Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)
Washington, D.C.—Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) released the following statement on the Massie amendment:
“The suffering caused by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is staggering. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and families across the region, Israeli and Palestinian alike, have endured unimaginable loss. American policy must confront these realities honestly, not diminish them.
“The Massie amendment on the House floor today does not live up to that standard. Its overly broad language could strip funding from peacebuilding initiatives between Israelis and Palestinians, humanitarian aid for Palestinians in desperate need, refugee resettlement, and American diplomacy. It would hand the Trump Administration the power to decide what gets funded and what does not.
“The communities I represent know all too well what happens when President Trump spends taxpayer dollars however he sees fit. In my role on the House Appropriations Committee, I refuse to cede a single inch of my fight to reclaim Congress’s power of the purse from rogue, unelected Trump officials like Russ Vought. This amendment gives them more discretion, not less.
“I firmly believe in a future where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace, security, and self-determination. Prime Minister Netanyahu and the extremists he has empowered are actively working to make that future impossible. He has prolonged the war to preserve his own political survival and given a platform to those who dream of permanent occupation and annexation. I have made clear that Netanyahu must go. This fall, Israelis will have the chance to elect a new government dedicated to the dignity and security of both peoples, and I hope they will seize it.
“The violence settlers are inflicting on Palestinian families in the West Bank is abhorrent. It must end. That is why I have cosponsored the West Bank Violence Prevention Act to hold perpetrators accountable.
“Gaza must be rebuilt, and aid to its residents must flow unimpeded. Palestinians deserve to live free from bombardment, displacement, and blockade. Hamas must be disarmed so a viable path to peace exists. And as the United States negotiates the next Memorandum of Understanding on security assistance, I will insist it include real accountability. American aid must comply fully with American law, and it must never underwrite settlement expansion, annexation, or the collective punishment of civilians.
“None of this is easy. It demands a more principled, inclusive, and constructive kind of American leadership than the one we have now. I will keep fighting for policies that bring us closer to a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”