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In one of the first big legislative moves in the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Congress on Thursday passed an aid package aimed at giving Israel the assistance they need in their fight against Hamas terrorists.
“Tonight, a bipartisan group of members voted to send immediate aid to Israel, our greatest ally in the Middle East,” Speaker Johnson wrote on X.
The package that was approved would send almost $14.5 billion in military aid to Israel, but the legislation differed from how things have been traditionally done in the House.
According to the Associated Press, the bill partially pulled funding for the legislation by cutting spending from the IRS and bifurcated foreign aid assistance.
In other words, the House bill on Israel aid was not packaged together with military aid that might have been sent to Ukraine.
Joe Biden plans to veto the bill, mainly because it does not include Ukraine funding, the Associated Press reported.
Speaker Johnson explained, “Our supplemental package, which is fully offset, provides Israel with advanced weapons systems, supports the Iron Dome missile defense system, and replenishes American domestic defense stockpiles.”
He called the assistance “necessary and critical as Israel fights for its right to exist.”
Speaker Johnson also touched on the rise of anti-Semitism in the United States and overseas, noting that it was “imperative that the U.S. sends a message to the world that threats made against Israel and the Jewish people will be met with strong opposition.”
Rep. Drew Ferguson, R-Ga., stated on X that the Israel aid package would provide, specifically, $4 billion for the Iron Dome and David’s Sling, $3.5 billion for advanced weapons systems, and $1.2 billion for Iron Beam.
Before the passage of the bill, the White House issued a statement opposing the funding for Israel, accusing it of “deepening our divides and severely eroding historic bipartisan support for Israel’s security.”