House Democratic leaders have appointed Representative Jared Moskowitz of Florida as the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee’s Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, a move that has prompted sharp criticism from progressives within the party. The decision was announced on Tuesday, positioning Moskowitz, a vocal supporter of Israel, to potentially chair the panel if Democrats regain control of the House in November.
Moskowitz, who faces a competitive re-election campaign in a newly redrawn district that leans more conservative, has consistently advocated for strong U.S. support for Israel. He has condemned critics of the country and called for "unwavering support," maintaining his stance even as many Democrats have grown more skeptical of continued American military and economic aid to Israel.
In addition to Moskowitz, House leaders appointed Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and Wesley Bell of Missouri to the committee. Both are also recognized for their firm pro-Israel positions and enjoy substantial backing from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
The appointments triggered an immediate backlash from progressive Democrats, who argue that the selections disregard the shifting sentiments of the party’s base, particularly in light of recent conflicts in Gaza and broader concerns related to Israeli government policies. Representative Ro Khanna of California warned party leaders against placing "Israel hawks out of touch with our voters in charge of our Middle East policy," highlighting growing tensions within the caucus.
Several progressives cited polling data underscoring their concerns. A recent national survey found that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters opposed additional U.S. support for Israel, while a separate Pew Research Center poll indicated that 80% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents held unfavorable views of Israel. Former Obama administration official Benjamin J. Rhodes criticized the appointments as indicating "zero regard for the vast majority of their own voters," suggesting the leadership disregarded concerns about alleged war crimes and broader voter priorities.
The move also complicates the leadership challenges facing House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who is expected to assume the speakership if Democrats win the midterm elections. Jeffries recently called for a “major reset” in U.S.-Israel relations, signaling openness to reevaluating the alliance. However, progressives expressed concern that Moskowitz’s elevation might signal a return to hardline partisan alignments on the issue.
Muslim advocacy group Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned Moskowitz’s appointment as an "insult to the American people" and criticized it as a mechanism to shield Israel from accountability. The group called on Congress to prioritize domestic issues over foreign military aid and urged lawmakers to represent the broader will of the American public rather than reflecting the interests of pro-Israel lobbying organizations.
From the standpoint of House leadership, Moskowitz’s appointment was seen as a pragmatic strategy. Leaders argued that Moskowitz’s pro-Israel stance aligns with existing policy approaches on the subcommittee, noting that the current ranking Democrat, Representative Brad Sherman of California, also holds a strong pro-Israel position. According to sources familiar with the arrangement, Sherman agreed to relinquish the ranking member role to assist Moskowitz, who sought to solidify support among pro-Israel constituents in his re-election bid.
Should Democrats reclaim the majority, Moskowitz would wield significant influence over the subcommittee’s agenda, including the ability to set hearing topics and select witnesses. Progressives worry this could limit scrutiny of contentious issues such as Israeli settlement expansion and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, areas of increasing concern among the party’s progressive wing.
A spokesperson for Minority Leader Jeffries declined to comment on the appointments.