Democrats divided over Israel funding as far-left push anti-Israel agenda
Chad Pergram reports from Capitol Hill on the growing split within the Democratic Party over support for Israel. Far-left progressive candidates are pushing an anti-Israel agenda, causing internal divides. Sen. Chuck Schumer dodges questions on progressive stances, while Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman declares anti-Israel stances a “red line,” threatening to quit the party. Republicans are monitoring the situation ahead of midterms.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A social media attack by two far-left House Democrats on moderate Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., backfired after one confused him with another Jewish Democrat named Josh — and the New Jersey centrist used their own votes for Ukraine aid to turn the exchange back on them.
The clash erupted after Gottheimer criticized the growing influence of democratic socialists within the Democratic Party. “The DSA are not Democrats. They’re socialists, who want to hijack the Democratic Party,” he wrote in an X post Monday. “The Democrats have a big tent. That’s our strength. We embrace a range of ideas — but there’s no room for anti-American bomb-throwers who oppose our ideas, values, & leaders.”
Meanwhile, the following day, Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., fired back by accusing him of being among the Democrats who “sign bombs and vote to drop them,” apparently confusing Gottheimer with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
DEMOCRATIC INFIGHTING GROWS AS CONGRESSWOMAN EXPOSES ‘DISRESPECTFUL’ WELCOME OF SOCIALISTS INTO ‘BIG TENT’
Shapiro, not Gottheimer, signed an artillery shell bound for Ukraine during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s 2024 visit to Pennsylvania, as Fox News Digital previously reported in September 2024.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., (left) and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (right) (Getty Images)
“You know that’s the other Jewish guy named Josh, right?” Gottheimer said in response to Lee.
Meanwhile, “Squad” Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., then jumped in to defend Lee, writing that Shapiro had signed “the bombs you voted to be dropped.”
HOUSE DEMOCRATS FRACTURE BADLY OVER MASSIE AMENDMENT TO CUT $3.3B IN U.S. AID TO ISRAEL
Neither Omar nor Lee identified a specific vote, but Gottheimer turned the accusation back on both lawmakers by pointing out that they had voted for a $60.8 billion Ukraine aid package before Shapiro signed the Ukraine-bound artillery shell.
“Ilhan, you know who else voted for it?” Gottheimer said in response, including a screenshot of the “Official House Roll Call” for the April 2024 vote on H.R. 8035. “You.”
From left, Reps. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Summer Lee, D-Pa., are seen walking through the underground tunnels on Capitol Hill. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The exchange comes as Gottheimer has increasingly accused his own party of applying a double standard to antisemitism. In a May New York Times opinion piece, the Jewish congressman argued that Democrats routinely condemn antisemitism from the political right but are too often silent when it emerges from the far left, calling the disparity a “glaring double standard.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
That intraparty divide has also widened over support for Israel. According to the official House roll call, Lee and Omar were among 103 Democrats who voted last week for a failed amendment from Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., that would have prohibited funds in the underlying bill from being used for Israel and reduced the foreign military financing account by $3.3 billion. Gottheimer voted against the amendment.
A marcher carries a large Israeli flag while wearing a blue Yeshiva Derech HaTorah shirt and walking up Fifth Avenue with fellow marchers at the Israel Day on Fifth parade in New York. (SAL MEDIA)
Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Gottheimer, Lee and Omar for comment but did not hear back in time for publication.