07/20/2026
On U.S. House Vote to End Foreign Military Financing to Israel
A Statement from JCRC of Greater Boston CEO Jeremy Burton:
It is impossible to fully convey in a statement the sense of concern, surprise, confusion and even anger that various members of our Jewish communal network here in greater Boston are experiencing in the wake of the unanimous vote by our U.S. House delegation in support of Congressman Massie’s Amendment #8 on July 15.
Suffice to say that — with the wall-to-wall unity among our own member organizations in advance of the vote, urging a ‘no’ vote on this amendment — there is a broad experience of abandonment; at the very least abandonment of the commitments made under previous administrations, including the ten-year military financing agreement entered into by the Obama administration with America’s ally, Israel. These agreements benefit and strengthen both the United States and Israel.
We appreciate and hold within us a variety of opinions about whether this financing agreement should be extended when the existing ten-year agreement expires in 2028; and we acknowledge the signals from the government in Israel that they are ready as well for a change when the current memorandum of understanding comes to an end.
But we are unified in our belief that the unilateral vote by nearly half of House Democrats to end it now was the wrong way to go about a change in the U.S.-Israel strategic relationship.
That this vote came in support of an amendment offered by Rep. Massie — who has continuously espoused antisemitic beliefs and theories, including during his failed effort for re-election to the House — is itself deeply disturbing. If House Democrats wish to alter the nature of the relationship, we believe they ought to heed the counsel of Leader Jeffries and offer their own — responsible and considered — way forward.
Additionally, we are deeply troubled by some of the support given by leaders in both parties this week to baseless conspiracy theories and to the suggestion of an outsized political influence by the Israeli government or by Jewish-Americans. Such rhetoric plays directly into antisemitic tropes that have caused Jewish-Americans physical harm in the past and can inspire it in the future. We urge our public officials to be more mindful of their rhetoric — especially amidst historically high levels of antisemitism, including antisemitic violence toward our community.
Even at this difficult time, as some of our member organizations are re-evaluating their own advocacy approaches, we reaffirm our commitment to the value of engaging with our congressional delegation. We do so while acknowledging that we see and understand the difference between those members of Congress who have long expressed hostility toward the U.S.-Israel relationship, in relative distinction from those who gave specific reasons for their vote this week while reaffirming a commitment to Israel’s future.
In a pluralistic democracy, we must advocate across our differences while at the same time holding relationships on matters of common concern — indeed it is the only way our nation can endure.
Read the full statement:
It is impossible to fully convey in a statement the sense of concern, surprise, confusion and even anger that various members of our Jewish communal network here in greater Boston are experiencing in the wake of the unanimous vote by our U.S. House delegation in support of Congressman Massie’s Ame...
