AT A GLANCE
• Crockett says there is a “clear, concerted effort to distort” her Israel-Gaza record
• She has never opposed funding for Iron Dome defensive systems
• Says 96% of omnibus funding she voted for was unrelated to Israel
• Invites disagreement — but rejects misrepresentation
• Texas Senate primary intensifies scrutiny
Crockett Says 96% of the Funding in the Controversial Omnibus Bill Was Unrelated to Israel
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett is directly addressing criticism from pro-Palestinian progressives over her voting record related to aid for Israel as she campaigns for U.S. Senate. During an interview with theGrio, the Texas congresswoman said she welcomes disagreement — but not distortion. “I believe in a real democracy, so I believe that it is perfectly acceptable for people to disagree with me,” said Crockett. However, she added that what she is facing goes beyond disagreement. Crockett condemned what she described as a “clear, concerted effort to distort” her position on Israel.
Crockett argued that her stance is not fundamentally different from that of her Democratic primary opponent, Texas State Rep. James Talarico — except that he does not have a federal voting record. “It is very easy when someone is inexperienced and hasn’t been on the federal level, such as my opponent, to say, I’m not gonna do this or that. But when it gets down to it, when you get a vote, you have to decide, like, where you stand, and there are people that may disagree,” Crockett explained.
Related: Crockett Spoke with the Observer, Here’s What She Said
Addressing criticism over U.S. military aid, Crockett clarified her position on defensive systems. “There are those that believe that Israel should be disarmed of any defensive arms, which basically boils down to Iron Dome. I have never stood out against Iron Dome, and the funding that we have signed onto, in any of the aid [packages] was for defensive arms.” She also referenced a letter she and other Democrats sent to then-President Joe Biden urging restraint on offensive weapons. “We felt like there were violations of international law, and therefore, we encouraged the president to make sure that we are following our own law,” she explained.
Crockett acknowledged that her vote for H.R. 7006 upset pro-Palestinian activists but said it was part of a broader omnibus package. “That particular vote was for 2 of our 12 appropriations, so that we could keep the government open,” she said. “There [were] two whole divisions of federal workers in this terrible economic environment, that if I would have voted no, those two groups of federal workers, they would be in a shutdown, and they wouldn’t be getting any money.” She continued, “There was funding for public defenders, there was funding for HIV dollars, there was funding for small businesses. There was funding to make sure that we stay a part of the [United Nations] so that hopefully we can protect ourselves domestically…96% of the dollars were going for something other than Israel.”
Crockett said she accepts that some voters would have preferred a different vote.
“There are people that may disagree. They may say, you know what? You should have said, forget it to all of the federal workers, you should have said, forget it to all of those other dollars, you should have said, forget it, because Israel was included in it.” She added, “That’s fine if that’s where you stand. I just don’t want people distorting what it is that I did. That’s it.”
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has drawn international condemnation and accusations of genocide after more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to reports cited in theGrio interview. Though a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was initially secured in October 2025, strikes have continued, with both sides accusing the other of violating the agreement. Negotiations to restore the ceasefire remain ongoing. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House to discuss Gaza and a potential nuclear deal with Iran. A White House spokesperson, Anna Kelly, said, “We continue to work closely with our ally Israel to implement President Trump’s historic Gaza peace agreement and to strengthen regional security in the Middle East.”
