House Passes $14 Billion Aid Bill Exclusively For Israel, Senate Is Certain To Reject It

On Thursday, a Republican bill to give Israel $14.3 billion in assistance and slash funding for the IRS, which the Democrats strongly oppose, was approved by the House of Representatives.

The bill passed by a majority vote of 226 to 196, mostly along party lines. It is unusual for providing assistance to Israel to be a partisan issue – 12 Democrats and 214 Republicans were in favor, while 194 Democrats and 2 Republicans objected.

The bill was introduced as an immediate response to the attack by Hamas militants, which was the first legislative action taken under new Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana).

The bill included aid for Israel but also cut funding for the Internal Revenue Service and excluded aid for Ukraine.

President Joe Biden threatened to veto it.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) stated that he would not bring the bill up for a vote.

Biden has requested Congress to approve a more comprehensive $106 billion emergency spending package, which encompasses funding for Israel, Taiwan, Ukraine and border security.

Schumer has stated that the Senate will review a bipartisan bill that tackles the broader priorities, but the disagreement between the two chambers could result in delays in the approval of an emergency spending plan.

The House bill allocates billions specifically for Israel’s military, including $4 billion for the procurement of Israel’s Iron Dome and David’s Sling defense systems to counteract short-range rocket threats, along with equipment transfers from U.S. military stockpiles.