are persistently under attack, with their funding under constant risk. I simply will not join those undermining the heroic efforts of these peace-seekers…Today’s legislation will make the world less safe and less secure for generations to come. Unfortunately, I was unable to vote due to a family medical emergency in New York. Had I been present, I would have voted against this deeply shameful bill and the dangerous amendments considered by the House. When this bill is sent to the Senate, I urge them to take a more responsible course.”
• Panetta (D-CA) 7/14/26: “Mr. Speaker, I rise to state my intention to vote against H. Res. 1423, the rule for consideration of H.R. 8595, National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. I oppose the resolution as written so that the House of Representatives can advance my amendment to Massie Amendment No. 8, printed therein. Should the Rules Committee meet again, I would offer an amendment to the Massie Amendment that would read, ‘After page 1 1ine 6 insert the following: (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority, or the broader region, nor shall it be construed to prevent support of Palestinian Security Forces in the West Bank, and nor shall it be construed to prevent the delivery of defensive weapons for the protection of Palestinians and Israelis.’  This would prevent the passage of the Massie Amendment from impacting the delivery of humanitarian aid and items critical for defense. However, without the opportunity to advance my amendment, I will oppose  H. Res. 1423.” [this was Panetta’s statement on the resolution adopting the Rule to bring HR 8595 to the floor]
• Riley (D-NY) 7/15/26: X-post – “The Netanyahu Government’s reckless and belligerent leadership has inflicted unacceptable suffering, undermined peace, and made the world less safe. American policy in the Middle East must change–for the security of Israel, the dignity and freedom of the Palestinian people, America’s interests, and the prospect of a lasting peace. I voted against the Massie Amendment because it is the wrong way to achieve that goal. America can and should hold the Netanyahu Government accountable without breaking our alliances and commitments, undermining humanitarian aid and diplomatic efforts, and defunding State Department services that assist constituents abroad. I remain committed to a two-state solution that advances America’s interests and guarantees Israelis’ and Palestinians’ right to live in dignity and in peace and security.”
• Rivas (D-CA) 7/15/26: “Foreign policy, especially issues involving the Middle East, should be considered by lawmakers in a thoughtful and strategic approach. Unfortunately, while I disagree with many of the actions of far-right Netanyahu, the Republican amendment is a poorly drafted and hyper-partisan amendment. More specifically, this amendment endangers the delivery of crucial humanitarian aid. Our country was in a different position when President Barack Obama entered the United States into a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2016. With the expiration of this MOU imminent, I believe change to our Middle East policy must happen to ensure the safety and security of both Israelis and Palestinians. These changes cannot come from a disgruntled Republican Member’s amendment that aims to divide Democrats and only allows for ten minutes of debate on the House Floor. For these reasons, I voted ‘no’ on this amendment, and will continue working with my colleagues to address the needs of both the Israeli and Palestinian people.“
• Schneider (D-IL) 7/15/26: “Today’s Massie amendment vote will have no legislative impact, and it does nothing to advance the prospects for peace in the Middle East. This cynical Republican amendment was put forward to stoke division and divide people here in the United States, not to end the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians or provide a path forward.  I will seek to understand how such a flawed legislative proposal – one that would hurt Israelis and Palestinians, as well as America’s standing in the world – generated support. We must work to rebuild a bipartisan consensus that supports Israel’s security and sovereignty as a Jewish and democratic state, while also recognizing the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and ultimately statehood.”
• Sherman (D-CA) 7/15/26: X-post w/ video clip – “The Massie amendment sends a clear signal to the enemies of America that we are willing to abandon our allies and our own security. I stood against this anti-Israel, pro-terror amendment.”
• Sherman (D-CA): floor-statement –“Madam Chair, President Obama signed a 10-year memorandum of understanding. We are now in the ninth year of that memorandum. Mr. Massie would have us repudiate that signature. That is as bad an idea as Donald Trump’s repudiation of the JCPOA, the deal with Iran that limited its nuclear program. We are told that this is about offensive weapons. This $3.3 billion provides the AMRAAM system that defends Israeli apartment buildings and houses from incoming missiles that have as one purpose: to kill as many Israeli civilians as possible. How are we going to influence the people of Israel and the government of Israel? They need our influence. They need to change their policies. How are we going to influence them? As the missiles are coming in for the sole purpose of killing as many civilians as possible, we say we will not help shoot them down. We will not fund the AMRAAM system that is provided for in a memorandum of understanding signed by President Obama. This amendment is a political stunt. Republican leadership has brought it to the floor–not for the purpose of having it become law, but for the purpose of driving a wedge through the middle of the Democratic Party, for the purpose of facilitating Republican advertisements that will put our party on the side of those who are screaming death to America and death to Israel, and to put our party on the side of those who say that Israel has no right to exist. If you care about not only our Middle East policy but you care about the Democratic Party’s position, with the American people, then you must vote “no” on this amendment. Now that does not mean that there will not be future reductions in our aid to Israel. That does not mean that we will not try to change Israeli policy, but this amendment goes as far as it possibly can to put us on the side not of those who would shoot down the missiles that are aimed at civilian neighborhoods in Israel but on those who are cheering those missiles. Then we are told that the amount of money involved is the focus. It says $3.3 billion, but that is about an 80th of the aid that we have provided Ukraine and that we should have provided Ukraine. This is not an attempt to divert a large portion of our money from Israel. This is an attack on the Israeli people.”
• Subramanyan (D-CA) 7/15/26: “As the War in Iran drags on for the 5th month, House Republicans pushed a funding bill to the floor for the State Department that further isolates our country. It contains 20% less funding for our diplomatic and international development work and it doesn’t include any funding for UNICEF or the United Nations, which will allow our adversaries to fill in the gaps. It cuts $500 million for global health programs, including HIV/AIDS prevention and health security, which means we will see more outbreaks and deaths. The House also voted on several partisan, ‘gotcha’ amendments but failed to take up bipartisan amendments. For instance, while we need to have a serious conversation about our financial support for Israel and other countries in the region given the Iran war, these amendments were poorly conceived and would have undermined peacebuilding programs and embassy operations.  My own amendments on humanitarian aid to Gaza as well as Sudan, USAID, and preventing corruption in foreign policy were all ruled out of order by House Republicans and did not even get a vote.  The Trump administration and House Republicans have been a complete failure on foreign policy.”
• Sykes (D-OH) 7/15/26: “…”Israel is one of our most important allies and I strongly support its security and right to defend itself. I opposed this amendment because it would have eliminated all funding for the American Embassy in Israel under this bill and cut billions in foreign aid to Israel, and also the Palestinian and Lebanese people. At this moment of continued volatility in the region, it is critical that the ceasefire be respected and that all parties avoid actions that could further escalate tensions. Long-term stability will depend on restraint, diplomacy, and a sustained commitment to peace and security for the region.“
• Vindman (D-VA) 7/15/26: “Under Prime Minister Netanyahu’s leadership, Israel has lost its way. His decisions have undermined Israel’s long-term security, strained our alliance, and made Americans, Israelis, and Palestinians less safe. Yet, as a Jewish refugee who fled oppression in the Soviet Union, I have long believed that Israel is a refuge for many families like mine. These convictions made this one of the most difficult votes I’ve cast because Israel needs to change course. However, I could not support an amendment as poorly written as this one that would eliminate key funding provisions that support Palestinian security forces, humanitarian aid, and defensive systems to protect innocent civilians.”
• Walkinshaw (D-VA) 7/15/26: “…The Massie amendment would have eliminated $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing for Israel and barred funds for humanitarian aid, refugee resettlement, peace-building efforts, and U.S. Embassy operations. This poorly-drafted amendment would have cut longstanding initiatives like the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace and Middle East Regional Cooperation programs, which promote dialogue and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. It also would have hamstrung U.S. intelligence and diplomatic efforts to protect Americans from Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations. For those reasons, I joined pro-peace organizations like J Street in opposing the amendment. Its overly broad language threatened important peacebuilding work, and I believe there are better ways to confront the far-right Netanyahu government and secure the lasting peace that Palestinians, Lebanese people, and Israelis deserve. Clearly, U.S. policy toward the Middle East and Israel must change. Historically, Israel has been an important U.S. ally, and a strong U.S.-Israel relationship remains in America’s interest, but only if it is based on shared values of democracy and human rights. Increasingly, the Netanyahu government takes actions that fail to reflect those values. The 10-year Memorandum of Understanding signed under President Obama has provided security support to Israel and will soon expire. Israel is a wealthy nation with an advanced economy and, moving forward, should pay for its own weapons. Israel faces real security threats from Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and others. But the current Israeli government’s military campaigns have caused massive civilian casualties in Gaza and Lebanon, destabilized the region, and not made Israelis safer. I’m particularly troubled by illegal settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank, which push a two-state solution — still the only viable path to security and prosperity for both peoples — further out of reach. To replace the expiring MOU, Prime Minister Netanyahu is seeking an expanded security arrangement that deepens cooperation between the U.S. and Israeli militaries. I will not support that expansion until there is an end to illegal West Bank settlement activity, real progress toward peace and reconstruction in Gaza, and an end to Netanyahu’s failed, never-ending total war approach.”

