House Democrats Grapple with Pro-Israel Bill Amid White House Opposition

The House of Representatives will vote on Thursday on a bill condemning President Biden's handling of Israeli weapons aid, sparking a rift within the Democratic Party and drawing strong opposition from the White House.

The House of Representatives is set for a politically charged vote on Thursday as Democrats grapple with a pro-Israel bill that has drawn the ire of the Biden administration. The Israel Security Assistance Support Act, sponsored by Representative Mike Johnson (R-La.), seeks to condemn President Biden's posture on Israel's military operations in Gaza and expedite the delivery of approved weapons shipments.

The bill has drawn support from some Democrats who are critical of the Biden administration's handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. At least two Democrats, Representatives Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) and Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), have publicly announced their support for the measure. A House Democrat aide told Fox News Digital that they anticipate approximately 10 left-wing lawmakers will join Republicans in backing the bill.

However, Democratic leaders in the House and White House are actively opposing the bill. House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) dismissed the legislation as a "political sham bill" that would harm national security interests. The White House has threatened to veto the bill, calling it a "misguided reaction" to the administration's support for Israel.

Biden has faced bipartisan backlash from pro-Israel lawmakers for withholding offensive weapons aid to Israel, citing concerns about civilian casualties. The president has warned Israel that the U.S. would not support the use of such weapons in densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip.

The issue of Israel has become a political cudgel for the GOP, which sees an opportunity to exploit growing divisions within the Democratic Party over U.S. support for Israel. Some Democrats have expressed concerns about Israeli policies towards Palestinians, while others remain staunchly pro-Israel.

The Israel Security Assistance Support Act would withhold funding from the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, and the National Security Council if there is any delay in weapons aid to Israel. It would also condemn the Biden administration's posture on Israel's Gaza invasion.

Democrats who support the bill are facing pressure from the White House and party leadership to vote against it. The vote is expected to be a close one, with a handful of Democrats likely to join Republicans in backing the measure.

The vote comes days after Biden announced he was moving forward with a $1 billion weapons shipment to Israel. The move has been criticized by some who argue that it will fuel the conflict and further escalate hostilities between Israel and Hamas.

The House vote on the Israel Security Assistance Support Act is a significant test of Democratic unity and the Biden administration's foreign policy approach. The outcome of the vote will have implications for the future of U.S.-Israel relations and the broader Middle East conflict.