“Whoever tries to challenge this support received an unequivocal answer today. The people of Israel thank the American people and their representatives for their steadfast friendship,” Bennett stated.
By United With Israel Staff
The so-called progressive “Squad” of Democrats, who aimed to deny $1 billion in funding for the life-saving Iron Dome missile defense system, were overwhelmingly defeated in a bipartisan 420 – 9 vote on Thursday.
“Thank you to the members of the US House of Representatives, Democrats and Republicans alike, for the overwhelming support for Israel and for the commitment to its security,” said Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in a statement.
“Whoever tries to challenge this support received an unequivocal answer today. The people of Israel thank the American people and their representatives for their steadfast friendship.”
Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked thanked the Biden administration for its support for the measure, but warned liberal American Jews that the attempt to strip Israel’s southern communities of protection from deadly rocket attacks should serve as a stark reminder that far-left agitators can cause serious damage to Israeli security.
“Thank you to President Biden and to the entire House of Representatives for their support of Israel and their assistance in equipping Iron Dome interceptor,” said Shaked.
“The extremist progressive wing of the Democratic Party tried to unravel the consensus around Israel on the basis of lies and pure anti-Semitism. This is a warning light for Israel and for the Jewish community.
“The strong alliance between Israel and the US has won out over them.”
“US support for our missile defense system on a bipartisan basis is critical for Israel’s defense against rocket attacks conducted by terrorist groups such as Hamas in Gaza – but not only. Israel’s borders are surrounded by malign actors and terrorist groups who seek to harm our civilians and destroy the only Jewish State,” stated Defense Minister Benny Gantz.
“We saw this clearly in May 2021 when terrorist group Hamas launched over 4,000 missiles at schools, hospitals, homes – Israeli population centers- and Iron Dome shot them down. The Iron Dome is a system designed to protect and save lives.
“I thank the US government for recognizing the threats to civilian lives and for its steadfast support for the security of the State of Israel,” Gantz said.
After a handful Democratic congressional representatives managed to strip the $1 billion funding from a U.S. governmental budget bill, many worried that the extreme-left fringe of the party may hold more influence than previously thought.
However, the bill was brought for a separate vote and passed with overwhelming support from both Republicans and mainstream Democrats.
Eight Democrats, including Squad members Rashida Tlaib (MI), Ilhan Omar (MN), Ayanna Pressley (MA), and Cori Bush (MO), voted against the bill funding the Iron Dome.
They were joined by one Republican, Tom Massie, of Kentucky.
In a Twitter statement, Massie said his decision was not based on anti-Israel progressive beliefs, but rather a principle that the U.S. should not provide financial aid to any foreign country.
“My position of ‘no foreign aid’ might sound extreme to some, but I think it’s extreme to bankrupt our country and put future generations of Americans in hock to our creditors,” he wrote.
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