The US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Thursday for legislation to provide $1 billion to Israel to replenish its Iron Dome missile-defense system, just two days after the funding was removed from a broader spending bill.

The measure passed by 420 to 9, with two members voting present.

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Some of the most liberal House Democrats had objected to the provision and said they would vote against the broad spending bill if it was included. That threatened the bill's passage, with Democrats only narrowly controlling the House, because Republicans have opposed the plan to fund the federal government through Dec. 3 and raise the nation's borrowing limit.

The removal led Republicans to label Democrats as anti-Israel, despite a long tradition in the US Congress of strong support from both parties for the Jewish state, to which Washington sends billions of dollars in aid every year.

Israel responded quickly. "Thanks to all members of the US House of Representatives, Democratic and Republican alike, for their sweeping support for Israel and the commitment to its security. Those who try to challenge this support got a resounding response today," Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement.

Some liberal Democrats voiced concerns recently about US-Israel policy, citing human rights concerns.

"We should also be talking about the Palestinian need for protection against Israeli attack," Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib, an opponent of the funding, said during the debate.

The bill, which was introduced in the House on Wednesday, provides $1 billion to replace missile interceptors used during the May conflict.

There was no immediate word on timing of a vote in the Senate.

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The US House of Representatives approved a budget bill Tuesday night that anchors defense aid to Israel in law and promises to fund a series of programs aimed at promoting peace in the region.

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The bill was the subject of a major dispute in Congress, but eventually most Democrat representatives voted in favor of it, while the Republicans voted against.

According to the bill, the US will provide Israel with $3.3 billion dollars in defense aid annually, as per an agreement former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached with the Obama administration in 2016.

In addition, the bill approves $50 million to support economic "opportunities" between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as $2 million for US-Israel co-development projects involving water, agriculture, and energy. Another $6 million has been approved to fund joint research between Israeli and Arab scientists.

Funding is not the only part of the bill that is of interest to Israel. The budget initiative spells out a first American plan to require more transparency in the textbooks used in schools run by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the purpose of which is to eradiate antisemitic content and incitement that currently appear therein.

One aspect of the bill that could be thorny for Israel is the demand to establish a Palestinian state.

The Democratic Majority for Israel lobby welcomed the approval of the bill. Lobby President Mark Mellman said that only three Democratic representatives had voted against it, showing that "the overwhelming majority of Democrats in Congress support Israel."

However, many in Congress think that the bill will remain nothing more than a declaration of sorts, due to the serious conflict between the two parties that could prevent it being passed in both houses.

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The vote was 354 to 60 for the resolution, as dozens of Trump's fellow Republicans joined the majority Democrats in favor.

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Also Wednesday, Trump said the United States was "going to try to work it out" with Turkey regarding its assault into northeastern Syria, but US sanctions would be "devastating" if discussions with Ankara did not go well.

"I think they'll have a successful meeting," Trump said at a news conference alongside Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

"If they don't, the sanctions, tariffs other things that we're doing – will do and are doing – to Turkey will be devastating to Turkey's economy."

Trump has been on the defensive since his abrupt decision announced last week to withdraw forces from northeastern Syria where they had been supporting Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State.

US lawmakers, including Trump's fellow Republicans, have been fiercely critical of what they see as the president's hasty handling of the situation following Trump's phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday.

Trump on Wednesday said he did not give Erdoğan a "green light" to push into northeastern Syria. The Turkish leader had long been planning such a move, Trump said, adding that he did not want US forces in harm's way.

European allies have also been critical of the move and called on Turkey to halt its military operations.

Mattarella, standing alongside Trump in the White House, said he had discussed the situation with the US president and that Italy condemns the Turkish offensive.

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