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Members of Congress voting PRESENT on the Massie Amendment to bar all US aid to Israel:

• Bera (D-CA) 7/15/26: “I will vote present on today’s amendment put forward by Representative Thomas Massie to eliminate all funding for Israel in the State Department and National Security appropriations bill. I have long supported the U.S.-Israel relationship and believe in Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state. I also firmly believe that a two-state solution is the only path to lasting peace, security, and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Achieving that goal will require a change in America’s approach toward the Netanyahu government. This amendment is poorly drafted and overly broad. It would go beyond military assistance and restrict funding for humanitarian aid, refugee assistance, peacebuilding efforts, and U.S. diplomatic operations. Cutting these programs would undermine our ability to promote peace and stability in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, and the broader region. At the same time, I cannot vote against this amendment because I do not condone the Netanyahu government’s conduct of the war in Gaza and the resulting humanitarian crisis, its actions in Lebanon, its failure to confront escalating settler violence in the West Bank, and its role in drawing the United States into the current war with Iran. My present vote reflects my opposition to both the amendment as written and the policies of the Netanyahu government.”
• Brown (D-OH) 7/15/26: “The Massie amendment was a false choice between eliminating all U.S. assistance to Israel, including humanitarian aid, and accepting the Trump-Netanyahu status quo. Foreign policy decisions this important shouldn’t be made via sloppy amendments to partisan spending bills. I voted against the underlying bill and present on the amendment because it’s time to send a message that U.S. policy must evolve. As a supporter of the U.S.-Israel relationship and a believer that a two-state solution is critical to achieving real peace, I am severely concerned that the Netanyahu government is continuing on the exact wrong course. It’s time for Congress to have an honest debate about how our policy must change to truly advance Israel’s security, protect Palestinian dignity, and promote stability in the Middle East.”
• Elfreth (D-MD) 7/15/26: “America’s relationship with our only liberal, democratic ally in the Middle East, Israel, deserves a serious policy discussion. The amendment that Representative Massie, a member with a record of antisemitism, put forward was instead political grandstanding – it was a ploy to divide Democrats masquerading as a legitimate policy debate. This amendment was written so broadly that it would further destabilize the Middle East and cut a wide range of longstanding funding for humanitarian aid, refugee resettlement, and peace-building initiatives throughout the region, including the West Bank. We voted on this poorly written, sledgehammer of an amendment because Republicans were having a bad week politically – and they wanted Democrats to have a worse one. I refuse to participate in the brazenly political games of Republican leadership, which is why I decided to take my first present vote in Congress. In taking this vote, I also want to make clear that the current dynamics of our allyship are not sustainable for the region and our nation. Over the past decade, the Israeli and the United States governments have experienced a serious, far-right shift under Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump. The American people feel unheard. This extremism has led the United States into an unnecessary, unconstitutional war with Iran, where the United States lost 14 servicemembers in combat and is currently spending untold billions of American taxpayer dollars – restarting strikes just this week. We must be clear-eyed in confronting the extremist leadership that is jeopardizing peace, a two-state solution, and American leadership abroad. Our responsibility is clear. Our two countries must together strengthen our democratic alliances worldwide, eradicate terrorism, adhere to the highest human rights standards, and focus on building a lasting peace for the region. While there is much work ahead, I have long held the belief and the resolute hope in a lasting two-state solution. The people of Israel deserve safety and security, and the United States should continue to bipartisanly affirm Israel’s right to exist. The Palestinian people deserve self-determination and a surge of humanitarian aid – the exact type of aid that this amendment cuts. This decades-long issue is larger than our current leadership. It is our responsibility to craft and advance meaningful foreign policies that ensure all people – Israeli and Palestinian alike – can live and thrive without fear of violence. Today’s amendment failed to meet that serious standard.”
• Huffman (D-CA) 7/15/26: “I almost never vote ‘present,’ but this amendment leaves me little choice. I support the central message behind it and have consistently opposed the Israeli government’s unhinged policies of aggression, brutality, and territorial expansion. I’ve demonstrated that through my support for measures like the Lebanon War Powers Resolution, the Block the Bombs Act, Rep. McCollum’s justice for Palestinians initiatives, and countless other legislative efforts to hold the Israeli government accountable for reprehensible actions. But I cannot offer blanket support for an amendment so poorly drafted that it could be construed to go far beyond blocking offensive military assistance. As written, it risks cutting off support for humanitarian organizations, peacebuilding efforts, and protections for vulnerable Palestinians. On an issue this consequential, Congress has a responsibility to legislate with precision, not substitute sloppy drafting for serious policymaking.”
• McCollum (D-MN) 7/15/26: “I have long been a vocal opponent of the way the United States provides a blank check to the Netanyahu government. For the last nine years, I have carried a bill to put limits on how all US dollars to Israel may be used, which would ensure that not one penny of taxpayer dollars is used by Israel to violate the human rights of Palestinian children. I am also a cosponsor on legislation like the Block the Bombs Act, which also places limits on US assistance to Israel. However, I cannot support Mr. Massie’s amendment as I have serious concerns that with the way it is so broadly written. As drafted, other foreign assistance—including vital assistance to Palestinians—could be cut off as well. For many of my colleagues in the majority, this amendment is just another way for them to carry out President Trump’s isolationist agenda to limit and, in some cases completely cease, US foreign assistance.”
• Pappas (D-NH) 7/15/26: “I cannot support this amendment as written because it is overly broad. Enacting it would hamstring our humanitarian efforts in the region by limiting funding for programs that support Palestinian economic development and peacebuilding efforts between Israelis and Palestinians. It would also weaken our ability to combat Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations that threaten Americans and our allies. At the same time, I have deep concerns about the path Prime Minister Netanyahu continues to pursue that undermines the long term security objectives of Israel and the United States. This path won’t lead to peace, only to more war and instability. The United States must stand for security and self-determination for Israelis and Palestinians alike. I voted present today because I cannot support this amendment as written but also cannot support the disproportionate, extreme policies of the Netanyahu government.”
• Thompson (D-CA) 7/15/26: “I stand firmly against sending offensive weapons to Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu has caused a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and I continue to call for the protection of Palestinian civilians, a surge of humanitarian aid in Gaza, and a two-state solution to bring peace and self-determination to Israelis and Palestinians. I cannot support this amendment because it is so poorly drafted and overly broad that it would defund our efforts to protect civilians and promote peace, taking us farther from our goals. At the same time, I stand firmly against Netanyahu’s conduct in Gaza and his efforts to drag us into conflict with Iran. I voted ‘present’ in protest of Netanyahu and in solidarity with our peacekeeping efforts. This amendment was proposed by an extremist as an unserious solution to an incredibly serious issue and I refuse to play cheap political games when it comes to matters of global conflict.”

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Members of Congress voting YES on the Massie Amendment to bar all US aid to Israel:

Group statements:

• Statement by 27 members – Balint (D-VT), Beyer (D-VA),  Casar (D-TX), Chu (D-CA),  DeSaulnier (D-CA), Dexter (D-OR),  Garamendi (D-CA), García (D-IL), Grijalva (D-AZ), Hoyle (D-OR), Jackson (D-IL), Jacobs (D-CA), Jayapal (D-WA), Johnson (D-GA), Lynch (D-MA),  McGovern (D-MA), Pingree (D-ME), Pocan (D-WI),  Pressley (D-MA), Ramirez (D-IL), Randall (D-WA), Schakowsky (D-IL), Simon (D-CA), Stansbury (D-NM), Tokuda (D-HI), Watson Coleman (D-NJ), and Velázquez (D-NY) 7/15/26: “As Members of Congress, it is our duty to ensure that our constituents’ hard-earned money is used in a way that advances America’s interests and values. For this reason, we do not support providing an additional $3.3 billion of American taxpayer dollars to be used for Israeli military operations in Gaza and Lebanon—operations which have killed tens of thousands of civilians, led to the indiscriminate destruction of civilian infrastructure, and caused severe and ongoing humanitarian catastrophes. These are just the latest in a long string of human rights violations inflicted on Palestinian civilians. For nearly six decades, Israeli security forces and military authorities have enforced the occupation of the Palestinian territories, including through restrictions on freedom of movement, arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings. It is clear that existing human rights conditions on the use of American security assistance have not been meaningfully enforced. Enough is enough. Palestinians and Israelis alike deserve peace, freedom, security, stability, and self-determination. Those aims will only be achieved when their inherent dignity and inalienable rights are at the center of U.S. policy in the region. Diplomacy is the answer, and as long as America provides constant funding for more war, peace will always remain out of reach.  Our vote should not be interpreted as opposition to initiatives such as the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act programs or others that foster people-to-people engagement, strengthen civil society, and advance the long-term prospects for a just and lasting peace. We remain committed to supporting these and similar programs while ensuring that U.S. taxpayer dollars advance peace, security, and American interests and values.”
• Statement release by Pettersen (D-CO), Crow (D-CO), DeGette (D-CO), and Neguse (D-CO) 7/15/26: “Today we voted against additional taxpayer-funded military aid being given to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government. We support Israel’s right to exist and defend itself. We believe that both Israelis and Palestinians have the right to safety, security, and self-determination. We should not be giving military aid to any country that does not comply with our own laws and values. The Netanyahu government has failed to meet these standards. The status quo is not tenable. We need a different path forward for America’s foreign policy rooted in values and consistent application of the law.”

