Diverging Opinions Escalate Amidst Democrats' Israel Debate

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida caused a significant commotion within the House Democratic Caucus with her straightforward assessment of members who refused to endorse a resolution expressing solidarity with Israel in its conflict against Hamas. "I believe anyone who opposes this resolution lacks compassion," asserted Wasserman Schultz, a prominent Jewish representative, during her interview with CNN.

The House Democratic Caucus was abuzz with comments, particularly among the 15 House Democrats who did not vote for it. All of them were members of color, with some being Muslim-Americans. Multiple lawmakers brought up the issue directly to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal from Washington state, who refrained from voting on the resolution, voiced her outrage at Democrats criticizing each other on these votes. Jayapal explained to CNN that she abstained because the resolution failed to address the loss of innocent Palestinian lives or the need for humanitarian aid.

Jayapal, the leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, expressed her frustrations to House Democratic leadership regarding unresolved issues. The internal dispute over Wasserman Schultz's comments, which has not been previously reported, is just one example of how the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has exacerbated existing tensions within the House Democratic Caucus. This debate has divided along ideological, generational, and even racial lines. Democratic leaders have taken steps to address these tensions, including intervening after Rep. Andre Carson of Indiana, a Muslim American, criticized Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey for his remarks about opponents of the Israel resolution.

However, tensions remain high as 22 Democrats, along with Republicans, condemn Michigan Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian American, for using a phrase that many interpret as a call for the destruction of Israel. Tlaib's supporters are furious with the lawmakers who supported the censure resolution, such as Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri, who claims that this action puts vulnerable individuals, particularly those who are Black or Brown, at risk.

Jayapal expressed her dismay and embarrassment for those Democrats who voted to censure their own colleague and opposed the principle of free speech. Following the vote on Tuesday, she expressed her sentiments to CNN.

The involvement of Wasserman Schultz in this issue prompted leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus to come together. Some members of the CBC informed the Florida Democrat that describing people of color as "soulless" is a narrative that historically justified slavery, according to a House Democrat who spoke with CNN. The congresswoman expressed that she was unaware of the implication her words held, as relayed by the lawmaker. As for Wasserman Schultz, she chose not to comment, stating that private conversations with other members are not open for discussion.

As the war drags on and the humanitarian crisis deepens, the division among the House Democratic Caucus is becoming more noticeable, mirroring the broader divide among Democratic voters nationwide regarding President Joe Biden's management of the crisis and his unwavering backing of Israel.

A range of House Democrats are expressing unwavering support for Israel, while a group of progressives have become increasingly critical of the military campaign's impact on Palestinian civilians and are intensifying their calls for the Biden administration to urge an immediate ceasefire.

Democratic leaders are currently striving to navigate the conflicting perspectives within their diverse caucus, as certain lawmakers on either side of this sensitive matter now find themselves subjected to threats. This occurs against the backdrop of an increasing prevalence of antisemitism and Islamophobia.

At the center of it all, Jeffries, the leading Democrat in the House, is working to find a delicate equilibrium among the different factions within his caucus and foster open dialogue among its members.

Reflecting on the one-month anniversary of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Jeffries emphasized the importance of a fair and enduring peace between Israel and the Palestinian people, following the defeat of Hamas and the safe return of all hostages. He underscored that resorting to personal attacks against colleagues would never achieve this objective.

As the war has progressed, Jeffries has convened with Democratic members from various ideological groups, including the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Jewish members, according to a reliable source.

Regarding Tlaib, a member of the influential and progressive "squad," Jeffries has maintained a delicate stance. He vehemently denounced the GOP's attempts to censure her and encouraged members to vote against the resolutions. However, he also released an extensive statement firmly rejecting the type of rhetoric employed by Tlaib, although he refrained from directly mentioning her by name.

Jeffries recently assisted in organizing a security briefing for squad members, which was conducted by Capitol Police and the House Sergeant at Arms, as informed by a Democratic aide to CNN. In addition, he is currently addressing the request from Jewish House members to have a more prominent presence in leadership discussions. On Tuesday, a group of members, led by Wasserman Schultz, met with Jeffries in his office to discuss various topics. Wasserman Schultz stated, "We are collaborating to gather input from all Jewish Members, as it is increasingly clear that we must have a voice in matters crucial to our communities. Thus far, the response has been highly positive, and discussions are ongoing."

Tensions over policy and primary threats

There exists a division among House Democrats regarding the White House's approach to the conflict. Some members fully support the Biden administration's pro-Israel stance, while others urge the United States to exert pressure on the Israelis and encourage restraint.

The ongoing conflict is taking a toll on the president as Democrats assert that the divide is manifesting in their states.

According to Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat vying for the Senate, the intensity of emotions surrounding this dispute cannot be underestimated. With a population of over 300,000 Arabs and Muslims and 70,000 Jews, the sentiments are running incredibly strong.

Slotkin remarked that Muslim voters pose a threat to their voting influence in swing states, making it a significant concern for the White House and political candidates.

Progressives, on the other hand, are concerned about the perception that the White House favors Israel over Palestinians, who have been victims of terrorist actions by Hamas. With the Palestinian death toll surpassing 10,000 and 240 hostages still held by Hamas, progressives urge the White House and their party leaders to address both the antisemitic and Islamophobic attacks that have occurred during this conflict in a balanced manner.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, a prominent progressive, expressed concern over the large number of children who have lost their lives. She emphasized that this situation is not a result of war but rather represents chaos. Ocasio-Cortez firmly believes that it is our duty to maintain our standards and commitment to human rights. In an effort to address the concerns of the left wing of the party and mend divisions within the coalition following the war, the White House has been making efforts to engage with progressive lawmakers on Capitol Hill, including Jayapal.

In addition to policy concerns, there is growing tension within the party regarding the activities of outside spending groups. These groups have targeted progressive members due to their anti-Israel stance, which has the potential to alienate crucial Democratic voting blocs and invite primary challenges.

During a recent news conference, Jeffries was questioned about a substantial ad campaign funded by the Democratic Majority for Israel, a pro-Israel organization, which aimed to criticize Tlaib. In response, Jeffries stated that outside groups will carry out their own agenda, but he emphasized that House Democrats will continue to stand united and support one another.

One Democratic aide expressed concern that progressive members feel unsupported by party leaders when outside groups attack them and spend large sums of money to try to remove them, unlike how leadership has supported incumbents in the past.

CNNs Edward-Isaac Dovere contributed to this report.