During a contentious meeting of the House Democrat Conference, Representative Maxine Waters made controversial remarks about a recent attack on Israel, dismissing it as “fake” and advising against retaliation. The meeting, which saw sharp divisions among House Democrats, came in the wake of Iran’s significant drone and missile attack on Israel, which followed an Israeli strike in Damascus that killed a senior Iranian commander and other Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leaders.
Waters argued that Israel had no need to retaliate for the attack, which she deemed a fabrication. This claim contradicts the broad consensus, as Israeli and international defense systems intercepted approximately 99% of the 320 drones and missiles launched by Iran, minimizing damage and resulting in only one reported injury.
The assertion by Waters stirred significant debate within the meeting, highlighting the ongoing internal divisions over the U.S.’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The debate intensified when Representative Rashida Tlaib, a known critic of Israeli policies towards Palestinians, abruptly exited the meeting. Tlaib later expressed her frustrations on social media, criticizing the U.S. for its role in what she described as a genocide against Palestinians, particularly in light of discussions about increasing aid to Israel.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries reportedly called for unity among Democrats during these turbulent discussions but did not specifically address the issue of U.S. aid to Ukraine, which is another point of contention within the party.
The unfolding events underscore a deepening rift within the Democratic Party over Middle East policy, particularly in how to balance the geopolitical alliance with Israel against growing concerns about human rights violations in the region. This discord within the party reflects broader national debates about foreign policy, military aid, and America’s role in international conflicts.