Individual statements:

• Amo (D-RI) 7/15/26: “The United States-Israel relationship should be grounded in shared democratic values, respect for the rule of law, and an aspiration for a peaceful future. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government, however, has repeatedly violated these principles.  The rhetoric and actions of extremists, like Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, make it impossible to defend the status quo.  The suffering of civilians in Gaza is unacceptable, the unchecked settlement expansion is reckless, and continued settler violence is unconscionable.  President Trump’s blank check to Netanyahu has allowed a dangerous course that undermines the prospect of peace. Representative Massie’s amendment is poorly constructed and overly broad, and I do not agree with many of the sentiments he’s publicly expressed. But it remains abundantly clear that the United States government must begin charting a new course that upholds American values in the Middle East, protects our national security interests, and demands accountability for how U.S. taxpayer dollars are used. I support Israel’s right to exist. I will continue to support defensive efforts that save civilian lives, including Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and the Arrow systems — none of which would be impacted by this amendment — while making clear that our dollars should not be divorced from our values. This vote is not about abandoning Israel. It’s about rejecting the false choice Republicans are presenting between a blank check for Netanyahu’s extremist coalition and walking away from the Israeli people. I will continue to push for a different path that advances humanitarian relief, defeats Hamas, and achieves a just and lasting peace that provides security, dignity, and self-determination for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”
• Ansari (D-AZ) 7/15/26: X-post – “Today, I will vote yes on an amendment to block $3.3 billion in offensive military assistance to the Israeli government. Netanyahu’s campaigns in Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank, and Iran have been horrific. Not one more taxpayer dollar should fund war and destruction instead of lowering costs for Americans. While I strongly support humanitarian programs, approximately 98.5% of this funding is offensive military financing. Congress must use our leverage to advance a just and durable peace for everyone in the region.”
• Auchincloss (D-MA) 7/15/26: X-post – “I am voting Yes on the amendment to State Department appropriations to zero out $3.3 billion in foreign military financing for Israel. If enacted, this measure would prevent the U.S. government from financing and selling attack aircraft, bombs & missiles, and targeting systems to the Israel Defense Forces. It would not affect U.S. support for Israel’s Iron Dome, David’s Sling, or Arrow air-defense systems. The authority from Congress to finance and sell American-made weapons to allies is a grant of trust to both a presidential administration and its counterparty heads of government. With their disastrous war against Iran, their empowerment of settler violence in the West Bank, and their strategic incoherence against Islamist terrorism, both President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu have sacrificed that trust. Congress must act where the executives have failed. I acknowledge that this amendment is not the ideal mechanism of action. Its sponsor, Representative Thomas Massie, recently ran a re-election campaign that featured antisemitic tropes. Also, the State Department has not issued clear guidance about whether the amendment could affect humanitarian programming, embassy operations, or West Bank security assistance; if the amendment becomes law, I will work with colleagues to hold harmless those efforts. I have weighed these problems against the central thrust of the amendment: there must be consequences for Trump and Netanyahu. Those consequences should not impair the State of Israel’s right to defend itself against the atrocities of the terrorist regimes that threaten it. Israel and the United States have common interests, shared values, and a long history. Israel and the United States are allies. Before the next appropriations cycle in 2027, when this policy will again be up for debate, Israel will hold elections, the repercussions of the debacle in the Strait of Hormuz will become more clear, and negotiations between the United States and Israel over what replaces the Memorandum of Understanding will pick up pace. This presents an opportunity to renew the U.S.-Israel alliance on shared principles and a bipartisan basis.” The Editor-in-Chief of Jewish Insider responded on X: “This is the statement a Dem lawmaker releases when they’re trying to appease the rising anti-Israel forces within the party:” Auchincloss’s retort: “This is not about politics. American soldiers are dead. At the heart of FMF was a deal: – America ensures QME for Israel to fight terrorists; – Israel never asks Americans to wage its wars. Netanyahu & Trump broke that deal with this Iran debacle.“
• Beyer (D-VA) 7/15/26: “It is past time for our nation to fundamentally reevaluate its security relationship with the state of Israel. A military response to the heinous October 7th attacks was justifiable, but Israel’s ongoing campaigns across the region have cost the lives of tens of thousands of innocents and isolated Israel on the world stage. The wanton disregard for the human rights of civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon shown by the Israeli government and security forces, along with their contempt for international and U.S. law and implacable commitment to an ever-expanding campaign of settlement and occupation have made a dramatic course correction in the U.S.-Israeli partnership long overdue. The disastrous Iran War has further demonstrated the strategic costs of our alliance which has grown closer even as it makes less sense for the United States. No foreign government is entitled to American taxpayer dollars or assistance, particularly those that have acted against U.S. interests and values, as Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government has done increasingly in recent years. While imperfectly written, this amendment serves as a powerful message to the Israeli government that it cannot take U.S. security assistance for granted any longer. The enormous numbers of civilians killed in recent Israel Defense Force operations and the government’s tacit approval for the ongoing violence carried out by settlers in the West Bank has cost Israel the broad support among Americans it once enjoyed. It will likely take years to repair the ties between our two nations and for Israel’s government to regain the trust of the American people.”
• Brownley (D-CA) 7/15/26: “I unequivocally believe in Israel’s right to exist as a sovereign Jewish state, and I am unwavering in my belief that Israel has the right to defend its people against hostile governments and proxy groups that seek its destruction. I also firmly believe that the Palestinian people have a right to dignity, security, and self-determination. I also believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s actions in the Middle East have deeply undermined these efforts and recklessly escalated tensions in the region. His government’s actions have not advanced the cause of peace or security and have instead left both Israelis and Palestinians less safe. I do not see how we can continue down this path without a course correction. I recognize that Rep. Massie’s amendment is not a serious effort to solve the current state of affairs in the Middle East. It’s also clear to me that the Republicans and the President have long ago ceased to want to take this historically bipartisan issue seriously, and to thoughtfully engage with Democrats to provide the leadership necessary to find a path forward to ending the violence, rebuilding Gaza, and securing the region. My vote in favor of the Massie amendment is simply a vote for that course correction.“
• Carter (D-LA) 7/15/26: “I have always supported Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas and other terrorist organizations that threaten its people. Israel has the right to live in peace and security, and nothing in my position should be interpreted otherwise. But our support for an ally does not mean we should remain silent when innocent lives are being lost on such a devastating scale. The deaths of thousands of Palestinian civilians, especially women and children, the destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, and vital infrastructure, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis demand that we speak with both honesty and compassion. In my view, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government has impeded efforts toward peace and protecting innocent civilians, including from violent attacks by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. America has both the right and the responsibility to ensure that our assistance reflects our values and our commitment to human rights. For that reason, I am supporting Representative Thomas Massie’s amendment. It is a vote for accountability. It is a vote to say that American support should encourage peace, protect innocent lives, and advance the values we stand for as a nation. I continue to support the immediate release of every hostage, a permanent ceasefire, the full delivery of humanitarian aid, and renewed negotiations that lead to two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace, security, and mutual respect. The people of Israel and Palestine deserve to live with dignity and hope. We cannot allow another generation of children to grow up surrounded by violence and loss. I believe in the long-term partnership that the American people have with the people of Israel and in America’s enduring commitment to a more peaceful, stable, and secure Middle East. That future must include dignity, security, and self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians. I firmly state that the policies of the Netanyahu government cannot continue. Peace is never easy. But it is always worth pursuing. That is the future I will continue to work toward.”
• Massie (R-KY): floor statement – “…Madam Chair, Israel has the strongest economy in the Middle East. Their debt per GDP is in much better shape than ours. They don’t need our money. In fact, they have claimed recently they want to get off of the welfare. I am concerned that the other funding mechanisms they are talking about, or co-mingling, our technology and supply chains, we will have even less transparency than what is going on here today, so I am opposed to that as well. I am opposed to all foreign aid. I didn’t pick on Israel here. I offered an amendment to defund Egypt and also to defunding aid to Jordan, which we will talk about in a little bit. I am particularly concerned this year about the foreign aid to Israel. There have been 70,000 casualties in Gaza, and I don’t think we should be a part of that. American taxpayers should not be conscripted into funding the military adventures of Israel. Madam Chair, I urge adoption of my amendment…“
• Massie (R-KY) 7/16/26: X-post – “Though my amendment to strike $3.3 billion in aid to Israel from the State Dept Approps bill did not pass, 104 House Members voted in favor of it. The tide is changing. Americans want their tax dollars to be spent improving things here at home, not waging war and genocide.”
• Casar (D-TX) 7/14/26: X-post w/ video clip – “Tomorrow, the House will vote on an amendment to block the $3.3 billion in taxpayer funding we send to Israel’s military. I will vote yes. It is past time for us to end aid used to commit genocide in Gaza, kill innocents in Lebanon and beyond, and help drag us into war with Iran.”
• Casar (D-TX) 7/15/26: X-post – “I just voted to end US funding for Israel’s weapons of war. More Democrats than ever before voted to block funding. That is a victory for the millions of Americans who have demanded an end to our taxpayer dollars going to fund genocide. Tomorrow we get back to work. We will win.”
