Report: Aipac stops taking donations for Democrats who backed Israel aid cut

Report: Aipac stops taking donations for Democrats who backed Israel aid cut

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), a leading pro-Israel lobbying group in the United States, has stopped accepting campaign contributions for 15 House Democrats it had previously endorsed, after they voted this week for an amendment to cut off all US military aid to Israel, media reports said.

The amendment, introduced by Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie as part of a State Department spending bill, was defeated 314 to 104, but drew support from 103 House Democrats, nearly half the caucus. Massie was the only Republican backer.

By Friday, donations to the campaigns of the 15 affected lawmakers were no longer available on Aipac's website, the New York Times reported.

 Among them was House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, who said ahead of the vote that Washington "should not provide a blank check for military aid to any country that does not comply with US law, interests, and values."

An Aipac spokesperson told the Times that its members are "deeply appreciative of their representatives who stand on principle and are disappointed by those who don't."

Massie's amendment would have blocked $3.3 billion in annual security assistance to Israel. ...