House Democrats removed a provision from the government funding bill that would have provided $ 1 billion to Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system.
The provision was reportedly removed due to criticism from progressives in the House, including Representatives Alexandrio Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI). The Continuing Resolution (CR) would fund the government until December 3; if it is not passed by the end of the month, a government shutdown would occur. Instead, Iron Dome funding will be put into a separate defense bill.
Some House Democrats criticized the move.
“Iron Dome is a defensive system used by one of our closest allies to save civilian lives,” Representative Ted Deutch (D-FL) tweeted. “It must be replenished because thousands of rockets have been fired by the Hamas terrorists who control Gaza. See this as my resistance to this decision.
Iron Dome is a defensive system used by one of our closest allies to save civilian lives. It must be replenished because thousands of rockets have been fired by the Hamas terrorists who control Gaza.
See this as my resistance to this decision. https://t.co/SbyLgzYbGV
– Representative Ted Deutch (@RepTedDeutch) September 21, 2021
Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY) also tweeted: “A missile defense system (ie Iron Dome) protects civilians from missiles. Hence the name. Only in a morally inverted universe would this be considered a “controversy.”
A missile defense system (ie Iron Dome) protects civilians from missiles. Hence the name. Only in a morally inverted universe would this be considered a “controversy.” https://t.co/z8moIdqWg1
– Representative Ritchie Torres (@RepRitchie) September 21, 2021
Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) also tweeted, “The Iron Dome protects innocent civilians in Israel from terrorist attacks and some of my colleagues have now blocked its funding. We must stand with our historic ally – the only democracy in the Middle East. ”
The Iron Dome protects innocent civilians in Israel from terrorist attacks and some of my colleagues have now blocked its funding.
We must support our historic ally, the only democracy in the Middle East. https://t.co/otHSzlvYLp
– Representative Josh Gottheimer (@RepJoshG) September 21, 2021
Republican lawmakers argued that the move showed Republicans to be the only pro-Israel party.
“Democrats have just withdrawn funds from the Iron Dome, the missile defense system that has saved countless lives in Israel from Hamas rocket attacks,” tweeted minority parliamentary leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA ). “As Democrats capitulate to the anti-Semitic influence of their radical members, Republicans will always stand on Israel’s side.”
BREAKDOWN → Democrats just pulled funds from the Iron Dome, the missile defense system that saved countless lives in Israel from Hamas rocket attacks.
As Democrats capitulate to the anti-Semitic influence of their radical members, Republicans will always stand on Israel’s side.
– Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) September 21, 2021
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) tweeted that Democrats had capitulated “to the anti-Semitic left. They hate Israel so much that Democrats are withdrawing $ 1 BILLION in funding for Iron Dome, a purely defensive system that protects countless innocent civilians from Hamas rockets. Will Democrats have the courage to denounce?
Tragic. The dem leadership surrenders to the anti-Semitic left.
They hate Israel so much that Democrats are withdrawing $ 1 BILLION in funding for Iron Dome, a purely defensive system that protects countless innocent civilians from Hamas rockets.
Will Democrats have the courage to denounce? https://t.co/2TzLw7uR96
– Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 21, 2021
Republican House Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) also tweeted: “Some House Democrats hate Israel so much that they refuse to pass their own spending bill if it includes funding for the Iron Dome , which protects our ally from terrorists. This is how radical they have become.
🚨🚨 Some House Democrats hate Israel so much that they refuse to pass their own spending bill if it includes funding for the Iron Dome, which protects our ally from terrorists.
This is how they became radical.
– Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) September 21, 2021
Jewish groups have also criticized the decision by House Democrats.
“While we understand that additional funding for the Iron Dome will be included in the next Defense Appropriations Bill, these critical funds will now be unnecessarily delayed,” said Sandra Parker, chair of the Christians Action Fund. United for Israel (CUFI), in a statement. “Those who refused to support the CR because it included funds for a purely defensive system have shown once again that they are neither pro-Palestinian nor pro-peace, they are simply anti-Israel. There is no twist, no explanation from Washington, no excuse that deserves to oppose Israel’s missile defense system. The simplest explanation is the most accurate: There are fringe members of Congress who despise Israel’s existence, and today their party’s congressional leadership has bowed to their blatant and vile hatred. .
AIPAC also tweeted: “Congress extremists are playing politics with Israeli and Palestinian lives. Calling for the end of funding for a defensive system that saves lives is an affront to our values, risks new conflict, and runs counter to the commitment Biden made and supported by the congressional leadership. ”
Extremists in Congress play politics with Israeli and Palestinian lives.
Calling for the end of funding for a defensive system that saves lives is an affront to our values, risks further conflict, and runs counter to the commitment Biden made and supported by congressional leaders.
– AIPAC (@AIPAC) September 21, 2021
Stop Antisemitism accused progressive House Democrats of “introducing a spending bill that suppresses Israel’s ability to defend itself against terrorism, ultimately resulting in more Jews dead.” Remember that the next time they tweet thoughts of remembrance on Yom Hashoah. [Holocaust Remembrance Day]. ”
Women of Congress @AOC @IlhanMN @RashidaTlaib @AyannaPressley @RepJayapal just introduced a spending bill that suppresses Israel’s ability to defend itself against terrorism, ultimately resulting in more Jews dead.
Remember that the next time they tweet thoughts of remembrance on Yom Hashoah.
– StopAntisemitism.org (@StopAntisemites) September 21, 2021
Republican Jewish Coalition national chairman Norm Coleman also said in a statement, “By cowardly yielding to the wing of their party that hates Israel and blocking life-saving aid to support our ally Israel, the Democrats of the House emboldened Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to continue to lead their party even further to the radical left. It is astonishing that less than a week after the celebration of the first anniversary of the historic and pioneering peace accords of the Abrahamic Accords between Israel, Bahrain and the [United Arab Emirates] House Democrats have chosen to block funding essential to Israel’s security.
He added: “Today’s shameful decision by House Democrats makes it clear why it is essential that Republicans return the House of Representatives in 2022. The choice is clear as we move towards the midterms of 2022 and beyond. There is only one pro-Israel party: the Republican Party.
The Jewish Democratic Council of America, on the other hand, tweeted that the fact that Iron Dome funding is included in an upcoming defense bill shows that the United States “remains committed to security and Israel’s right to self-defense, and the overwhelming majority of Democrats are committed to ensuring that Israel receives this funding.
The Democratic Majority for Israel also tweeted: “Iron Dome is used to protect all Israelis – Jews and Arabs – from missile attacks. Thank you to the majority of Democrats who spoke out against the undermining attempts today. ”
Iron Dome is used to protect all Israelis, Jews and Arabs, from missile attacks. Thank you to the majority of Democrats who spoke out today against the undermining attempts. pic.twitter.com/jFEe7KyfR7
– Democratic Majority for Israel (@ DemMaj4Israel) September 21, 2021
IfNotNow, on the other hand, tweeted that the House Democrats’ decision “shows how much the policy on Israel / Palestine has changed in recent years. It is high time for the United States to stop providing unconditional military aid to Israel while it maintains apartheid and the occupation. ”
A significant display from progressive members of Congress that shows how much the policy on Israel / Palestine has changed in recent years.
It is high time for the United States to stop providing unconditional military aid to Israel while it maintains apartheid and the occupation. https://t.co/xuLK7VbRRT
– IfNotNow🔥 (@IfNotNowOrg) September 21, 2021