• Castro (D-TX) 7/15/26: (floor statement) “Madam speaker, Israel does not need, and quite honestly does not deserve, more American money for weapons. Prime Minister Netanyahu has taken Israel down an ugly path. The tragedy of October 7th has become a justification for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Self-defense does not include indiscriminately bombing homes, hospitals, churches, schools or refugee camps. There were even credible reports of children intentionally shot in the head and chest. For decades, our nation gave Israel billions to facilitate peace and a two-state solution. Instead, Israel has chosen more war and more occupation. Today, it occupies not only Gaza and the West Bank, but parts of Syria and Lebanon. If there are no consequences, why in the world would Benjamin Netanyahu change what he’s doing? And words are not enough. Condemnations are not enough. If we hope to change Israel’s behavior, we must use our leverage. The American people have seen this tragedy with their own eyes. They have made their judgment. They do not support giving Israel more weapons. Do not reward a wrongdoer. Now it’s up to us in this chamber to take action.” [video clip]
• Clark (D-MA) – House Democratic Whip – 7/15/26: “…Republicans have also included an overly broad amendment by Rep. Massie that blocks all foreign aid to Israel, including humanitarian funding from Palestinian refugees and civilians in Gaza. This is not an attempt to have a serious and necessary debate about offensive military aid to Israel. It’s more stunts from Congressional Republicans who would rather score cheap political points than lead. However, it is clear that the status quo is not tenable. We should not provide a blank check for military aid to any country that does not comply with U.S. law, interests, and values. The Netanyahu government has failed to meet that standard. I will be voting yes, not because I agree with the entirety of the amendment, or the GOP’s cynical motivations for its consideration, but because I believe we must change course. While Democratic Members will make different decisions on this amendment in good faith, we are absolutely united in our shared goal of permanent peace…“
• Dean (D-PA) 7/15/26: “For nearly three years, I have mourned the unspeakable horrors of October 7th. I have met with the families of the slaughtered and the families of hostages as we fought to bring their loved ones, living and dead, home. I have been to Israel three times since the barbaric Hamas attacks — where I met directly with Prime Minister Netanyahu and members of his administration. I repeatedly implored them to pursue a just war, and warned that Israel would lose support if it did not. At the same time, I have met with Palestinian-Americans, Palestinians living in Gaza and the West Bank — families who have lost so many and so much; I have met with healthcare and aid workers — both American and international — operating in Gaza and beyond. It is evident that Mr. Netanyahu’s government continues to inflict atrocities and unspeakable crimes in Gaza and the West Bank, on innocent Palestinians, so many of them children.  That is why today I voted “yes” on Congressman Massie’s flawed amendment — to make clear from me: Not another dime to the Netanyahu government. Israel is a friend and ally of the United States, and I have prized my opportunities to visit and get to know her people. But Netanyahu’s prosecution of this war has not made Israel safer. It has not brought stability to the Middle East. And it has not lived up to our American ideals or international law. And, yes, the Massie amendment is deeply flawed; it is too broadly written, and I have great concern for the State Department’s potential to cut funding for humanitarian aid. Yet I want long-term peace, security, sovereignty, dignity, and hope for the Israeli and Palestinian people. Therefore, I cannot support more funding for Mr. Netanyahu’s continuing atrocities. While my colleagues in our Democratic Caucus may cast a variety of votes, we are all united in our hope for long-term peace — just as the Jewish tradition teaches Tikkun Olam.”
• DeLuzio (D-PA) 7/15/26: X-post – “The American people are sick and tired of seeing our American dollars sent overseas to arm Israel’s military while Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government regularly flouts U.S. and International law. We need a very different relationship, and that’s why I voted ‘yes’ today on the Massie Amendment to stop America’s funding of Israel’s weapons of war.”
• DeSaulnier (D-CA) 7/15/26: X-post – “I am voting yes on the Massie amendment to block an additional $3.3 billion in American taxpayer money for Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon that have already killed tens of thousands of civilians. No more American tax dollars should be used to take us farther from peace.“
• Escobar (D-TX) 7/15/26: ““I will not support sending $3.3 billion to a Netanyahu government that has ignored our laws, interests, and values under both the Biden and Trump administrations. Israel’s operations in Gaza and Lebanon have resulted in staggering civilian casualties, widespread destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, and other essential infrastructure, and an unbearable humanitarian cost, and the surge in state-backed settler violence in the West Bank becomes more alarming by the day. “The Israeli and Palestinian people deserve to live in peace, security, and freedom. But, lasting, durable peace will not be achieved through endless cycles of violence, and providing Netanyahu with an unconditional blank check without accountability and stronger oversight does not make Israel or the U.S. safer, stronger, or more secure. While the Massie amendment is imperfect, I plan to vote ‘yes’.“
• Foushee (D-NC) 7/15/26: “Congress has a responsibility to ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars are used responsibly and that our foreign policy reflects our values, humanitarian standards, and national security interests. Today, I supported Congressman Massie’s amendment because Congress must exercise its oversight role and ensure accountability in how U.S. military assistance is provided…”
• Frost (D-FL) 7/15/26: X-post w/ video clip – “I will be voting yes on the Massie amendment to block $3.3 billion in funding to the Israeli military. Here’s why:“
• Garcia (D-CA) 7/15/26: “Today, I am voting yes on an amendment to block $3.3 billion in American taxpayer dollars for Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli military. Netanyahu, like Donald Trump, is a corrupt authoritarian who should face criminal courts—not receive billions more for weapons. The American people want lower housing costs and more affordable groceries, not more bombs and foreign wars.”
• Garcia (D-IL) 7/15/26: “Throughout my time in Congress, I have consistently advocated to end our government’s use of our tax dollars to fund death and destruction abroad. As the Israeli government continues to commit genocide in Gaza, occupy the West Bank and southern Lebanon, and fuel the illegal war in Iran, my constituents and working people nationwide who are struggling to make ends meet are demanding an end to the blank check for weapons of war. As the Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, I was proud to vote for this amendment and to urge my colleagues to do the same. Today’s historic vote illustrates the momentum behind our movement for peace, justice, and dignity for all people without exception. We must build on this vote to achieve a long overdue change in U.S. policy towards Israel and Palestine, and finally uphold the values we stand for.“
• Garcia (D-IL) 7/15/26: X-post – “As the Whip of the Progressive Caucus, I will vote YES on the Massie Amendment. I urge my colleagues to end the blank check for weapons to Israel.”
• Goodlander (D-NH) 7/16/26: “As a Member of Congress, it is my job to ensure American taxpayer dollars are spent out of necessity – and in a way that advances the interests and values of the United States of America. That is the spirit in which I voted today against sending an additional $3.3 billion American taxpayer dollars to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government. My support for Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself as a Jewish and democratic state is ironclad. The amendment did not affect our support for Israel’s air-defense systems, which remain mission-critical to defending against persistent threats from some of America’s most brutal and determined enemies, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, and its terrorist proxies, including Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Hamas. My support for a peace agreement that guarantees Israel’s security and safeguards the human rights, dignity, and self-determination of the Palestinian people in their own state is equally ironclad. Our alliance with Israel requires a reset. Having ignored the concerns of the vast majority of Americans about its conduct in Gaza, which devastated civilians while ultimately empowering Hamas, and its support for settler violence in the West Bank, the Israeli government cannot expect Americans to continue to provide it with unconditional aid. Subsidizing Israel’s defense budget also no longer makes sense given the country’s wealth and military dominance in its region. Even the Israeli government has acknowledged it no longer needs this support. I am disappointed that Republicans intentionally weaponized this vote, bringing to the floor a deeply imperfect amendment drafted by a lead sponsor whose abhorrent and dangerous track record of virulent antisemitism I wholeheartedly reject and condemn. But my vote today reflects my belief that the United States and Israel should forge a more normal partnership, built not on dependence and aid, but on shared interests, shared principles and mutual accountability as we promote the dignity and security of Israelis and Palestinians alike.“
• Horsford (D-NV) 7/15/26: “Congress has a constitutional responsibility to carefully review every dollar it appropriates and ensure that taxpayer funds reflect our values, our national interests, and the priorities of the American people. That responsibility is especially important when it comes to military assistance overseas. Today’s amendment was buried within a broader partisan appropriations process that continues to neglect the challenges facing working families here at home. Instead of focusing on lowering costs and strengthening America’s future, Republicans continue advancing policies that raise costs for working families while failing to invest in the health care, housing, education, and economic opportunity Americans need to thrive. For many Nevadans, this vote is fundamentally about priorities. They want their tax dollars to reflect the needs of their communities. Congress has a responsibility to exercise meaningful oversight of U.S. military assistance provided to any country. American taxpayer dollars should never be appropriated automatically or without accountability. Security assistance should advance our national security interests, reflect our values, protect innocent civilians, and remain subject to rigorous congressional review. I remain unwavering in my support for Israel’s right to exist and defend itself, for the U.S.-Israel strategic partnership, and for the safety and security of the Jewish people. I unequivocally condemn Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attacks and reject antisemitism in all its forms. Nothing in this amendment affects U.S. support for Israel’s critical defensive systems – including Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow, and THAAD – which remain essential to protecting Israeli civilians and maintaining regional security. At the same time, support for an ally does not require Congress to abandon its oversight responsibilities. I believe Congress has a duty to ensure that assistance to every partner – including Israel – is consistent with American law, our national security interests, and our humanitarian values. I recognize that Members of Congress, including Democrats, reached different conclusions on this amendment in good faith while sharing a common commitment to Israel’s security and America’s alliance with Israel. This amendment is not a comprehensive solution, nor is it the final step toward achieving lasting peace and security in the region. I will continue working to support humanitarian assistance for innocent civilians in Gaza, oppose violence against civilians, including extremist settler violence in the West Bank, and advance the conditions necessary for Israelis and Palestinians alike to live in peace, security, dignity, and self-determination.”
