Three Democratic lawmakers who support Israel have been selected for prominent roles on the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, known as HFAC, as Democrats remain divided over US aid to Israel. Representative Jared Moskowitz of Florida was named the top Democrat on the panel’s Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, replacing Representative Brad Sherman of California.
Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and Wesley Bell of Missouri were appointed to the committee’s oversight and intelligence and Western Hemisphere subcommittees, respectively. All three recently defeated progressive Democratic challengers in their primaries who had targeted their positions on Israel.
The appointments have drawn criticism from Democrats
The selections have prompted backlash from members of the Democratic Party who say the choices do not reflect changing voter attitudes. Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan said Democratic voters want an end to US support for Israel’s war in Gaza and criticized Moskowitz’s support for the US war effort against Iran.
Ben Rhodes, a former deputy national security adviser to President Barack Obama, called the appointments a sign that Democratic leadership was disregarding voter concerns. The Council on American-Islamic Relations also said it was concerned that the choices elevated lawmakers who support funding for the Israeli government.
Key points
- One pro-Palestinian Democrat, Representative Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, was named to the Africa Subcommittee.
- The House is currently narrowly controlled by Republicans, who can name chairs of the chamber’s standing committees.
- A Democratic House majority after the November midterm races could change who leads the subcommittee.
Polling shows a wider debate over support for Israel
A March Pew Research Center poll found that 60 percent of US adults had an unfavourable view of Israel, compared with 42 percent in 2022. A more recent CNN-SSRS survey found that 54 percent of respondents would be open to supporting a candidate who favoured cutting aid to Israel; the figure was 70 percent among Democratic-leaning voters.
The debate is unfolding during the US midterm election season. Democratic candidates remain divided over whether the United States should provide support to Israel after its military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon, while several critics of Israel, including Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, have won primary contests against pro-Israel rivals. For additional context, see “What Florida’s 2026 primaries mean for November”.
What the new roles could mean for HFAC
Moskowitz has opposed placing conditions or restrictions on US military aid to Israel. If Democrats regain control of the House, he could become chair of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee.
Moskowitz said he would work to strengthen US relationships with Israel and Gulf allies, expand regional peace and advance US diplomacy. House Democrats Gregory Meeks of New York and Hakeem Jeffries, the party’s House leader, backed the committee choices, with Meeks saying the appointees’ experience and expertise would support the panel’s national-security and diplomacy work.
What happens next
The November midterm races will determine whether Democrats regain the House and whether Moskowitz could lead the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee.
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