Rogue Republican congressman who lost primary race to Trump-backed challenger submits amendment to cut off more than $3 billion in aid to Israel, leaving Democrats divided.By David Rosenberg, World Israel NewsA rogue Republican lawmaker is pushing an amendment to a massive spending bill which would remove billions of dollars in military aid to Israel, in a move that has split House Democrats.Rep. Thomas Massie’s bid to strip $3.3 billion in US military aid to Israel from a State Department spending bill has forced House Democrats into another public fight over Israel, with progressives pressing the party to back the Kentucky Republican’s amendment and senior Democrats warning that the move could carry broader consequences.The amendment to H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act for fiscal 2027, would bar funds in the bill from being “obligated or expended for Israel” and reduce the Foreign Military Financing Program by $3.3 billion, according to the text posted by the House Rules Committee.Massie, a libertarian-leaning Republican who has long opposed foreign aid and has recently promoted an anti-Israel conspiracy theory, said the measure was aimed at the core annual military assistance package for Israel.“My amendment to H.R. 8595, the State Department Appropriations bill, strikes $3.3 billion in Foreign (Military) Aid for Israel,” Massie wrote on X. “The amendment is expected to receive a floor vote next week.”“Netanyahu said he wants to reduce Israel’s dependence on US aid; let’s start now.”The House Rules Committee advanced the amendment, setting up a floor vote that would put lawmakers on record at a moment when US support for Israel has become increasingly divisive across both parties.Responsible Statecraft reported that the vote could force members to decide whether to maintain the current US-Israel aid structure or signal support for a new approach.The immediate political fallout has been sharpest among Democrats. Punchbowl News reported that a Sunday call among House Democrats failed to produce agreement on how the caucus should handle Massie’s proposal.Some Democrats argued that the party should support less military assistance to Israel, while members of the New Democrat Coalition, Jewish Democrats and other more centrist lawmakers opposed the amendment.House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats would meet Tuesday to discuss the issue before the expected floor debate.The meeting comes as the party continues to wrestle with internal divisions over Israel policy, Gaza and the future of US military assistance.Progressive Democrats have grown increasingly willing to challenge military aid to Israel, arguing that US weapons have enabled Israeli actions in Gaza that they describe as unlawful or morally unacceptable.Reps. Joaquin Castro and Greg Casar of Texas were among those critical of continued aid during the Democratic discussions, while Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, Brad Schneider of Illinois and Greg Landsman of Ohio opposed the Massie amendment.Senior appropriators have also raised procedural and policy objections. According to the same report, Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, argued that the amendment could have effects beyond military aid, including on assistance to Palestinians, while clashing with Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia over how the cuts would apply.The dispute comes against the backdrop of a longstanding US-Israel aid arrangement.The United States has agreed under a memorandum of understanding to provide Israel $3.8 billion annually through 2028, including $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing and $500 million for missile defense, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.Since the start of the Gaza war after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, Congress has enacted at least $16.3 billion in direct military aid for Israel, CFR said.The post GOP congressman pushes bill to halt US aid to Israel appeared first on World Israel News.