US Rep. Adam Smith, a Democrat from Washington State, on Thursday decried a far-left anti-Israel harassment campaign while justifying his recent vote to cut off military aid to Israel.

Smith was one of 104 House representatives who voted for an amendment to cut off aid to Israel on Wednesday. All of those who supported the amendment, except the bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, were Democrats.

The amendment failed despite nearly half of Democrats supporting it, reflecting the growing rupture between the party and Israel.

Smith, from Washington’s 9th District, is the Democratic ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee. He is also emblematic of the widening rift, as he previously received support from the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC before taking a more critical posture toward the country.

Although he voted to halt the military assistance, Smith said in his statement that he was “deeply concerned about the tactics used by those on the far left to advocate cutting off aid to Israel.”

Smith said his family’s home was vandalized, a fire was set in his driveway, one of his staff members was assaulted, activists shut down town hall meetings and his neighbors’ “lives have been disrupted” by late-night demonstrations.

“Those who engage in this type of behavior model a dangerous form of corrosive politics that seeks to intimidate those who disagree with them,” Smith said. “We must be able to have civil discourse if we want to solve difficult problems.”

My statement on my vote........

© The Times of Israel