• Houlahan (D-PA) 7/15/26: “I voted YES on Rep. Massie’s amendment to block U.S. military aid to Israel. This was a difficult vote, and there are no perfect options. The amendment as written is ill-defined and not likely to become law. But after years of devastating civilian suffering across the region and with no credible path to peace, I believe the status quo with Prime Minister Netanyahu is no longer tenable. The United States should not provide military assistance as a blank check. Our security partnerships are strongest when they are grounded in accountability, American interests, and our shared values. This vote is not a rejection of Israel’s right to exist or to defend itself. Israel remains one of America’s closest allies, and I continue to support its ability to defend its people against Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and other terrorist organizations and hostile actors. I voted YES because I believe efforts to change course at this time offer the best opportunity to achieve the only outcome that can ultimately succeed: a future of security, dignity, and peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike.“
• Ivey (D-MD) 7/15/26: “House Republicans passed a foreign aid budget that guts American diplomacy, slashes humanitarian assistance when it is needed most, and weakens the tools we rely on to compete and lead in the world. In this funding bill, Republicans have chosen to offer an overly broad amendment by Rep. Massie that blocks all foreign aid to Israel, including humanitarian aid for Palestinian refugees and civilians in Gaza. Although I have serious reservations about Rep. Massie’s amendment, the status quo of supporting the Netanyahu government cannot continue. The U.S.-Israel relationship is important, but it must be reset around accountability, defensive cooperation, respect for international law and a credible path to two states. Despite the amendment’s flaws, voting Yes sent a clear signal that Congress cannot continue treating the current aid relationship as automatic and that American policy must change. During the administration of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, I have consistently voted against additional funding for the Pentagon and the President’s unauthorized military operations. In particular, I have voted on the floor and in committee against supplemental funding for the Iranian War. President Trump and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu have dragged our countries into their war of choice with Iran, and I will not support it with American taxpayer dollars. I cannot oppose further funding for unauthorized U.S. military operations in the region while continuing to treat military funds for the Netanyahu government as automatic, particularly when those operations are increasingly intertwined. In a 2024 C-Span interview on the Israel-Hamas war, I laid out my thoughts about what needs to happen in the Middle East to secure peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike. I firmly believe that beyond this vote on the Massie amendment, which would not eliminate funding for Iron Dome and other defensive systems, it is critical for the United States to take the following affirmative steps to improve the situation on the ground in Gaza and the West Bank: 1. supporting a surge in humanitarian aid, especially in Gaza, to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians; 2. opposing settler violence and land incursions in the West Bank, and supporting the criminal prosecution of anyone committing violent acts; 3. continuing to support a secure state for both Israelis and Palestinians, assisted by the United States, Arab states and European allies; and   4. supporting an extended effort to rebuild Gaza in coordination with our Arab partners and European allies — essentially a Marshall Plan 2.0, adapted to the current realities in the region. Therefore, after much deliberation, I voted Yes on the Massie amendment. My commitment to the U.S.-Israel relationship and to a two-state solution—an independent, viable Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel—remains ironclad.”
• Jacobs (D-CA) 7/15/26: “As Members of Congress, it is our duty to ensure that our constituents’ hard-earned money is used in a way that advances America’s interests and values. For this reason, we do not support providing an additional $3.3 billion of American taxpayer dollars to be used for Israeli military operations in Gaza and Lebanon—operations which have killed tens of thousands of civilians, led to the indiscriminate destruction of civilian infrastructure, and caused severe and ongoing humanitarian catastrophes. These are just the latest in a long string of human rights violations inflicted on Palestinian civilians. For nearly six decades, Israeli security forces and military authorities have enforced the occupation of the Palestinian territories, including through restrictions on freedom of movement, arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings. It is clear that existing human rights conditions on the use of American security assistance have not been meaningfully enforced. Enough is enough. Palestinians and Israelis alike deserve peace, freedom, security, stability, and self-determination. Those aims will only be achieved when their inherent dignity and inalienable rights are at the center of U.S. policy in the region. Diplomacy is the answer, and as long as America provides constant funding for more war, peace will always remain out of reach. Our vote should not be interpreted as opposition to initiatives such as the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act programs or others that foster people-to-people engagement, strengthen civil society, and advance the long-term prospects for a just and lasting peace. We remain committed to supporting these and similar programs while ensuring that U.S. taxpayer dollars advance peace, security, and American interests and values.”
• Jackson (D-IL) 7/15/26: X-post – “War is a choice. So is peace. Americans work too hard to keep writing checks for endless conflict. I voted “no” instead of sending another $3.3 BILLION in taxpayer dollars for more Israeli military operations while the human cost continues to rise. Palestinians and Israelis alike deserve peace, security, freedom, dignity, and self-determination—not more bombs. The movement for peace is growing. It’s time for Congress to stop funding escalation and start fighting for a just and lasting peace.“
• Jayapal (D-WA) 7/15/26: X-post – “The U.S. has a moral obligation to halt all weapons sales to the Israeli government. We cannot be complicit in genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and the collective punishment of millions of civilians. Enough is enough. I will be a YES on the Massie Amendment today.”
• Johnson (D-TX) 7/15/26: X-post – “The United States has a longstanding relationship with Israel, but supporting an ally does not relieve Congress of its duty to provide oversight, evaluate our defense priorities, and ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent in a way that reflects the interests of the American people. Today I voted in favor of Representative Massie’s amendment because the Netanyahu government has carried out humanitarian abuses that can not be ignored. Let me be clear, I have a consistent record of strongly supporting the people of Israel and Israel’s right to exist and defend itself, but that does not mean Congress can continue to provide unconditional military assistance to the current government, especially given the growing conflict in the Middle East. While it is absolutely critical to call out antisemitism, support Israel’s defense against adversaries in the region, and continue to work towards a two-state solution, my concern is with the decisions made by the Netanyahu government as they continue to violate US and international law. Time and again, they have undermined diplomatic efforts, resisted meaningful accountability, and failed to demonstrate that American military assistance is being used to advance lasting peace or to serve our shared strategic interests.“
• Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) 7/15/26: “When I signed onto the Block the Bombs Act, I committed to opposing offensive military aid to the Netanyahu government while still supporting funding for defensive programs. That’s why, after receiving assurances that funding for the Iron Dome would be unaffected, I voted to block taxpayer funding to Israel in the 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. Key to my vote was the elimination of $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing to Israel. Over the years, Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly used U.S. military assistance to commit gross violations of human rights, prolong conflict, and retain his hold on power. I cannot in good conscience support using U.S. taxpayer dollars to help finance Netanyahu’s war apparatus.”
• Kelly (D-IL) 7/15/26: X-post – “I voted to block $3.3 billion in unconditional military aid to the Netanyahu government to send a clear message: while I firmly support Israel’s right to defend itself, there can be no more blank checks and no return to the status quo. Netanyahu himself has said he doesn’t need our financial support. And I agree. True accountability means ensuring American dollars align with our values, and right now, our primary responsibility must be keeping those resources right here at home, lowering housing costs and grocery bills for working families.“
• Khanna (D-CA) 7/14/26: X-post w/ video clip- “I’m voting yes on @RepThomasMassie’s amendment to zero out all aid to Israel, including aid for offensive and defensive weapons like the Iron Dome. I cannot vote for aid to a country that committed genocide and has used tax dollars to detain Americans like me.”
• Khanna (D-CA) 7/15/26: X-post – “Today over 100 Democrats voted for the Massie Amendment to zero aid to Israel. My brother @RepBowman & @CoriBush lost their seats for this stand 2 years ago. As a colleague told me, Black martyrdom is normalized in America. Today I want to recognize their courage.“
• Lee (D-PA) 7/14/26: X-post – “Congress had another opportunity to block our taxpayer dollars from enabling Israel’s crimes. While our movement grows, we cannot keep funding suffering abroad while telling working families we can’t afford quality healthcare, housing, or education.“
• Lee (D-PA) 7/15/26: X-post – “Thousands and thousands of Palestinians have been killed using our tax dollars. This shift in the party is a testament to the movement but it’s still unconscionable for any member of Congress to justify sending any aid to fuel Israel’s genocide.“
• Leger Fernandez (D-NM) 7/15/26: “Peace cannot be built with more bombs. Congress has a responsibility to make sure American taxpayer dollars reflect American laws, American values, and our commitment to human rights. When they do not, we have a duty to change course. I voted for the amendment because the United States cannot continue writing blank checks for offensive military assistance to Netanyahu’s government as he causes such death and destruction for innocent Palestinian civilians, villagers in the West Bank, and disrupts a world order that values peace and respect. The Israeli and Palestinian people both deserve to raise their children free from terror, violence, and fear. Israel has the right to exist and to live in security. Both sides deserve to practice their religion and faith. That’s why I continue to support defensive systems that protect civilian lives, which are not affected by this amendment…“
• Lynch (D-MA) 7/16/26: X-post – “Today, I voted YES on @RepThomasMassie’s amendment to halt an additional $3.3 billion in taxpayer funding for Israeli military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.“
• Mannion (D-NY) 7/15/26: “Israel is a vital American ally and the only democracy in the Middle East. The best way to support the Israeli people and protect Israel’s long-term security is to reject an indefensible status quo and fundamentally reset our relationship with the far-right Netanyahu government. I voted yes on the Massie Amendment because the United States cannot continue providing military assistance without stronger oversight, meaningful accountability, and clear conditions governing how American weapons are used. I have and will continue to support Israel’s right to defend itself. But while this Amendment is flawed, the status quo is untenable. The Netanyahu government must change course. Its conduct has caused intolerable suffering in Gaza, undermined the prospects for peace, and done tremendous damage to Israel’s standing around the world. This Administration has failed to use its influence to end the humanitarian crisis, ensure aid reaches innocent civilians, and bring this devastating conflict to an end. We can both support our ally and ensure that it complies with U.S law and American values. American policy toward Israel and the Palestinian people must be firmly focused on achieving an enduring two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace, dignity, safety, and security. That is the only viable path toward lasting peace and stability in the region, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on a funding bill that gets us closer to that reality.”  
