House Democrats vote to remove Israel's Iron Dome funding from budget

Democrats in the US House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to remove 1 billion dollars of funding from Israel’s Iron Dome defense system. The vote comes after progressives within the party had refused to vote for a larger budget that would have included funding for system which defends Jews, Arabs and Christians alike in the holy land.

The effort was led by Squad members Reps. Alexandria-Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and Rashida Talib (D-MI), who were joined by Mark Pocan (D-WI). The Squad had previously pushed to block shipping arms to Israel this past May during Operation Guardian of the Wall while the Jewish state was under attack from thousands of rockets from terrorist groups in Gaza. The Democrats could not have passed the bill without the participation of the progressives due to the Republicans refusal to vote for this bill.

Democratic leadership in the House claimed that the funding would be included in a bipartisan defense bill in 2022. The bill including the funding for the Iron Dome was a continuing resolution, which also included money for disaster aid and African refugees. If the resolution does not pass by December, then could be a government shutdown.

According to sources, the White House is currently working on reversing this decision. President Joe Biden had promised to help replenish the Iron Dome batteries last May after the conflict with Gaza and during his recent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

According to a senior diplomatic source, two hours before the decision, the Israeli government was told that funding for the Iron Dome was expected to continue. AIPAC (The American Israel Public Affairs Committee) tweeted: "Extremists in Congress are playing 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."

The president of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) blasted the members of the Squad for the defunding of  the Iron Dome defense system. ADL president Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted, "It is unconscionable that a small group of Members of Congress -- the so-called 'Squad' -- demanded that the House leadership strip out funding for Israel’s Iron Dome before they would approve the [continuing resolution]."

He added, "The Iron Dome is a defensive system designed to protect civilians. Innocent people of all ethnicities & faiths -- Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze and others -- depend on the Iron Dome for protection when terror groups like Hamas + Hezbollah launch thousands of rockets at them. It is a disgrace that the Squad succeeded. It emboldens Hamas & Hezbollah and others enemies of peace. To the MOCs who made the demands, look at the below. Every intercepted rocket was fired indiscriminately toward civilian centers with 1 goal: the brazen murder of innocents."

Greenblatt said that the "shameful act" by the Democrats will "fuel further campaigns by anti-Zionist activists" and create more anti-Semitic violence.

"Make no mistake – human lives are at stake. Lawmakers are promising action and we demand Congress follows through. This funding has been delayed by both Democrats & Republicans for too long. We need an immediate bipartisan effort to fund the Iron Dome now."

After the fallout from the progressives' move, more moderate House Democrats on Wednesday introduced a separate bill that would provide the $1 billion in funding towards the Iron Dome system.