Adam Smith reverses on Israel defense pact after 1 West Bank death

A Democratic revolt over Israel threatens to unravel a defense technology partnership that the Pentagon spent 7 years trying to build.

Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, reversed his support for a U.S.-Israel defense technology provision in the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act after constituent backlash over a West Bank killing.

"You have to put pressure on Israel somewhere," Smith, who represents Washington state, told the Wall Street Journal, citing the death of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a Turkish-American activist killed during a protest in the West Bank.

The provision would expand cooperation in missile defense, drone defense, anti-tunneling, cyber warfare and artificial intelligence. Smith initially defended it during the committee's markup in early June, saying "the reason we're doing this is because we benefit from that technology development." Rep. Ro Khanna's amendment to strip the language was ruled out of order on June 29.

The reversal threatens a partnership that defense analysts say gives the US military access to battle-tested Israeli technology at a time when the Pentagon is racing to close capability gaps with China. Bradley Bowman of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies noted the Pentagon took 7 years to adopt Israel's Trophy active protection system for US tanks — a delay he said cost American lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The controversy exposes a widening rift within the Democratic Party over Israel that now threatens defense policy. Smith, who described himself as a "strong supporter of Israel's right to exist" but "very critical of the Netanyahu government," said his change of heart followed conversations with constituents angry about Eygi's death.

The provision's critics argue it would "all but fuse the two countries' armed forces together" and compromise US sovereignty. Supporters counter that Israel's rapid-cycle defense development — moving from concept to fielded capability faster than any US ally — offers lessons the Pentagon cannot afford to ignore.

"We need to compete with China," Bowman said. "That requires learning from beleaguered democracies like Ukraine, Taiwan and also Israel, which is the best in the world in some areas of defense tech."

Defense Cooperation at Stake

The NDAA provision consolidates existing U.S.-Israel programs under a single accountability framework while expanding into emerging domains. Israel's Trophy system, which protects armored vehicles from rocket-propelled grenades and anti-tank missiles, took 7 years to field on US tanks after the Pentagon first evaluated it. The delay meant American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan operated without a system that Israeli forces had already proven in combat.

The political fight comes as the US and Iran operate under a 60-day memorandum of understanding that reopened the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint handling about 21 percent of global oil trade. Israel and the US have diverging war aims regarding Iran, with Israel seeking regime change while Washington pursued a more limited strategy, according to a Foreign Affairs analysis.

What Happens Next

Khanna's amendment was ruled out of order, but the provision remains vulnerable as the NDAA moves through the full House, Senate, and conference committee. Smith's reversal signals that Democratic opposition could intensify, potentially forcing changes before final passage.

For defense contractors with Israel-linked programs — including missile defense, drone systems and cyber capabilities — the political uncertainty creates a new risk factor. The provision's removal would not eliminate existing bilateral programs but would halt the expanded cooperation framework that Pentagon officials had sought.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.