House approves $1 billion in funding for Israel's Iron Dome defense system
Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip on May 18. Photo: Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images
The House voted Thursday to approve $1 billion in funding to Israel's Iron Dome defense system via a stand-alone bill, days after the provision was removed from a short-term government funding bill because of backlash from progressive lawmakers.
State of play: Several progressive members had threatened to vote against the short-term funding bill, which also includes language to raise the debt ceiling. The clash surrounding the measure underscored the deep divisions in the Democratic Party over Israel.
The big picture: The House approved the separate bill Thursday, which provides funding to replace missile interceptors that Israel used during the conflict in Gaza this summer, CNN reports.
- It is unclear when the bill might get a vote in the Senate.
The separate bill garnered criticism from some progressive lawmakers.
- "Given the human rights violations in Gaza, Sheikh Jarrah, and ever-growing settlement expansion, we should not be ramming through a last-minute $1 billion increase in military funding for Israel without any accountability" Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) tweeted Thursday.