Xavier Becerra
At the May 2024 World Health Assembly, HHS Secretary Becerra said: "We need a ceasefire agreement that leads to the release of hostages, a surge in humanitarian assistance into Gaza, and the road to a two-state solution." No statement found on U.S. weapons or money to Israel's government.
Speaking for the United States at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva on May 28, 2024, Becerra called for a ceasefire agreement leading to the release of hostages, a surge of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, and a road to a two-state solution, adding that "Palestinians and Israelis deserve to live safely, with dignity, and in peace." An HHS spokesperson said the same day that Becerra misspoke in saying "Israel and Palestine" rather than "Israelis and Palestinians" and that U.S. policy on recognition of a Palestinian state had not changed.
As a 2026 candidate for governor, Becerra advanced from the June 2 top-two primary. He did not attend the February 26, 2026 Jewish California governor candidate forum at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, where other candidates discussed state policy toward Israel and the state anti-boycott law. Writers at JNS describe his posture as in line with Democratic positions favoring a negotiated two-state solution, ceasefire and hostage-release agreements, and humanitarian aid.
Earlier record: as a U.S. representative, Becerra voted in September 2016 for a House resolution supporting a new long-term U.S.-Israel memorandum of understanding on military assistance. As HHS secretary his department answered House committee inquiries in 2024 about civil rights enforcement at NIH-funded universities. A December 2014 Congressional Record quote about Israel that circulated under his name was verified as belonging to another member; see the research page. Decisions about U.S. weapons and money to the government of Israel sit with Congress and the president, not with a governor.
Research
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- [EXCLUDED, misattributed] "Israel's security should be our first priority but this includes more than just weapons funding..." attributed to Becerra from the Congressional Record page E1737, Dec. 3, 2014. Prior verification found these remarks belong to another member printed on the same multi-speaker page; Becerra's own remarks there concern disability savings accounts. [Earlier record]
- No platform positions or executive proposals on U.S. military aid or weapons transfers to Israel located for his HHS tenure or the 2026 campaign; the Los Angeles Times candidate survey coverage (published 2025-05-08) supports the absence. [Current position, undated absence claim]
- Existing record: voted Yea on H.Res.729 (2016-09-13), supporting a new long-term U.S.-Israel memorandum of understanding on military assistance; agreed to 405-4. [Earlier record]
Characterization of the conflict
- 2024-05-28 [Current position]: At the 77th World Health Assembly, Geneva, Becerra said the "tragic, avoidable loss of life and cycle of destruction and dislocation" must stop immediately: "We need a ceasefire agreement that leads to the release of hostages, a surge in humanitarian assistance into Gaza, and the road to a two-state solution. Palestinians and Israelis deserve to live safely, with dignity, and in peace." Verified verbatim against the Jewish Exponent report. The HHS official transcript source (usmission.gov) would not open; no source opened for the transcript itself.
- 2024-05-28 [Current position]: An HHS spokesperson clarified that Becerra misspoke in saying "Israel and Palestine" rather than "Israelis and Palestinians"; no change in U.S. policy on recognition of a Palestinian state.
- 2026-06-02 [Current position, analyst characterization, not the candidate's words]: JNS reports analysts describing Becerra's posture as aligned with mainstream Democratic positions on a two-state solution, ceasefire and hostage release, and humanitarian aid.
Rhetoric and lobbying
- [EXCLUDED, suspect misattribution] Dec. 3, 2014 written statements saying he visited Israel "almost a dozen times" and that Israelis face challenges "with confidence and self-assurance because they know they are an ally of the United States," cited to the same E1737 Congressional Record page already found to attribute another member's Israel remarks to Becerra. Excluded under the wrong-person rule. [Earlier record]
- 2026-02-26 [Current position]: Becerra did not attend the 2026 Jewish California Governor Candidate Forum at the Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, where candidates discussed state policy toward Israel and anti-BDS legislation. Coverage: J Weekly, Jewish Insider, Times of Israel.
- Existing record: spoke at a Jewish Public Affairs Committee gathering in Sacramento on 2025-05-06. [Current position]
Safety and antisemitism (context, not a weapons or funding position)
- September 2023 [Earlier record; inline month-only date]: HHS under Becerra joined seven agencies in Title VI guidance covering antisemitic and Islamophobic harassment in federally funded programs; referenced in the committee letter.
- 2024-08-22 [Current position]: HHS response on Becerra's behalf to House Energy and Commerce and Education committee inquiries on campus protests at NIH-funded universities; OCR "enforces federal civil rights laws" and "takes this duty seriously." Committee post.
- 2024-09-18 [Current position]: House committee leaders issued a follow-up document request to Becerra on HHS and NIH handling of alleged antisemitic discrimination at grantee institutions; see also the joint letter PDF.
Also in this race: Steve Hilton (Republican) · All California candidates.
See the full record →But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. Every claim on this page goes through at least two verification steps. Open the interactive card for votes, funding and contact details.