House Dems remove Iron Dome funding from spending bill amid pressure from progressives

Michael Arria
Mondoweiss
Wed, 22 Sep 2021 00:00 UTC

© Cori Bush

The Squad expands

House Democrats removed funding for Israel's Iron Dome defense system from the short-term government spending bill yesterday, in what activists hailed as "an unprecedented moment for Palestinian rights." The move came in response to pressure from progressive Congress members.

An eleventh hour request was tacked onto a bill that has to be passed in order to avert yet another government shutdown. It would have given Israel $1 billion to replenish its Iron Dome system, on top of the $3.8 billion in military aid that it already gets from the United States government.

According to Politico, the aid was opposed by the same group of House Democrats that tried to block a Biden administration arms sale to Israel back in May. This would include Rep. Ocasio Cortez, Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI). It's currently cosponsored by Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO), Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) , Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WI), and Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN).

A member of Congress told The Times of Israel that Ocasio-Cortez and McCollum pushed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to remove the funding with mediation from Rep. Rosa Delauro (D-CT).

House Republicans weren't expected to back the spending bill with or without the funding, but that didn't stop many of them from denouncing the move. House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said that Democrats were capitulating "to the antisemitic influence of their radical members."

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said:

"Just a few months ago, Israel was attacked by over 4,000 rockets launched by Hamas. The Iron Dome saved lives and helped limit civilian casualties during this terrifying escalation. There is strong bipartisan support to supply our friend and ally Israel with the tools to defend itself against future threats and I would urge Democrat leaders to reconsider this dangerous decision."

The decision was also publicly criticized by a number of pro-Israel Democrats in the House. Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) said that he was "incredibly angry" and "bitterly disappointed."

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) tweeted:

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) said that Iron Dome

"protects innocent civilians in Israel from terrorist attacks and some of my colleagues have now blocked funding it. We must stand by our historic ally — the only democracy in the Middle East."

The development was praised by activist organizations:

Americans for Justice in Palestine Action Executive Director Dr. Osama Abuirshaid in a statement said:

"The courageous and principled progressive Members of Congress who just succeeded in stripping out $1 billion in additional weapons to Israel from today's continuing resolution have effectively ended our decades-long policy of providing a blank check to Israel to oppress the Palestinian people. Through their action, they've stated that enough is enough."

Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), the rabidly pro-Israel House Majority Leader, last night assured Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid that the holdup is merely a "technical" issue that the request will ultimately be approved. On Tuesday night Hoyer announced the House will consider legislation to fund Iron Dome this week.

The House has to pass the bill by September 30 to keep the government funded through the beginning of December.

Comment: The Squad has managed to horrify and incite the wrath of Israel's American puppets:

Israeli occupation Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Tuesday night spoke with US House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, slamming the Progressive Democrats pressuring on the Party to remove $1 billion for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system from a must-pass funding bill to avoid a government shutdown.

© Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call/Oded Bality/AP visavsodor.blogspot.com/Israel Department of Defense/KJN

Israeli FM Yair Lapid • House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer D-Md

Hoyer claimed that the move was a "technical delay" related to discussions over the US debt ceiling and that the defense funding would be approved at a later date, Israeli foreign minister said in a statement. Hoyer also claimed that it was a view shared by the White House and Democrat House and Senate leaders, while pledging that the Iron Dome funding would soon be allocated.

"It is my intention to bring to this floor a suspension bill before the end of this week that will fund fully Iron Dome. I was for that. I'm still for it, we ought to do it. I talked to the foreign minister, Mr. Lapid, just two hours ago and assured him that bill was going to pass this House."

The extra $1 billion for Israel's Iron Dome was supposed to be in addition to the nearly $4 billion the US government already sends to the Israeli occupation forces every year.

Since World War II, the United States has given Israel $146 billion in aid, mostly for weapons.

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.