US Congress approves $14.5 billion aid for Israel

Middle East, News, US November 5, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The United States House of Representatives has approved legislation to provide $14.5 billion worth of military aid to its staunch ally Israel as it continues its attacks in Gaza.

The approval of the military support bill for Israel marks the first legislative action under the newly appointed Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who took on his role last week after Kevin McCarthy was removed by the hard-right faction of his own party.

“The Senate and White House cannot let this moment pass, and I urge them to act swiftly and pass this bill as the House did today,” Johnson said on the social media platform.

The request was approved by the House in a 226 votes to 196 majority, with 12 Democrats joining most Republicans on a largely party-line vote.

Under the aid package, Israel would receive $4 billion to replenish its Iron Dome and David’s Sling missile defense systems and military equipment transferred from U.S. stocks.

Anti-war protesters raise their "bloody" hands behind U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken — ^{Anti-war protesters raise their “bloody” hands behind U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on President Biden’s $106 billion national security supplemental funding request to support Israel and Ukraine, as well as bolster border security, on Capitol Hill in Washington, on October 31. (Image Credit: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)}

The U.S. has been the largest supporter of Israel since its creation. Washington has been providing $3.8 billion to Tel Aviv each year in military assistance under a 10-year plan that began in 2016. Israel enjoys open access to the U.S.’s most advanced military equipment, including the F-35 Joint Strike fighter jets.

In addition to the aid, Israel and the U.S. have conducted several military drills together, holding their largest one ever in January 2023. The U.S. has also been providing crucial intelligence to Israel since the start of the recent conflict.

Slim prospects

The legislation still needs to be cleared by the Senate, where Democrats have a majority, and finally get approval from the White House before the funding can be funneled to Tel Aviv.

President Joe Biden has threatened to veto the House’s decision because it excludes the vast majority of the $105 billion in supplemental funding he had requested from Congress in late October.

U.S. President Joe Biden drafted an unprecedented $105 billion foreign aid package that includes military assistance for Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel. White House sent the request to the U.S. Congress seeking approval for the aid package.

Budget director of the Biden administration, Shalanda Young, had urged the House to “act swiftly” on the request while the national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, laid out details of the supplemental funding request.

*^{Biden seeks Congress approval for $100 billion funding for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. (Image Credit: AP/Defense Intelligence of Ukraine/ROC Navy)}*

Sullivan justified the White House’s request saying that the money was needed urgently in several areas. “We are requesting an increase in security assistance for Israel to help it protect its people, as well as the many Americans who live in Israel and travel to Israel. At the same time, we are also requesting support to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance for civilians impacted by the war in Gaza.”

Biden’s request faced backlash from the Republican representatives. While the U.S.’s support for Ukraine has bipartisan approval, several Republicans have raised questions about the need to provide financial assistance to Kyiv, especially at a time when the U.S. is also facing internal economic instability.