Nearly half of all Democrats in the House of Representatives voted Wednesday to cut off US military aid to Israel, a move that underscored a dramatic shift away from the US support the Mideast ally has enjoyed for nearly 60 years.
While House lawmakers ultimately rejected Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R-Ky.) amendment to a national security spending bill that would have eliminated the $3.3 billion in annual foreign military financing provided to Israel’s military, the details of the vote were viewed as an encouraging sign by defenders of Palestine and the rule of law.
Massie and 103 Democrats voted for the measure, while 215 Republicans and 98 Democrats rejected it. The overall tally was 104 for, 314 against, and 10 “present” votes, with 9 absences.
Some tools can be appropriated, and some tools will be needed to build a new house. Don’t discard them all.
Voting alone may not be enough, but it’s a useful way to communicate public opinion. Establishing the consensus that enough people are behind you encourages participation in direct action, and building democratic legitimacy helps make your changes stick.
You probably need more than votes to achieve change, but you’ll need them to make it last.