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By Alex J. Rouhandeh
National Political Correspondent
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Just three Republicans broke from their party Thursday in voting against a bill that would force President Joe Biden to send military assistance to Israel after his administration elected earlier this month to withhold weapons in wake of Israel's unwavering plan to invade Rafah.
Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and Warren Davidson of Ohio all bucked their party. The decision comes on the heels of Greene and Massie's effort to remove GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson from power in retaliation for his decision to back funding for Ukraine.
While the Israel Security Assistance Support Act—which passed 224-187—stands virtually no chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate, Johnson brought the measure forward in part to highlight Democratic divisions on Israel. The White House said it would veto the measure, yet 16 Democrats backed the bill, nonetheless.
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The Democratic defections highlight the party's internal divisions over supporting Israel as progressives remain vocal about their desire for a ceasefire while moderates continue to back Israel in its campaign to dismantle the terrorist organization, Hamas.
However, with the three Republicans voting against the measure, the GOP has once again drawn attention to its own internal debates over America's role in the world.
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"The Democrats were much more supportive of the Israel and Ukraine aid bill than Republicans were," Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia told Newsweek. "I think they're trying to probably dig themselves out of a hole, but I don't think it's going to work—people know that we have stood for aid."
Regarding the aid package, just three Democratic-aligned senators opposed the bill compared to 15 Republicans. Kaine, a member of the Armed Services Committee, supports aiding Ukraine and Israel as well as the Biden administration's decision, saying, "The distinction between defensive and offensive aid is a meaningful one."
Nonetheless, Republican leadership has blasted this decision, with Johnson saying in a Wednesday morning statement that Biden "has turned his back on Israel and is now carrying water for Hamas and Iran."
"The president and his administration need to reverse course immediately to stand with Israel and against the terrorism and atrocities of Iran and its proxies," Johnson added.
Responding to the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has been a challenge for Biden as the left fails to reach a consensus on the issue. According to polling conducted for Newsweek, Biden's approval rating on the Israel-Hamas conflict has dropped to 30 percent since Hamas' October attacks on Israel.
This has raised concerns about the president's electability as young voters have carried out protests over the issue and expressed disdain for the president. Newsweek's poll found that 47 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds believe former President Donald Trump would handle the issue better, while 23 percent chose Biden.
When asked what can be done to unify the left, Kaine said, "I don't know" but emphasized that he believes Democrats are taking the right steps to provide defensive weapons that help prevent "massive escalation in the region" while withholding offensive weapons to "minimize unnecessary civilian suffering."
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