Should Congress send additional foreign aid to Israel?

Foreign Affairs/Relations
Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 7217)
This bill has Failed the House of Representatives
Bill Summary

If passed, H.R. 7217 would direct about $17.6 billion to Israel. Of that, $14 billion will go towards replenishing Israel’s weapons stock and missile defense systems, as well as funding Israel’s weapons production systems. The rest of the funds will go towards United States military operations in the Middle East, bolstering embassy security and evacuating United States citizens from the region. Sponsor: Rep. Ken Calvert (Republican, California, District 41)
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Opponents say

•    "[...] Trump’s party may be willing to surrender democracy and freedom in the Indo-Pacific to the Communist autocrats and plutocrats of China, a nation which is now very much in league with Russia and Iran seeking to destabilize world democracy and freedom; and Trump’s party may be willing to isolate Israel in this way from the broader cause of democracy, security and human rights on earth; but the Democrats are not willing to play along with this sinister authoritarian nonsense, and we will stand strong for democracy, peace and human rights all over the world while we continue to stand by our foremost democratic ally in the Mideast [sic.], Israel. I am proud that President Biden said he would veto the Republicans’ divisive ploy to detach billions of dollars in wartime military aid to Israel from billions of dollars in desperately needed humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, and tens of billions of dollars in essential military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. That is why I voted no on H.R. 7217 and will continue to stand by the president and reject the GOP’s ceaseless and dangerous pro-Putin provocations." Source: Rep. Jamie Raskin (Democrat, Maryland, District 8)


•      "I could not vote for today's bill – notwithstanding my very real concern for Israel. First, I have made abundantly clear that we must end the swamp practice of passing “supplemental” spending bills that are not paid for… Second, the Texans I represent are waiting for us to do our job to secure our own nation before we send money overseas – notably at our southern border, through which radical terrorists are entering our sovereign nation. Third… we cannot continue the practice of sending good money after bad – where we help fund even our greatest friends, like Israel, while simultaneously funding their enemies through the United Nations and other aid programs.  We cannot undermine Israel’s domestic tranquility through Secretary Blinken’s meddlesome ‘diplomacy.’ We cannot continue to slow-walk munitions as the Biden administration has. It is frustrating that House Republicans were forced to make the choice between Israel and honoring our commitments to drain the swamp.  If we do not stop spending money we do not have, if we do not protect our own sovereignty and security first, if we do not stop the duplicity of funding friend and foe at the same time… then we will fail as a republic, and there will be no America left to stand with Israel. " Source: Rep. Chip Roy (Republican, Texas, District 21)

Proponents say

•     "The new funding in this bill addresses that changing reality by providing $3.3 billion for U.S. military operations in the region funded through December 2024. This includes $1 billion for low-cost defensive capabilities to thwart future attacks on U.S. forces in the region. In many instances, we have been intercepting low-cost Iranian-backed drones with multi-million dollar missiles. This funding will protect our forces and put us on the right side of the cost curve. This funding bill resupplies Israel’s defensive capabilities, restores American defense industry to replenish stocks, funds necessary operations for our forces in the region, and sends a strong signal that the United States will not back down." Source: Sen. Ken Calvert (Republican, California, District 41)


•      "Israel is the front line in the battle against terrorism. The terrorists of Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, Iran, Syria, and more are forever awaiting any opportunity to strike at Israel. And the very terrorists that seek Israel’s destruction also call for ours. Israel does not want violence or war. Neither does the United States. The problem is that the terrorists do. Last November, the House passed another Israel Security Supplemental which was fully offset by a rescission of the IRS funding taken out of the Inflation Expansion Act. The White House opposed the bill then and opposes it again now.

There are zero excuses to oppose this bill. This bill does one thing: it provides urgently needed funding for our friend and ally, Israel, to defeat the terrorists they are dealing with, and supports U.S. Forces in the region. The United States must stand with Israel in eradicating terrorism, and condemns the violence, hatred, and antisemitism. This is not that complicated. This bill stands with Israel: no ifs, ands, or buts. I am grateful to Chairman Calvert for bringing forward this important piece of legislation and I wholeheartedly support it. " Source: Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (Republican, Florida, District 25)

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