• Massie (R-KY) 7/14/26: X-post – “Minority Leader Jeffries opposes the Massie-Khanna amendment to cut $3 billion of aid to Israel, but leaves members of his party to vote their conscience. My conscience is clear. I will vote against using American tax dollars to fund genocide.”
• Massie (R-KY): Floor statement — “Madam Chair, my amendment is simple. It strikes $3.3 billion of foreign aid to the country of Israel from the State Department funding bill. We have $39.4 trillion of debt. We have needs at home, which include our infrastructure, our roads and bridges. We have a shortfall in this fund. We have our locks and dams, and we are perpetually trying to figure out new funding mechanisms to come up with. We have homeless veterans. We are sending more money to Israel in this bill than we spend on homeless veterans in this country. Just to put it in perspective, there are 3,000 counties in this country, and if we divide that into $3 billion, that is $1 million from every county. This is not an insignificant amount of money that is going overseas. I think we should stop it. We should put them on a diet. They are the biggest welfare recipient of the United States and have been for many years. Madam Chair, $310 billion has been received by Israel from the taxpayers of the United States. That is in inflation-adjusted dollars since we have been giving them money. That is why I think this amendment is important. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.“
• Matsui (D-CA) 7/15/26: “The United States and Israel have a long and important relationship, and I will always support the safety and security of the Israeli people. But the status quo is untenable. I cannot support funding for military aid to any country that fails to comply with U.S. law, U.S. interests, and U.S. values. The Netanyahu government has failed to meet its commitments to peace, humanitarian access, and international law. In Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and now in its efforts to draw the United States further into conflict with Iran, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government has shown that it cannot be trusted to use these funds responsibly. That is why I voted yes today. This vote is about the conduct of a government—not Israel’s right to exist, and never the Israeli people. I will continue to support funding for critical defensive programs. Criticism of a government is never license for antisemitism or Islamophobia, and I will keep fighting both wherever they appear. This amendment is not perfect. It is drafted broadly enough that it could affect more than Foreign Military Financing. True security requires a sustainable path: surging humanitarian aid to Gaza, halting settlement construction and settler violence in the West Bank, upholding Palestinian self-determination, and securing permanent peace. Republican leadership brought this amendment up in bad faith to divide a growing pro-peace coalition. I will not let that bad faith obscure the truth: continuing to send military assistance to the Netanyahu government without accountability is not a path to peace.“
• Min (D-CA) 7/15/26: “I voted yes on the Massie Amendment because I cannot in good conscience vote to continue the status quo where American taxpayers are subsidizing the wars being waged by Israel under the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It appears clear that Netanyahu’s government is seeking to expand and prolong war in the Middle East, with no interest in abiding by the terms of a two state solution, which has long been the guiding principle for U.S. military and diplomatic efforts in the region. American tax dollars should not be used to bankroll military action by other countries that do not align with the United States’ interests and values. I will always stand for the right of Israel to exist and to defend itself, and I will be a staunch vote for the provision of defensive armaments, including components for the Iron Dome, to Israel – which are not affected by this amendment. This amendment would stop Israel from using the Foreign Military Financing program, which provides certain countries with grants or loans to purchase American offensive weapons and equipment. I remain committed to building lasting peace in the Middle East, and fostering security and freedom for Palestinians and Israelis alike.” 
• Moore (D-WI) 7/15/26: “Today, I voted in favor of the Massie Amendment to the FY 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, which would impose a one-year moratorium on funding to Israel. This vote represents a continuation of my commitment to the pursuit of peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people. It is my belief that a shift in tactics is now necessary because of my growing frustration with the right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and its conduct throughout the region. Successive U.S. Administrations have tried to rein in the Netanyahu government only to find those interventions obstructed, including negotiating and implementing critically needed ceasefires that would stop the bloodshed. I remain singularly committed to peace, and it is my belief that the only way peace can be achieved is with a two-state solution where a sovereign Palestinian state exists alongside Israel. I wish the amendment had been more narrowly drafted so that it did not result in cuts to aid that has nothing to do with military actions or territorial expansions. I am especially pained that it would indiscriminately harm funding that fosters cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians. I hope that my vote for the Massie Amendment sends a clear signal that, while Israel, like all states, has a right to defend its borders and people, their actions must remain within the bounds enshrined in international law. U.S. aid should help create the conditions for a secure, prosperous, and peaceful future for Israelis, Palestinians, and the broader Middle East. My vote is especially well-timed to send this message, as it coincides with the looming expiration of the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding outlining U.S. aid to Israel. I continue to see Israel as a vital American ally in the Middle East and the Israeli people as deserving of support to meet the security challenges they face from Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and other malignant actors in the region. In order to secure a lasting peace, the government of Israel must first reassess their current military posture; fully engage as a good-faith partner for peace, including in Lebanon and Gaza; address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region; take immediate steps to end illegal settlements in the West Bank and combat rising settler violence against Palestinian civilians.”
• Moulton (D-MA) 7/15/26: “Today I will vote in favor of an amendment to remove $3.3 billion in U.S. taxpayer-funded Foreign Military Financing for Israel from this year’s State Department appropriations bill. We simply cannot continue to condone Netanyahu’s actions that are against our moral conscience and our own national security interests by perpetuating the status quo…”
• Moulton (D-MA) 7/15/26: X-post w/ video clip – “I’m voting yes for the Massie Amendment to prevent $3.3 billion in foreign military aid for Israel. We cannot continue to condone Netanyahu’s actions that are against our moral conscience and our own national security interests by perpetuating the status quo.“
• Mullin (D-CA) 7/15/26: “Today I voted NO on the House Republicans’ foreign aid funding bill because it threatens American diplomacy, slashes vital humanitarian aid, undermines our national security, and tries to strip away voting rights from Americans.  While I voted no on the bill, I voted YES on an amendment to cut military and other funding to Israel. I did this to send a clear message to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu: stop the wars and seek peace in the region. I strongly support Israel’s right to exist and protect its citizens, but I cannot agree to continued American support of Netanyahu’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank that I believe stray from American values and law. This was a deeply imperfect and overly broad amendment, and it was a difficult decision as I firmly believe we need more diplomatic, humanitarian, and refugee programs that promote peace. However, I oppose the Trump-Netanyahu war in Iran and believe Netanyahu’s war in Gaza has been a horrific and disproportionate response to the brutal attacks by Hamas on October 7^th. Innocent Palestinians have suffered and I deeply oppose the settlement expansion and violence in the West Bank that every day further threaten chances of peace. I have long supported Israel’s defense from those who seek its destruction. Iron Dome and other purely defensive funding would not have been affected under this amendment. But I firmly believe that further loss of innocent life will never be the answer to this decades-long conflict.For the sake of Israel’s global standing and for the security of the world, we need a change of course in the Middle East. The valued relationship between the U.S. and Israel will need repair and a full reset in a post-Trump and post-Netanyahu world. And as difficult as it may be, we cannot abandon work toward a future Palestinian state co-existing in peace with a Jewish and democratic Israel.”
• Neal (D-MA) 7/15/26: “The United States remains committed to our strong, strategic alliance with Israel and will continue to defend its sovereignty and right to exist as a secure Jewish state. Providing support for Israel’s defense systems, such as the Iron Dome, remains an important priority to protect both American and Israeli interests against those who seek Israel’s destruction. This amendment does not change that commitment or our resolve to eradicate Hamas’s reign of terror. We also have a responsibility to ensure that governments receiving our aid meet the standard our values and laws require. What we are seeing in the Middle East is not sustainable and demands a new path grounded in peace, security, and the right to self-determination for all. That means delivering urgently needed humanitarian aid to the innocent children and families caught in the violence, pursuing a two-state solution, and confronting both terrorism and the cancer of antisemitism. Only then can we build a safer, more secure, and brighter future for everyone.”
• Omar (D-MN) 7/14/26: X-post – “The House will vote on an amendment to cut off aid to Israel. It is unconscionable we continue to fund this genocidal apartheid regime. Voting YES.”
• Pelosi (D-CA) 7/15/16: “Today, the Massie Amendment presents an unfortunate choice to the House. As one who is committed to a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and supportive of a two-state solution, I respect Leader Jeffries’ decisive proposals to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. For the good of the Israeli people and the Palestinian people, it clear that U.S. policy must change to attain that goal. The United States must be a force for security and stability. The American people are rightly demanding an end to a perpetual cycle of war, and the Netanyahu government cannot maintain its current course. Therefore, while this amendment is ill-conceived, I vote yes for the message that it sends.“
• Ramirez (D-IL) 7/15/26: X-post – “There is no justification for providing $3.3 billion for more bombs. As the lead sponsor of the Block the Bombs Act, I call on my colleagues to vote HELL YES on the Massie Amendment.”
