The House of Representatives yesterday passed the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Act, which included funding for several key U.S.-Israel programs:
$500 million for missile defense cooperation.
$55 million for counter-drone and directed energy cooperation.
$47.5 million for counter-tunnel cooperation.
$35 million for emerging technology cooperation.
Through AIPAC, you help make this vital funding possible. The $637.5 million approved by the House for joint U.S.-Israel programs will save countless lives in Israel and make our country safer and stronger.
I want to thank you for your deep personal commitment and support. From helping elect pro-Israel champions to helping defeat anti-Israel candidates, our work together ensures that Congress continues to stand with the Jewish state.
In addition to voting for these critical programs, the House also voted last night on a dangerous anti-Israel amendment that was introduced separately by Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Ilhan Omar.
In a resounding statement of bipartisan support for Israel, the amendment to cut $500 million for U.S.-Israel missile defense programs lost 422-6.
Three Democrats, Al Green, Rashida Tlaib, and Summer Lee, and one Republican, Thomas Massie, joined Greene and Omar in voting to cut funding for programs like Iron Dome, David's Sling and Arrow.
AIPAC applauds the overwhelming majority of Republicans and Democrats who rightly voted to help our ally protect its families from missile, rocket and drone attacks.
In the recent conflict with Iran, Arrow, David’s Sling and Iron Dome were essential in defending America’s ally from barrages of missiles launched by the Iranian regime. Israel’s ability to replenish its lifesaving missile defense capabilities is essential as threats against the Jewish state continue.
The passage of this vital funding for Israel sends a strong message that America stands with our ally and rejects extremist efforts to undermine our strategic interests in the region.
Below are more key stories and links to share AIPAC social media content. We'll continue to provide the latest updates on our social media channels.
Shabbat Shalom,
Jake Braunstein
Director of Policy Communications
New bipartisan resolution condemning "Globalize the Intifada"
Reps. Rudy Yakym (R-IN) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) recently introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning the phrase "Globalize the Intifada" and urging "national, state, and local leaders to condemn the antisemitic slogan."
"The term 'Globalize the Intifada' is not open to interpretation, it's a call for violence against the Jewish and Israeli people. That's why Josh and I introduced a bipartisan resolution to unequivocally condemn it. Hate speech of any kind has no place in America," Yakym said.
"There should be no ambiguity — 'Globalize the Intifada' is hate speech, plain and simple," Gottheimer added.
Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke today with Pope Leo XIV.
"The Prime Minister expressed Israel's regret for the tragic incident in which stray ammunition accidentally struck The Holy Family Church in Gaza," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.
"PM Netanyahu sent Israel's heartfelt condolences for the families of those hurt in the incident."
"The PM also gave His Holiness an update on Israel's efforts to secure a hostage release deals and a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, efforts that have so far not been reciprocated by Hamas."
Increasing pressure to "snapback" sanctions on Iran
A group of senators sent a letter to the UK, French and German foreign ministers, calling on them to immediately trigger the "snapback" mechanism that automatically reimposes all U.N. Security Council sanctions on Iran that were lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal.
"Initiating the snapback process would be the right—and long overdue—move and would deny Iran the resources it uses for its terror agenda," the senators wrote.
The letter — signed by Sens. Jim Risch (R-ID), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Steve Daines (R-MT), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and John Cornyn (R-TX) — follows a report that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the UK agreed in a phone call this week that they will initiate snapback if an agreement with Iran isn't reached by the end of August.
Meanwhile, Iran threatened "an appropriate and proportionate response" if sanctions are snapped back.
We must permanently and verifiably ensure Iran is blocked from enriching uranium, its ballistic missile program is destroyed, and its terror proxies aren’t rebuilt and rearmed.
America must increase the pressure on Iran, including through maximum economic pressure and supporting the immediate imposition of snapback sanctions at the U.N. Security Council.
Two sides of the radical same coin. Ilhan Omar and Marjorie Taylor Greene proposed the same legislation to cut lifesaving missile defense funding.
Nimrod Cohen spent another birthday in hell.
#FreeTheHostages
AIPAC applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for standing up for American interests and resoundingly rejecting an anti-Israel amendment.
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.
