Jeffries calls for ‘dramatic change’ in US military aid to Israel after Democrats' election victory

Jeffries also sharply criticized US President Donald Trump’s war against Iran, describing it as a “reckless and costly war of choice” that had harmed American interests.Follow us on Google House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D- NY, speaks during a news conference on March 24, 2025, at the US Capitol in Washington, DC.(photo credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images/TNS)NOVEMBER 12, 2026 20:35Nine days after Democrats secured a sweeping victory in the US midterm elections, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Thursday for “dramatic change” in America’s approach to Israel, including its military assistance framework, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank.Speaking at a press briefing in Washington, Jeffries was asked whether he supported an initiative led by Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen and 11 other senators to remove provisions from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would deepen US-Israel defense and intelligence cooperation.Jeffries stopped short of endorsing the proposal but made clear that the current approach was unacceptable.“I haven’t had a conversation with Senator Van Hollen, but what I have said is that things have to dramatically change over in the Middle East,” Jeffries said.“We need dramatic change in the West Bank, which is why I strongly support the West Bank Violence Protection Act. We need dramatic change in Gaza, and we need dramatic change with respect to the Memorandum of Understanding as it winds down, all of which I’ve previously said publicly.”US House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) speaks during a news conference ahead of voting on the Senate immigration funding bill on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, US, May 21, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/Eric Lee)Status quo is 'unacceptable,' says Jeffries The current US-Israel Memorandum of Understanding provides Israel with $38 billion in military assistance over ten years and expires in 2028. Jeffries has previously called for reconsidering the framework governing future American security assistance to Israel.However, he did not explicitly endorse removing the disputed NDAA provisions or cutting off military aid.“We’ll work as a caucus to make sure that we can bring about the just and lasting peace that Israelis and Palestinians deserve over in the Middle East,” Jeffries said.“The status quo is unacceptable,” he added, outlining his vision of “a safe and secure Israel living side by side as a Jewish and democratic state with an independent Palestinian state that provides dignity and self-determination for the Palestinian people.”Democrats vow to end Iran war, oppose additional fundingJeffries also sharply criticized US President Donald Trump’s war against Iran, describing it as a “reckless and costly war of choice” that had harmed American interests.“It’s been a disaster for the American people. It’s raised costs, made life more expensive,” he said.“The American people are less safe. The Iranian regime is stronger now than it was before the war. We should have never entered into it.”Jeffries pledged that Democrats would do everything possible to end the conflict, emphasizing that his party had opposed the military campaign from its beginning.He also reiterated Democratic opposition to additional funding for the war.“House Democrats have uniformly opposed providing any additional money to Donald Trump’s war machine, to Pete Hegseth’s war machine over in the Middle East,” he said.“Taxpayer dollars should be spent to make life more affordable for everyday Americans, not to drop bombs overseas in an endless war.”Asked whether Democrats would use upcoming government funding negotiations to force an end to the conflict, Jeffries declined to commit to that strategy, citing ongoing discussions led by Representative Rosa DeLauro ahead of the December 11 funding deadline.With Democrats preparing to take control of the House in January, Jeffries’ comments signal that US policy toward Israel and the war in Iran could become major points of confrontation between Congress and the Trump administration.Follow us on Google