Congress just sent a resounding bipartisan message of support for full security assistance to Israel without added conditions.
What happened: Led by Reps. Ted Deutch and Michael McCaul, 331 House members — more than 75 percent of the House — signed an important bipartisan letter to:
Strongly support full U.S. security assistance to Israel as “a vital and cost-effective expenditure which advances important U.S. national security interests.”
Explicitly highlight the growing threats facing America and Israel, and the importance of a strong U.S.-Israel partnership to combat these threats.
Clearly oppose new cuts or conditions to America’s security assistance commitment to Israel.
Why it matters: Every year, Congress must appropriate the vital security assistance Israel needs to defend itself, by itself. This letter sends an important message to the Appropriations Committee leadership that bipartisan majorities support continued security assistance to Israel without added conditions.
Are cuts to aid a concern? Yes. Some in Congress are calling to add new conditions on aid to Israel. Introduced last week by Rep. Betty McCollum, a new anti-Israel bill would create new rules and restrictions just for Israel, threaten Israel’s security, and reward Palestinian leaders for boycotting direct negotiations with Israel.
