The US House of Representatives advanced a bill on Thursday that would fund Israel’s Iron Dome. The bill passed after a tense debate between pro-Israel lawmakers in both parties and a small but vocal contingent of pro-Palestine progressives.
House Resolution 5323 (the Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act) passed 420 votes to nine, with two voting present. The bill was introduced by Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut after funding for the Israeli air defense system was removed from a previous bill on US government spending. The bill would give $1 billion to the Iron Dome and will next head to the Senate.
The Iron Dome missile defense system primarily defends Israel from rocket attacks from Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Earlier this month, the Iron Dome intercepted rockets fired at Israel after a group of escaped Palestinian prisoners were recaptured by Israeli forces.
The removal of the Iron Dome funding from the previous bill appeared to be a victory for pro-Palestine progressive Democrats in Congress. The self-dubbed group known as “the squad” in particular has vocally criticized Israel since being elected in 2018. They particularly focus on Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York are perhaps the most-known members of the squad. Tlaib and Omar voted against the Iron Dome bill, while Ocasio-Cortez voted present.
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