• Ramirez (D-IL) 7/15/26: X-post w/ video clip – “Today, 104 members of Congress voted against military funding for Israel. That is thanks to the tireless advocates and organizers who are pushing members of Congress to prioritize our communities instead of war. We must continue the fight to pass my Block the Bombs Act and end the genocide of Palestinians. Let’s get it done!”
• Randall (D-WA) 7/15/26: “My neighbors have been clear – they don’t want to see more of their taxpayer dollars go towards subsidizing Netanyahu’s endless violence and destabilization of Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and the region at large – especially not without any accountability or oversight for how American weapons are being used. While I’m concerned about how the broad language in this amendment will affect the flow of humanitarian assistance, the risk of approving more offensive military aid without any guardrails is too great and will continue to put innocent civilians in harm’s way. My vote reflects the need for a fundamental change in our approach to the far-right Netanyahu government – one that is long overdue. That means no more additional funding for offensive weapons. I remain committed to protecting the flow of humanitarian aid while ending unconditional and unchecked military support.”
• Raskin (D-MD) 7/15/26: “The Republican Majority is advancing a foreign assistance budget bill that slashes humanitarian assistance, undercuts American diplomacy and dramatically reduces our soft power. Meantime, the Majority advanced a classic ‘Gotcha’ Amendment to this bill, introduced by Representative Massie, which was designed not to promote peace or save civilian lives in the Middle East but simply to try and split Democrats.All the voting options here were, of course, designedly bad and therefore each one was minimally defensible in its own way. This Amendment, even though it was clearly going to fail, was still a bad way to make complicated foreign policy judgments and to organize a reset of American policy toward the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The problem for me is that a ‘No’ vote will be characterized as a vote for the status quo and for supporting Netanyahu and his war of mass destruction and displacement in Gaza, which has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians and brought mass disease, hunger and suffering to the Palestinian people. This war was brought in response to the appalling terrorist attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which involved the murder of more than 1,200 Israelis and the brutal capture of more than 250 hostages, including family members and loved ones of my constituents. But voting ‘No’ was indigestible for reasons I have been repeatedly spelling out ever since it became clear that Netanyahu’s prosecution of the war in Gaza—which was properly justified at inception as an operation to disarm and disable Hamas—was becoming a cauldron of civilian atrocities and human rights violations, some of them involving the families of my own constituents. A constituent from the Gaithersburg area lost dozens of members of her family to a bombing attack on their family compound in Gaza City, and my constituent Chef José Andrés lost ten of his colleagues with World Central Kitchen to armed attacks. I have done everything in my power to move Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government away from policies that implicate them—and us—in mass human rights violations and shameful actions, but they have not engaged in serious dialogue with me or other Members of Congress.A ‘Present’ Vote would also be justifiable under these circumstances because this whole amendment is plainly a political trick designed to divide the Democrats with full knowledge it will not pass. But voting ‘Present’ in this context could be seen by millions of people as a refusal to take a position on furnishing more weapons for Netanyahu’s war in Gaza and the violent chaos being perpetrated by settlers on the West Bank. It could also be read as indifference to the catastrophic folly of the Iran War that was the joint project of President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman. I am not neutral on the violence engulfing the Middle East. We must advance the cause of peace.So I came to a ‘Yes’ vote to register my profound objection to providing billions of dollars of more weaponry and support to the Netanyahu government which has been shockingly reckless and deliberately indifferent towards human life and international human rights and humanitarian law governing the proper treatment of civilians in a military conflict.This, to be sure, is also not an ideal solution. Although the Massie Amendment does not affect defensive weapons systems like Iron Dome and David’s Sling (which would be disqualifying in my mind), its blunt-instrument language potentially cuts some funding for valuable non-military diplomatic programs. I support these programs and believe we need to dramatically expand them and revitalize them as many of them have, in large part, been defunded by the Trump Administration. I reject Congressman Massie’s nativist, categorical opposition to foreign aid and extremist rhetoric.But our funds and our weapons have been used in shameful violence and human rights violations against Palestinians by the government of Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has brought terrible isolation to Israel in the process. I am a passionate champion of democracy, national security and peace for all the people of Israel, as I am a passionate champion of democracy, security and peace for all the Palestinians. For the sake of everyone involved, I believe that we cannot blithely allow these dynamics of war and violence to continue. We need a reset in this relationship. There is a titanic struggle taking place on earth today between democracy and authoritarianism. As we fight to defend democracy, basic human rights and the rule of law in America, we must work to defend democracy, basic human rights and the rule of law all over the world, including amongst our closest allies.”
• Ryan (D-NY) 7/15/26: X-post – “I just voted to block sending $3.3 billion of our taxpayer dollars to Netanyahu’s government. It’s wrong on every level. I expect groups like AIPAC will not support me in my future elections and frankly, I don’t want their support. Hardline stances that refuse to stand up to a corrupt and increasingly dangerous Netanyahu regime have no place in our politics.” Track AIPAC responded: “Thank you, Rep. Ryan. Now will you dump AIPAC?” Ryan replied: – “Yes, don’t want their endorsement and returning the funds.” responding to Track AIPAC X-post: “Thank you, Rep. Ryan. Now will you dump AIPAC?“
• Salinas (D-OR) 7/15/26: “In accordance with my conscience and that of my constituents, I voted against the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Spending Bill…During consideration of the bill, I also supported Rep. Massie’s amendment that would cut $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing to Israel. This is not a decision I made lightly. I firmly believe that Israel has a right to defend itself and the Jewish people need their own homeland but not at the expense of the lives of Palestinians and a homeland for the Palestinian people. This funding would have been used by Israel to purchase U.S. bombs and military equipment, and Israel has not demonstrated that they would use this military equipment responsibly with the U.S. interest to find a durable peace in the region. I stand ready to support our allies with the resources they need when it’s clear those resources will go toward self-defense and promoting lasting peace.”
• Sanders (I-VT) 7/15/26: X-post – “THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE CLEAR: NO MORE U.S. AID TO ISRAEL Today, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on an amendment introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie to cut the $3.3 billion in annual U.S. military aid to Israel. I strongly support this amendment. Israel, like any other country, had the right to defend itself against the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 innocent people. But it did not have the right to go to war against the entire Palestinian population. It did not have the right to kill more than 73,000 Palestinians and wound over 173,000 more — the vast majority of them women, children and the elderly. It did not have the right to destroy virtually the entire infrastructure of Gaza — the schools, the health facilities, the water systems, wastewater plants, the electric grid that a civilian population depends on to survive. It did not have the right to destroy or damage 92% of all housing units in Gaza. In other words, Israel did not have the right to commit genocide. And it did not have the right to escalate its violence and annexation of the West Bank while the world’s attention was focused elsewhere. Tragically, almost five months ago, Israel, with strong support from the Trump administration, launched a reckless and illegal war against Iran — a war that has killed thousands of people and left an already unstable region of the world even more unstable. That war expanded into Lebanon, where Israeli strikes have now killed more than 4,000 people and displaced some 20% of the entire Lebanese population. That is not “defending Israel”. These are regional wars of expansion and terror, waged without a clear strategy, and without an end in sight. The American people are catching on. Polls show that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters now oppose sending military aid to Israel, as do more than one-third of Republican voters. Just 16% of all Americans support giving Israel unconditional aid. And I am proud that this past April, 40 out of 47 Senate Democrats — a record number — supported my bill to block arms sales to the far-right, extremist Netanyahu government. We have enormous unmet needs in our own country. Today, while 60% of our people are living paycheck to paycheck, tens of millions of Americans cannot afford housing, healthcare, childcare and other basic needs. Congress must focus on the needs of their constituents, not an Israeli government that is undermining American values. I urge my colleagues in the House to vote yes on the Massie amendment.”
• Simon (D-CA) 7/15/26: “Today I voted against H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027. A year after abruptly shuttering USAID and gutting the State Department – Republicans continue to make devastating and deadly cuts to foreign aid and diplomatic programs. This bill includes steep cuts to global health and diplomatic programs, which will undoubtedly lead to even higher rates of poverty, malnutrition, and death. The President says he is interested in making our nation ‘stronger, safer, and more prosperous,’ yet everything he has done in the past year runs counter to this promise. Starting an illegal and unwanted war in Iran does not make us safer. Ceding America’s voice at international institutions like the United Nations and cutting off resources for diplomacy does not make us stronger. Prohibiting funding for worldwide climate initiatives does not make us more prosperous. I also voted for an amendment to block $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing for Israel. We cannot continue to give military and financial assistance to a government that is not following the Leahy Laws and violating international law. I refuse to support a foreign policy that abandons the institutions we helped build, that leads to preventable deaths, and that chooses destruction over diplomacy and peace.”
