The House vote that split Jewish Democrats and is reshaping alliances

WASHINGTON (RNS) — When the House of Representatives voted earlier this month on whether to strip military aid to Israel, Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland approached the moment carefully. As a supporter of defensive weapons for Israel, Raskin, who is Jewish, has also become increasingly critical of the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank in recent years.

Raskin, who already co-sponsored a bill last year that would restrict transferring offensive weapons from the U.S. to Israel, was wary of the Republican influence behind the measure, put forward by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky. But Raskin ultimately joined 102 other Democrats , seven of them Jewish, in backing the provision.

“That gotcha vote became a referendum on Netanyahu and his conduct of the Gaza War,” Raskin told Religion News Service, later adding, “Large majorities want to see an end to the continuing cycles of violence, terror, occupation and war. We need a new direction beyond war for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

Despite Raskin’s support for the amendment, 98 Democrats helped vote down the measure alongside 215 Republicans. The remaining 13 Jewish Democrats in the House were among…