This week, the House advanced key pro-Israel funding that will help keep Israel safe.
Earlier today, the full House passed the National Defense Authorization Act, including $500 million for missile defense cooperation, $50 million for defense research and development and $47.5 million for joint anti-tunnel cooperation through 2026.
And on Wednesday, the House Appropriations Committee passed the State and Foreign Operations funding bill, including the full $3.3 billion in security assistance to Israel—with no added conditions—$50 million for the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace fund, and a 50% increase in U.S.-Israel international development cooperation.
These important programs save lives and keep our ally safe from growing threats. Just this week, Israel was once again forced to confront the threat of Iranian-backed terrorists along its borders (see more below).
Meanwhile, we are continuing to urge members of Congress to cosponsor the Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act, which will help cut off the cashflow to to the Iranian regime.
Watch these videos from Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), the lead authors of the SHIP Act :
Thank you for your continued support for this vital work. By advancing these bipartisan measures that strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship and help counter shared threats, we help make both countries safer and more prosperous.
Below are more stories we are following from over the week.
Reform Rabbi: "J Street’s Not Pro-Israel or Pro-Peace"
Rabbi Inna Serebro-Litvak of Temple Shalom in Succasunna, New Jersey highlights the true nature of J Street in a new op-ed:
"J Street is currently telling members of Congress that it opposes a bipartisan bill that embraces and strengthens the Abraham Accords – contending that if it doesn’t address the Palestinians or democracy in Israel, they are against the entire effort.
Of course, I too want to see a two-state agreement and Israel’s democracy to be preserved and strengthened. These are critical issues.
But discouraging our elected officials from strengthening the Abraham Accords and promoting coexistence?
That’s not pro-Israel or pro-peace. [...]
This hypocrisy is at the heart of an emerging pattern with J Street: They pretend to be one thing—pro-Israel—when their actions are anything but.
The organization is consistently on the wrong side of pro-Israel issues. J Street opposes bills that help Israel and supports bills that hurt Israel. [...]
It’s time to drop the façade and call it as it is: J Street is not a pro-Israel organization."
Simulating aerial combat scenarios including attacks deep into enemy territory, achieving air superiority in space and cyber-defense against a variety of threats, these drills send a clear message to Israel's adversaries, notably Iran, that Israel is fully capable of countering threats to its security.
Hezbollah Terror Leader Threatens Israel
On Wednesday, three members of the Lebanon-based Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah were wounded after Israeli forces used a nonlethal weapon to prevent them from sabotaging the Israeli border security fence.
Later that day, Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, threatened to attack Israel if Israel removes a new encampment set up by the organization within Israeli territory.
This follows an incident last week in which two rockets were launched at Israel from Hezbollah's territory, causing Israel to conduct cross-border strikes to defend itself.
Palestinian Leaders Are Responsible for the Terror in Jenin
A new AIPAC memo lays out how the Palestinian Authority (PA) has lost security control and credibility in major Palestinian cities in the West Bank, ceding ground to Iranian-backed terror groups.
The United States must press PA leaders to end their dangerous and counterproductive policies and resume security coordination with Israel.
Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special rapporteur on Palestinian territories, published a biased, one-sided report attacking the Jewish state, calling for Israeli officials to be prosecuted, excusing Palestinian terrorism, and even criticizing security cooperation between Israel and the PA.
The special rapporteur’s unhinged attacks on Israel track with her long history of antisemitic comments – including comparing Israelis to Nazis and accusing the “Jewish lobby” of controlling the U.S.
Her comments were welcomed by Iranian-backed Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.
The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
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