• Smith (D-WA) 7/15/26: “This was a very close vote for me. I am a supporter of Israel, and I recognize they are under profound existential threat. We should not forget October 7th or the reality that Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran want to eliminate Israel. I also recognize that many of those who want the U.S. to completely abandon Israel do not support Israel’s right to exist and are willfully blind to the dangerous, violent, extremist beliefs of Hamas and others who threaten Israel.  I am deeply concerned about the tactics used by those on the far left to advocate for cutting off aid to Israel. To date, my family and I have had our home vandalized, a fire has been set in my driveway, my neighbors’ lives have been disrupted by demonstrations in the middle of the night, town halls meant to be forums for dialogue have been shut down, and a staff member has been physically assaulted. Those who engage in this type of behavior model a dangerous form of corrosive politics that seeks to intimidate those who disagree with them. We must be able to have civil discourse if we want to solve difficult problems, and I remain committed to open, respectful engagement.  Despite my support for Israel, for over two years I have been incredibly frustrated by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government and its total war approach in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and even at times in Syria. I understand that Israel has to confront threats to their existence and cannot let them go unchecked. Many of the people calling for a ceasefire on October 8th were people who wanted Hamas to succeed in destroying Israel. But Israel does not have to fight the way they have chosen to do so—a way that has caused enormous suffering and led to endless war. I have also been frustrated by Netanyahu’s refusal to find partners for peace amongst the Palestinian people. And I am absolutely appalled by the actions of Ministers Smotrich and Ben Gvir in the Israeli cabinet. Their callous disregard for human suffering is constant and undermines the credibility of Israel. Lastly, Israel’s actions in the West Bank are indefensible. Lawless settlers commit violence against Palestinians and conduct land grabs while the IDF does little or nothing to stop them. But after nearly two years of me raising these concerns with the Israeli government and U.S. supporters of Israel, nothing has changed. Many express sympathy for my views and assure me things will change, but that has not happened. I take this vote to try once more to get the attention of the Israeli government.  I still support Israel. I recognize the threats they face. But I have an obligation to try to get the attention of the Netanyahu government to force them to change their actions. My vote to stop $3.3 billion in military assistance to Israel is my effort to do that.”
• Stansbury (D-NM) 7/15/26: X-post w/ video clip – “Lebanon. Gaza. The West Bank. We cannot allow American taxpayer dollars to continue to fund the killing of children and civilians abroad. The violence must stop.“
• Stanton (D-AZ) 7/15/26: “I will always vote in America’s best interests. That’s why I voted no on the FY 2026 State Department funding bill. I also voted no on Congressman Massie’s amendment to it. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I know how important it is for the United States to play a leading role in the world. It’s why I opposed Donald Trump’s gutting of USAID and his efforts to weaken NATO. I simply cannot support a Republican bill that slashes State Department funding even further, a 20 percent cut from two years ago. This bill weakens our national security, hacks away at humanitarian aid programs, and guts the diplomatic tools we rely on to prevent conflicts before they start. Retreating from the world doesn’t make America safer—in fact, just the opposite. Similarly, the Massie amendment would undermine America’s ability to counter real threats from Iran and diminish our efforts to promote long-term stability across the region. It would not only cut off funding for security assistance, but also for humanitarian aid, refugee resettlement, and peace-building programs, which are critical to building people-to-people ties between Israelis and Palestinians. Standing with an ally does not mean staying silent when its government takes actions that make peace harder to achieve. Benjamin Netanyahu and his government are actively working to undermine a two-state solution. The Netanyahu government’s actions—including empowering extremists, expanding settlements, tolerating settler violence, and misusing American weapons—have weakened Israel’s long-term security, severely damaged Americans’ trust in the Israeli government, and emboldened those who argue peace is impossible. My vote against this flawed amendment is not a defense of those choices. Israelis will have a chance this October to elect a new government, and I sincerely hope Netanyahu loses power. I support sanctions against violent settlers, and the government officials that enable them, who are undermining security and stability in the West Bank. And we must work to rebuild Gaza and ensure aid to its residents is unimpeded.  I also believe that the American taxpayer should no longer subsidize Israel’s defense budget. As the current security assistance agreement with Israel nears expiration, it is clear change is necessary. Instead, our defense partnership with Israel should resemble the partnerships we maintain with the majority of our allies. If Israel buys American weapons, it must be held accountable for how those weapons are used, fully consistent with American law and values. Families across the region, Israeli and Palestinian alike, have endured unimaginable pain and loss because of this conflict. Every Israeli and every Palestinian deserves to live with safety and dignity, free from the constant threat of violence. The greatest threat to peace is the fatalistic belief that coexistence is impossible. I reject that fatalism, and I’ll keep working toward a secure, Jewish, and democratic Israel living side by side with an independent Palestinian state.”
• Tlaib (D-MI) 7/15/26: X-post – “Proud of my colleagues who voted to stop funding Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people. When folks talk about this vote, remember it’s been over 3 years of this violent ethnic cleansing campaign where over 73,000 Palestinians have been killed, millions made homeless, and thousands of amputee children. The genocide continues. Keep talking about Gaza. Never stop.”
• Tonko (D-NY) 7/15/26: “Today, I will vote YES on the Massie amendment that addresses U.S. military aid to Israel. Existing U.S. law prohibits military aid from being provided to entities found to be implicated in gross human rights violations. I believe the Netanyahu government met this standard with their horrific conduct in Gaza.  Since then, Israel has sought to further entangle the United States in a war of choice against Iran and undermine efforts to secure a ceasefire. These actions have only destabilized the region and are actively harming efforts to achieve lasting peace and security for all sides. This is far from a perfect amendment, and I support steps to allow for the continuation of funding for peacebuilding and humanitarian programs that are captured in this overly broad prohibition. However, I will not support additional military aid that enables Netanyahu to bomb other countries relentlessly with the implicit support of the American taxpayers. While I strongly oppose the actions of Israel’s current government, I continue to stand in strong support of our local Jewish community and stand firmly against hate and antisemitism in any form. All Israelis and Palestinians deserve a future where they can live in peace and security. Unfortunately, the actions of the Netanyahu government, supported by U.S. assistance, take us farther away from that future every day. It’s time to chart a new course.”
• Trahan (D-MA) 7/15/26: X-post – “Today, I voted for an amendment to eliminate $3.3 billion in military assistance funding for Israel in this year’s national security funding bill. I want to be clear about why. The status quo is unsustainable. Prime Minister Netanyahu has used American military assistance funding to carry out atrocities in Gaza, embolden violent settlers in the West Bank, and continue indiscriminate bombing in Lebanon. He has shown us again and again that he does not respond to reason. He responds only to direct pressure. It is not a break from what I believe. I have always affirmed Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and its right to defend itself from attack. This vote doesn’t change that. I also remain convinced that a path toward Palestinian self-determination is the only viable way to achieve a peaceful future in the region, and Netanyahu’s government has spent years working to foreclose that path. Because I know how this vote will be twisted by some, it’s important to be direct about something else. Criticism of Netanyahu’s government is not criticism of the Jewish people. At a moment when antisemitism is rising in our country and around the world, that distinction matters. I have condemned antisemitism and religious hatred at every turn, and I always will. Anyone who uses this debate as cover for hate will find no ally in me. The stakes here are bigger than one vote. Netanyahu is turning one of America’s greatest allies into a pariah, one that has lost support from the international community. Netanyahu needs to change course. Until he does, the American people should not be asked to write a blank check.”
• Tran (D-CA) 7/15/26: “American funding for the Israeli military has moved forward for years without real audit or oversight. I supported Representative Massie’s amendment to end unconditional funding for Israel because it’s time we treat Israel as the strong and wealthy nation it is — capable of standing on its own two feet and deserving of accountability. While imperfect, this amendment is an important signal that the United States will treat Israel as we would any other ally. Further actions, like those laid out in Leader Jeffries’ proposal, are necessary to build sustainable security in the Middle East. I support continued funding to keep the Israeli people safe through tools like the Iron Dome, and I will work to ensure that funding for diplomatic programs is assured to build real, lasting peace in the region. As the leader of the free world, America must not only stand firm against our adversaries, but hold our closest allies to account.”
• Vasquez (D-NM) 7/15/26: “Hardworking New Mexicans’ tax dollars should not be spent on a blank check for Netanyahu’s far-right government to unleash senseless violence in Gaza and Lebanon, deny humanitarian aid, and continue the illegal settlements in the West Bank. Enough is enough. The killing of innocent civilians and reckless destruction of homes and infrastructure must end. The American people should not take part in funding this senseless violence.“
• Velazquez (D-NY) 7/15/26: X-post – “I’m voting YES on the Massie amendment. I won’t support sending another blank check to fund the genocide in Gaza and a military campaign in Lebanon that has killed thousands. Enough is enough.“
• Watson Coleman (D-NJ) 7/15/26: “The ongoing horror in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon has shocked the world. The United States places an expectation on its allies to hold up certain standards of humanity. Israel has not only failed to meet those standards; it has engaged in a genocide against the Palestinian people. U.S. law prohibits assistance to foreign security forces when there is credible information of significant violations of human rights. Therefore, the continued military aid to the Netanyahu government violates both our morals and our laws. Last year I stated that: The United States is not merely an observer in this tragedy – we are an active participant. We have supplied the weapons that have flattened neighborhoods, wiped out entire generations of families, and enabled Netanyahu’s relentless assault. The United States has an obligation to identify a red line and hold our allies accountable when they behave in a way that threatens every person’s right to peace and self-determination. We cannot claim to support a ceasefire while providing Prime Minister Netanyahu with the fire that has engulfed Gaza. There must be an arms embargo. If we truly believe in human rights and the dignity of all people, we must stop arming the very forces that are carrying out these atrocities. The Massie amendment holds Israel to the same standard we should hold all our allies to and so I voted for it.“