US House Democrats on Tuesday removed a provision to fund Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile shield to the tune of $1 billion in order to keep the federal government running through the end of the year, but party leaders pledged to bring the matter up again later this week.
Some House Democrats objected to a provision in a stopgap spending bill to provide the additional funding so Israel can replenish its "Iron Dome" missile-defense system. The US company Raytheon Technologies Corporation produces many Iron Dome components.
The dispute forced the House Rules Committee to adjourn briefly before leaders of the Appropriations Committee pledged that funding for the Israeli system would be included in a defense spending bill later this year. That could set the stage for another dispute over military aid for Israel.
On Tuesday evening, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said he would bring a bill to the House floor later this week that would fully fund the missile-defense system, and he expected it to pass. "We ought to do it ... it is absolutely essential," Hoyer said.
A spokesperson for House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro said that funding for the Iron Dome "will be included in the final, bipartisan and bicameral" defense funding bill later this year.
Democratic Representative Jamaal Bowman, one of the Democrats who had concerns about the provision, said earlier that House members had not been given enough time to consider the matter.
"The problem is leadership [will] just throw something on our table, give us about five minutes to decide what we're going to do and then tries to move forward with it," Bowman told reporters.
Nevertheless, the decision was slammed by several senior Republicans as reflecting an anti-Israeli bias.
House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy said on Twitter that "Democrats just pulled funding from the Iron Dome – the missile defense system that has saved countless lives in Israel from Hamas' rocket attacks. While Dems capitulate to the antisemitic influence of their radical members, Republicans will always stand with Israel."
BREAKING → Democrats just pulled funding from the Iron Dome—the missile defense system that has saved countless lives in Israel from Hamas' rocket attacks.
While Dems capitulate to the antisemitic influence of their radical members, Republicans will always stand with Israel.
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) September 21, 2021
"Tragic. Dem leadership surrenders to the anti-Semitic Left. They hate Israel so much that Dems are stripping $1 BILLION in funding for Iron Dome – a purely defensive system that protects countless innocent civilians from Hamas rockets. Will any Dems have the courage to denounce?" Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said on Twitter.
Tragic. Dem leadership surrenders to the anti-Semitic Left.
They hate Israel so much that Dems are stripping $1 BILLION in funding for Iron Dome—a purely defensive system that protects countless innocent civilians from Hamas rockets.
Will any Dems have the courage to denounce? https://t.co/2TzLw7uR96
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 21, 2021
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee said in a statement on Twitter: "Extremists in Congress are playing politics with Israeli & Palestinian lives. Calling to remove funding for a lifesaving defensive system is an affront to our values, risks further conflict, and is counter to the commitment made by Biden & supported by Congressional leadership."
Extremists in Congress are playing politics with Israeli & Palestinian lives.
Calling to remove funding for a lifesaving defensive system is an affront to our values, risks further conflict, and is counter to the commitment made by Biden & supported by Congressional leadership.
— AIPAC (@AIPAC) September 21, 2021
The United States has already provided more than $1.6 billion for Israel to develop and build the Iron Dome system, according to a US Congressional Research Service report last year. The funding reflects perennially strong support for aid to Israel among both Democrats and Republicans.
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said in a statement that the removal of the funding was "a technical postponement" and he had been assured by US Democratic leaders that funds for Iron Dome would be transferred soon.
Some liberal Democrats objected to US-Israel policy this year, citing Palestinian casualties after Israel struck back following massive Hamas rocket attacks in May. Israel said most of the 4,350 rockets fired from Gaza during the conflict were blown out of the sky by Iron Dome interceptors.
