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The United States Congress on Thursday approved $1 billion funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system by an overwhelming majority. The House of Representatives voted 420-9 in favour of continuing to fund the missile defence system which America provides to Israel to defend itself from rocket attacks.
The vote came days after the funding for the Iron Dome was removed from a government spending bill amid pressure from a small group of left-wing lawmakers. Two Democrats, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Hank Johnson, effectively abstained by voting “present”. All other members of ‘The Squad’ voted against the bill, including Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib. One Republican, Tom Massie, voted against the legislation.
Following the vote, Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said he was “grateful for the overwhelming bipartisan support for Israel and the solid commitment to our security” demonstrated by the vast majority of members of Congress.
The AIPAC lobbying group said the overwhelming support “repudiates efforts by those in Congress who are pursuing a dangerous agenda to undermine the US-Israel relationship, weaken Israel’s security and place Israeli and Palestinian lives at even greater risk”.
The Iron Dome is a revolutionary missile defence system used to intercept and destroy short- and medium-range rockets, artillery shells, and mortars fired from distances of up to 45 miles, to protect civilian areas in the path of such projectiles. Since 2011, when it was completed, it has been crucial in protecting Israeli towns from rocket attacks, with a near 90% success rate in intercepting missiles.
