House Dems cuts Iron Dome funding from upcoming budget
The Democratic Party leadership in the US House of Representatives on Tuesday cut about $ 1 billion in funding for Israel’s Iron Dome defense system.
The revision came after progressives in the party refused to vote for the larger bill in which funding for the Iron Dome was included.
Progressive Democrats blocking funding for the Iron Dome are among those who pushed to block weapons to Israel during Operation Guardian of the Wall in May, according to Politico. This decision was led by representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of NY and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.
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Democrats couldn’t get the bill through without Progressives, because Republicans wouldn’t vote for the bill either, citing the debt ceiling as the reason. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said “the debt ceiling will be raised … by the Democrats.”
House Democratic leaders have said funding for Iron Dome will be included in a possible bipartisan defense bill for fiscal year 2022.
The bill, including funding for Iron Dome, was a continuing resolution (CR), providing funding in the interim period before a new budget was passed. It also included $ 28.6 billion in disaster assistance and $ 6.3 billion. in financing African refugees. If the CR does not pass by the end of December, there will likely be a government shutdown.
Iron Dome (credit: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SPOKESMAN’S OFFICE)
The White House began work on overturning the decision shortly after its announcement, a diplomatic source said.
While funding for the Iron Dome will likely be passed in the coming months, Israel is considering the matter urgently and would like to do so as soon as possible, a high-level diplomatic source added.
Tensions between Israel and Hamas have increased in recent weeks, including terrorists from Gaza launching rockets at Israel.
The Iron Dome is a missile defense system that has prevented thousands of rockets launched by US-designated terrorist groups, such as Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, from hitting civilian centers they were targeting.
Shortly before the House Democrats ‘decision, Biden told the United Nations General Assembly: “The United States’ commitment to the security of Israel is unquestionable and our support for an independent Jewish state is unquestionable. equivocal.
A senior diplomatic source said that just two hours before Democrats changed course, Jerusalem was told the funding was on track. Israel wants to avoid being used for internal political feuds in the United States by Democrats or Republicans, the source added.
Representative Ritchie Torres, a progressive Democrat from New York, said that “a missile defense system (ie Iron Dome) protects civilians from missiles. Hence the name. Only in a morally inverted universe would this be considered a “controversy.”
Although the GOP has no plans to vote for the bill, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy tweeted: “Democrats just pulled money from the Iron Dome – the defense system anti-missile that saved countless lives in Israel from Hamas rocket attacks. As Democrats capitulate to the anti-Semitic influence of their radical members, Republicans will always stand on Israel’s side. “
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) responded to the change on Twitter by stating that “Congressional extremists are playing politics with Israeli and Palestinian lives.
“Calling for the end of funding for a defensive system that saves lives is an affront to our values, risks new conflict, and runs counter to the commitment Biden made and supported by the leadership of Congress.”
Extremists in Congress play politics with Israeli and Palestinian lives.
Calling for the end of funding for a defensive system that saves lives is an affront to our values, risks further conflict, and runs counter to the commitment Biden made and supported by congressional leaders.– AIPAC (@AIPAC) September 21, 2021
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid spoke with Steny Hoyer, the majority leader in the House of Representatives, regarding US aid to the Iron Dome system.
Hoyer said it was a technical postponement, resulting from a debate in Congress on the US budget deficit.
The White House, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have pledged the Israeli government’s aid budgets for the Iron Dome in the near future.
Lapid thanked Hoyer for his commitment and stressed the need to approve the request as soon as possible to ensure Israel’s security needs.