A solitary House Republican voted against a resolution meant to convey support for the United States’ relationship with Israel and encourage other nations to “normalize relations” with the Middle Eastern nation.

Tuesday, the resolution passed despite the “nay” ballots of Republican Representative Thomas Massie and 18 Democrats.

According to the House clerk’s website, the final tally was 401 votes in favor, 19 votes against, and 15 abstentions.

Six Republicans and nine Democrats were among those who didn’t vote.

Massie told Fox News that his vote was a result of his consistent opposition to foreign aid.

“Ultimately it didn’t make sense for me to vote for a bill that praises the foreign aid that I’ve voted against for the past ten years,” Massie told Fox.

The stated purpose of the resolution was “[e]ncouraging the expansion and strengthening of the Abraham Accords to urge other nations to normalize relations with Israel and ensure that existing agreements reap tangible security and economic benefits for the citizens of those countries and all peoples in the region.”

In 1948, the United States formally recognized Israel as a nation.

The Abraham Accords included peace agreements between Israel and four Muslim-majority countries: Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates.

Betty McCollum of Missouri and 17 Democrats of the Congressional Progressive Caucus also voted against the bill, according to Fox: Reps. Jamaal Bowman of New York, Cori Bush of Missouri, Andre Carson of Indiana, Mark DeSaulnier of California, Jesus Garcia of Illinois, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Delia Ramirez of Illinois, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and Nydia Velazquez of New York. CONTINUE READING…