Panetta’s “telephone town halls” are usually tightly scripted. This time, on October 18, 2025, Panetta appeared in Watsonville in person. Indivisible, the host of the town hall, chose the questions submitted by the public. The first question on Israel policy asked:
“Many of the questions submitted for this town hall reflect extreme concern about the ongoing situation in Gaza, which many consider US supported genocide. Representative Panetta, polls show that three quarters of Democrats oppose additional military aid to Israel. Please explain why you are accepting PAC money from pro-Israel groups and have voted to continue to support Israel by sending weapons.”
Panetta responded by pointing at other Democrats, “There are 213 Democrats in the House of Representatives. Okay. Every Democratic member except seven has taken donations from pro-Israel groups.”
An audience member said aloud, “Doesn’t make it right.”
FACT CHECK: AIPAC
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) was the largest PAC contributor to Congressional candidates in the 2024 cycle. AIPAC states that “Israel is fighting a just and moral war against Hamas terrorism.”
The number of House Democrats accepting AIPAC funds in 2024 was 122, around 57%.
In an unprecedented development, members of Congress who received AIPAC money in the past are now refusing to accept it. The New York Times reports, “Three Democratic members of Congress who had previously relied on AIPAC as a top campaign contributor have said over the past few weeks that they would no longer accept donations from the group: Representatives Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky, Deborah K. Ross of North Carolina, and Valerie P. Foushee of North Carolina. Oregon Rep. Maxine Dexter received $1 million AIPAC funds in 2024. In what must be considered betrayal by AIPAC, Dexter has co-sponsored Block the Bombs legislation, saying that the United States“must halt the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel”. Another top recipient of AIPAC funds, Rep. Seth Moulton, announced he will return the AIPAC money he has received.
KQED reports that Panetta was the top recipient of AIPAC money in Northern and Central California, accepting over $250,000 in the 2024 election cycle.
FACT CHECK: Votes on Military Aid to Israel
Panetta said at the Town Hall: “Since October 7th of 2023, there’s only been seven votes dealing with funding for Israel’s defense. I voted for five I voted no on five out of those seven times of that funding. The first one was in November of 2023, a $26 billion package that the Republicans tried to shove through. 12 Democrats voted yes. I voted no.”
Panetta did not explain that his no votes were for the purpose of thwarting Republican amendments, and should not be interpreted as supporting conditions on military aid to Israel.
Following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, President Biden asked Congress to approve a $106 billion supplemental package that included $14.3 billion in military aid to Israel, $61.4 billion military aid to Ukraine, $13.6 billion in enforcement at the Mexican border and $10 billion in humanitarian aid for Israel, Ukraine, etc.
House Republicans sponsored a measure that eliminated everything except the weapons to Israel. According to an article in NPR, House Republicans included in the bill billions of cuts to the IRS. Panetta joined with most Democrats in voting no on this measure, knowing that another vote on military aid to Israel would be forthcoming.
After several months of political maneuvering Congress passed a package in April 2024 that included $26 billion for Israel, $61 billion for Ukraine, and $8 billion for allies in the Indo-Pacific. Panetta voted for this measure in spite of the Leahy Laws, that prohibit United States military assistance to foreign military units that violate human rights, and the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act that prohibits providing military assistance to countries that restrict the transport or delivery of U.S. humanitarian aid.
Another vote that Panetta cited as evidence he has voted against military aid to Israel was voting no in June 2024 on the the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual defense budget. Democrats voted against this version of the NDAA because Republicans added amendments, including an abortion travel ban, two restrictions on health care for transgender individuals, and curbs on the Pentagon’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
Panetta’s attempt to spin his record notwithstanding, he does not represent the 75% of Democrats who oppose more military aid to Israel.