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Hakeem Jeffries Announces He Will Not House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has come out against a bid to cut off US military aid to Israel, while calling for a “major reset” of Washington’s relationship with the Jewish state. In a “Dear Colleague” letter to fellow Democrats on Tuesday, Jeffries said he would vote against an amendment led by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), and co-sponsored by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), that would strip roughly $3.3 billion in annual military financing for Israel — while preserving $500 million for missile-defense programs such as Iron Dome — from the fiscal 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. The House could vote on the measure as early as this week. Aligning himself with the ranking Democrats on the Appropriations and Foreign Affairs committees, Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Gregory Meeks (D-NY), as well as the advocacy group J Street, Jeffries called the proposal too sweeping. “As written, it is overly broad in that it prohibits or would limit the use of funds for longstanding initiatives related to humanitarian aid, refugee resettlement, peace-building and US Embassy operations,” he wrote, adding that the “so-called Massie amendment” would restrict US efforts to confront Hamas, Hezbollah “and other terrorist organizations in the region who are sworn enemies of both the United States and Israel.” Citing deep divisions within the party over Israel, Jeffries said leadership would not pressure members to follow his lead. “There are good faith reasons that will result in Members voting in a variety of different ways with respect to the amendment,” he wrote, noting that the caucus was not whipping the vote. At the same time, Jeffries argued that US policy toward the region “must change,” tying his call for a “major reset” to criticism of what he termed the “far-right Netanyahu government.” He wrote that America’s commitment to “Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state and homeland for the Jewish people must remain ironclad,” while urging strong US support for the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Israeli governments have long rejected the establishment of a Palestinian state along Israel’s borders, warning that it would pose an existential security threat and leave major population centers exposed to attack. Jeffries also said Gaza must undergo “complete reconstruction and modernization” and that “Hamas must be disarmed and removed from power.” Jeffries further signaled that the next US-Israel aid agreement should require Israel to cover more of its own defense costs. The current 10-year memorandum of understanding, signed under President Barack Obama in 2016, provides Israel about $3.8 billion annually — $3.3 billion in military financing and $500 million for missile defense — and expires in 2028. “Israel has an advanced economy and is capable of paying for its own sophisticated weapons, as the Prime Minister recently acknowledged,” Jeffries wrote, adding that any future arrangement should mirror US defense agreements with other Western allies and “strictly adhere to our human rights laws and values.” His stance placed him between the two poles of a party increasingly split over Israel. Hours after his letter circulated, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX), sent a competing letter urging Democrats to back the Massie amendment, and progressives including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said they would vote to cut the aid. Support for Israel among Democratic voters has fallen sharply during the war in Gaza. An Associated Press-NORC poll conducted in June found that 52 percent of Democrats say Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians, while a Pew Research Center survey found that roughly 80 percent of Democrats hold a negative view of Israel. In April, a majority of Senate Democrats — 40 of the caucus’s 47 members — voted for at least one of two resolutions to block certain arms sales to Israel, though the measures failed. Supporters of continued assistance say it preserves Israel’s qualitative military edge and bolsters a key US partner against Iran-backed groups, while critics want aid conditioned on Israeli policy changes, particularly over the conduct of the war in Gaza. The upcoming vote is expected to underscore the widening gap between the party’s pro-Israel wing and its growing bloc of aid critics. for Amendment to Strip Israel Aid

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July 3, 2016 7:14 am
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UK Labour Leader Caught On Video Joking With Activist Who Accused Jewish MP of Right-Wing Conspiracy (VIDEO)

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avatar by Lea Speyer

Labour head Jeremy Corbyn (L) and Momentum activist Marc Wadsworth (R) seen sharing a laugh following a conference announcing the results of the party's antisemitism probe. Photo: Video Screenshot.

Labour head Jeremy Corbyn (L) and Momentum activist Marc Wadsworth (R) seen sharing a laugh following a conference announcing the results of the party’s antisemitism probe. Photo: Video Screenshot.

The head of the UK’s Labour Party sparked controversy yet again, when he was caught on tape joking with an activist who had verbally attacked a Jewish MP, the Daily Star reported on Friday.

On Wedesday, Jeremy Corbyn was caught on camera having a laugh with Marc Wadsworth from the far-Left organization Momentum — who accused Labour MP Ruth Smeeth of “colluding” with the right-wing press during a conference announcing the results of an inquiry into allegations of antisemitism in the party. 

As reported by The Algemeiner, Smeeth — who had left the room in tears — called on Corbyn to resign to “make way for someone with the backbone to confront racism and antisemitism in our party and in the country.”

Following the brouhaha, Wadsworth told the Independent, “I didn’t have a clue that Ruth Smeeth is Jewish. I’ve never been called antisemitic in my life. I’ve fought against antisemitism and racism. During the anti-apartheid struggle, I fought alongside the Jewish Board of Deputies. The Jewish people have an ally in me.”

Nevertheless, in the video in question, Wadsworth can be heard boasting to Corbyn about how he “outed” Smeeth; Corbyn replied, “I sent you a text about that.”

The Labour inquiry concluded that while there is an “occasionally toxic atmosphere” within the party, it is “not overrun by antisemitism, Islamophobia, or other forms of racism.” In comments outlining the results of the inquiry, Shami Chakrabarti — who led the investigation — said any claims that the Jewish people were “part of some kind of media conspiracy…is just wrong.” It was soon after this that Wadsworth hurled this very accusation at Smeeth.

On Tuesday, the Labour Party passed a non-binding no-confidence motion in Corbyn in a 172-40 vote. In spite of many calls on him to resign, Corbyn is remaining steadfast.

According to a new YouGov poll published on Friday, support for the Labour leader has seen a dramatic drop compared to his main rival, Angela Eagle, who has gained in popularity and is expected to challenge Corbyn for Labour leadership.

Watch Corbyn and Wadsworth’s exchange below:

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