US House minority leader demands ‘dramatic change’ in Middle East

US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Thursday that "dramatic changes" are needed in the Middle East, including in the occupied West Bank, the Gaza Strip and US defense cooperation with Israel.

But he stopped short of explicitly endorsing a proposal to remove Israel-related provisions from the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Jeffries was asked at a news conference whether he supported a call by Sen. Chris Van Hollen to strip provisions from the annual defense bill that would deepen US defense and intelligence cooperation with Israel.

"Haven't had a conversation with Sen. Van Hollen, but what I have said is that things have to dramatically change over in the Middle East," said Jeffries.

"We need dramatic change in the West Bank, which is why I strongly support the West Bank Violence Protection Act. We need dramatic change in Gaza, and we need dramatic change with respect to the memorandum of understanding as it winds down," he said.

Jeffries added that Democrats would work as a caucus to advance a "just and lasting peace" for Israelis and Palestinians.

"The status quo is unacceptable, and we need dramatic change. And that looks like, as far as I'm concerned, making sure you have a safe and secure Israel, living side by side as a Jewish and democratic state with an independent Palestinian state that provides dignity and self-determination for the Palestinian people," he said.

The comments came after Van Hollen led 11 Senate colleagues in urging congressional leadership to remove provisions from the upcoming NDAA mandating deeper defense and intelligence cooperation with Israel.