The United States House of Representatives approved a $14.3 billion military aid package for Israel while Israel was engaged in an ongoing military operation in the Gaza Strip.
The legislation, known as the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act 2024, passed the House with a vote of 226-196, largely along party lines.
However, it is expected to face significant challenges in the Democratic-controlled Senate and has been threatened with a presidential veto by Joe Biden.
President Biden expressed dissatisfaction with the bill, as it fell short of the over $105 billion in supplemental funding he had requested from Congress in late October.
The Senate is likely to push for a more comprehensive spending package, which includes not only aid to Israel but also $61 billion in new funding for Ukraine, additional resources for border security, and other policy priorities.
A portion of the funding, over $9 billion, is allocated for humanitarian assistance projects, including those in Gaza.
The allocation for Ukraine has been a contentious issue in the House, with an increasing number of Republicans opposing additional funding for Kyiv.
The United States currently provides Israel with approximately $3.8 billion in military aid annually.
The new funding is intended for replacing previously supplied arms to Israel, restocking Israel’s Iron Dome and David’s Sling air and missile defense systems, and supporting the development of the Iron Beam laser air defense system.
In addition to the military aid, the House bill includes cuts to funding for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the US tax authority, which the Congressional Budget Office has warned could add $26 billion to the national debt rather than reduce it.
It’s worth noting that the United States provides the highest level of military aid to Israel compared to any other country in the world.
(Sourced online by JR AMIGO/ai/mnm)