In recent weeks, Massie has been involved in a heated exchange with a pro-Israel American-Jewish group over his proposed $14 billion aid package. The proposal, which has been heavily discussed among members of Congress, would be extracted through inflation and taxes and intended to benefit both the American-Israeli and Palestinian people.
The controversial plan has drawn the ire of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), a non-profit organization that advocates for the interests of Jewish people around the world. In a statement released earlier this month, the AJC criticized the proposal as “not in the best interest of the United States or the Middle East,” and warned that it would only serve to “further cause hard feelings” between Israel and the Palestinians.
In response, Representative Massie has argued that his plan “is not about taking sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict” but rather, it is about providing economic relief to an embattled population. He further notes that his proposal has received strong support from both sides of the aisle, and relatively high approval ratings among the American public.
Massie goes on to state that the AJC’s criticisms are “built on wrong assumptions about the plan” and that the group’s opposition is not reflective of the popular opinion. He suggests that the AJC is taking a position that is driven by “partisan politics” rather than by actual facts.
It remains unclear whether or not Massie’s proposal will be approved by congress, though the AJC’s latest statement suggests that it has become increasingly unlikely. Nevertheless, Massie’s proposal has sparked a passionate debate, forcing all of those involved – on both sides of the aisle – to consider the policy’s full implications for a complex and often-divided region.