Newsom Calls for Conditioned U.S. Military Aid to Israel

California Governor Gavin Newsom stated on Saturday that U.S. military aid to Israel “has to be conditioned,” positioning this stance as an increasingly shared viewpoint within the Democratic Party as he campaigns in New Hampshire for what could be a 2028 presidential run, according to Anadolu.

In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Newsom emphasized that “aid has to be conditioned,” pointing to settler violence in the occupied West Bank and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies, which he claimed threaten the prospects of a two-state solution.

“Bibi Netanyahu has done a remarkable job of really isolating himself from the rest of the world and increasingly from the American people,” Newsom said, adding that the damage he has caused is incalculable.

Despite labeling Israel’s conflict in Gaza a “moral catastrophe,” Newsom did not specify which forms of military assistance should face conditions, clarifying the distinction between defensive systems like Iron Dome and offensive weaponry.

He argued that U.S. assistance should align with fundamental human rights principles, including under the Leahy framework—a 1997 federal rule prohibiting funding for foreign military units linked to credible information of severe human rights violations.

– Democrats oppose

His remarks occur amid a rising tide of Democratic opposition to arms transfers to Israel.

Most Senate Democrats voted in the spring to block a weapons sale, while over 100 House Democrats opposed a separate measure earlier in July.

Newsom suggested that upcoming Israeli elections scheduled for October 27 could further shape the political landscape of the debate.

Throughout his tenure, Newsom has repeatedly criticized Netanyahu while maintaining expressions of support for Israel, including a visit to meet with survivors of the Hamas attack in 2023.

He also expressed regret in March for his characterization of Israel as an “apartheid state.”

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