Staff Reports
In a stunning defeat for American-Israeli relations, the House of Representatives rejected a bill to provide $17 billion in aid to Israel without any cuts to offset the cost. This comes after the House passed a bill last month to send $14.3 billion in aid to Israel, which was offset by cuts to the Internal Revenue Service. But leave it to the Democratic-led Senate to reject that bill because apparently, supporting our closest ally in the Middle East is just too much to ask for.
The House Defeats Israel’s $17 Billion Aid Bill https://t.co/bvElu5lw5w
— Ben Owen (@hrkbenowen) February 7, 2024
Let’s break this down. The bill would spend around $5 billion to replace Israel’s missile defense systems, which protect them from rocket attacks. You know, those attacks from Hamas and other terrorist groups that are constantly raining down on innocent Israeli civilians. And let’s not forget about Iran, the biggest sponsor of terrorism in the world, who poses a direct threat to Israel’s security. But sure, let’s just ignore all of that and pretend like providing aid to Israel is a waste of taxpayer dollars.
And it doesn’t stop there. The bill also includes $3.5 billion to help Israel procure defense equipment through the U.S. Foreign Military Financing Program. This program is specifically designed to support allied countries in buying U.S.-made defense equipment. So not only does this aid benefit Israel, but it also supports American jobs and strengthens our own national security interests. But hey, who needs allies when we can just fund the United Nations or give out more tax credits for climate change initiatives, right?
But of course, there are always those pesky conservatives who just can’t seem to get on board with this sensible aid package. Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, the policy chairman for the Freedom Caucus, voiced his concerns about the bill’s fiscal consequences. He argued that we shouldn’t be sending $17.6 billion to Israel without finding a way to pay for it, especially when our country is drowning in debt. And you know what? He’s absolutely right.
It’s not about abandoning our ally or being stingy with aid. It’s about being fiscally responsible and finding ways to prioritize our spending. There are plenty of areas where we can cut wasteful spending and reallocate those funds to support Israel. Why not start by defunding the United Nations, an organization that is thoroughly anti-Israel and wastes taxpayer dollars on ineffective and often corrupt programs? Or how about repealing the IRS expansion or rescinding the Department of Commerce’s “slush fund”? These are just a few examples of common-sense solutions that would allow us to support Israel without breaking the bank.
But instead, we have a president who is more interested in playing politics than actually addressing our national security challenges. President Joe Biden has made it clear that he opposes this aid package and instead wants Congress to pass a massive omnibus security bill that includes aid to Ukraine, border security measures, and who knows what else. It’s just another example of his administration’s misguided priorities and failure to put America first.
The bottom line is this: supporting Israel is not a political game. It’s a matter of national security and doing what is right. It’s about standing up against terrorism and bolstering one of our most important allies in a volatile region. We can’t afford to play politics with Israel’s security, and we certainly can’t afford to ignore our own financial challenges. It’s time for Congress to come together, put aside the partisan bickering, and find a responsible way to support Israel without burdening future generations with even more debt.
