Progressives block $1 billion for Israel’s rocket defenses from stopgap spending resolution

Washington DC - Progressives succeeded in removing $1 billion for Israel’s Iron Dome anti-rocket shield from the stopgap spending bill the US House of Representatives plans to vote on this week.

A provision to give an additional $1 billion in US funding for Israel's Iron Dome was removed from the stopgap spending bill.
A provision to give an additional $1 billion in US funding for Israel's Iron Dome was removed from the stopgap spending bill.  © IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

The proposed funding for Israel’s military was one of several eye-catching defense spending provisions originally included in the continuing resolution, which was unveiled Tuesday.

Once enacted later this month, the measure would fund federal operations through December 3.

The continuing resolution would also include $2.2 billion for the Pentagon to support Afghans who fled their country last month.

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In addition, an extra $2 billion would be allocated for a variety of other Defense Department purposes, including to buy semiconductors and to help Defense Department facilities recover from natural disasters.

Under the continuing resolution, US federal programs would continue to spend money at the fiscal 2021 levels into the next fiscal year, except as provided in so-called anomalies such as the proposed money for the Iron Dome, disaster relief, and supporting Afghan refugees.

The Iron Dome funds were intended "to counter short range rocket threats" and to meet "emergent requirements," the bill said.

This money would have come on top of more than $1.6 billion the United States has previously provided Israel to develop and build the system, which intercepts rockets such as those that Hamas has repeatedly fired into Israel.

Progressives put up a fight

Progressive lawmakers refused to vote on the spending bill unless funding for the Iron Dome was removed.
Progressive lawmakers refused to vote on the spending bill unless funding for the Iron Dome was removed.  © IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

The United States has an agreement to co-produce the Iron Dome, and the US Army has also fielded a version of the system.

Since World War II, the United States has given Israel $146 billion in aid, mostly for weapons (not adjusting for inflation).

The United States and Israel have an agreement under which the US government will allocate $38 billion from fiscal 2019 through 2028, including $5 billion for missile defense.

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But many progressives have increasingly raised objections to the enormous funds allocated to Israel, pointing out that Palestinians, who suffer greater casualties, receive no such defense spending.

They refused to vote for the spending bill with the Iron Dome provision included, leading to its removal from the resolution.

The spending bill will require a report on the disposition of US military equipment in Afghanistan.
The spending bill will require a report on the disposition of US military equipment in Afghanistan.  © IMAGO / Xinhua

The spending bill will also require the Pentagon inspector general to review the US military’s transport of Afghans out of their country last month and the care being provided for them at Defense Department facilities.

The bill also would mandate that the Pentagon report to the congressional Armed Services committees 90 days after the spending law’s enactment on the disposition of US military equipment in Afghanistan.

Some of it was moved out of the country and some destroyed.

Some ended up in the hands of the Taliban, though it is not clear how much of that gear is in working order or how effectively the Taliban can maintain it.

The measure also includes authorities to pay contractors for the cancelation of Afghanistan-related deals.

Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

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