House Approves Another $17 Billion for Israel – Mondoweiss

On April 20, the House of Representatives passed a $95 billion legislative package that includes foreign aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. The final vote was 366 to 58, with 37 Democrats and 21 Republicans voting against.

As a result of the legislation, Israel will receive an additional $17 billion in military aid, without conditions. The bill allocates more than $9 million in humanitarian aid to the region, but bans funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) due to unproven allegations of terrorism recently made by the Israeli government.

Nearly 35,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its attack on Gaza last October.

Republican opposition to the bill is tied to intraparty feuds over Ukraine, the Border Security Act and Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) cooperation with Democrats. However, the Democratic NO votes symbolize a deepening rift within the party over Israel.

‘The Squad’ and other progressive members of the House of Representatives urged their colleagues to oppose the legislation in an effort to send a message to the Biden administration. “We have seen how Netanyahu’s government has used American weapons to kill indiscriminately and create famine,” he said. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX) in a speech on the House floor. “…Are you going to participate in that massacre or not? I choose not to do that.”

“We are at a dangerous and crucial moment in the history of our country and the world. It is imperative that we invest in diplomacy, democracy, and peacebuilding, rather than death, destruction, and mass human suffering,” Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) said in a statement. “Congress must shift its focus from funding warfare and neglecting our own people to prioritizing peace efforts, protecting human rights for all people, and investing in lifesaving programs and services for our communities. I will continue to defend these priorities and push for a world free from war, tyranny, poverty, disease, persecution and exploitation.”

Democratic Reps. Becca Balint (D-VT), Don Beyer (D-VA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Cori Bush (D-MO), Andre Carson (R-IN), Greg Casar (D-TX), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-WA), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), John Garamendi (D-CA), Chuy Garcia (D-IL), Al Green (D-TX), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Ro Khanna (D -CA), Dan Kildee (D-MI), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Summer Lee (D-PA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Chellie Pingree (D-ME ), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Mark Takano (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) all voted against the bill.

Many of those who voted against the legislation, like Representative Ro Khanna, have consistently supported pro-Israel legislation in the past. “I understand the need for defensive weapons for Israel, especially in light of the attack by Iran,” Khanna told the newspaper New York Times. “But there is no justification for supplying Netanyahu with bombs and weapons to continue the war in Gaza, which is killing thousands of innocent Palestinian women and children.”

“The historic number of Democrats who voted ‘no’ today took a stand for humanity and human rights,” said Beth Miller, political director of the Jewish Voice for Peace Action. “Their votes reflect the wishes of the overwhelming majority of their base – including American Jews – who do not want our tax dollars to fund genocide.”

The relief package will now move to the Senate, where it is expected to pass easily on Tuesday before making its way to the president’s desk. Biden has publicly stated that he will sign the legislation.