US House Approves Large Increase In Military Aid To Israel

[Purveyor]

WASHINGTON – Despite freezing funding for most aspects of the US government at 2010 levels, the US House agreed Wednesday evening to increase military aid to Israel substantially.

Most significantly, the House added $205 million in first-time funding for the Iron Dome project, a short-range rocket defense system. The money was pledged by President Barack Obama last May, but had been stalled until now.

In addition, military aid allocations from Israel should increase from 2010 levels of $2.775 billion to $3b. for fiscal year 2011, while those for Egypt and Jordan will hold constant from 2010.

That increase is dictated by the 10-year memorandum of understanding the US has negotiated with Israel, but it could have been frozen along with other spending increases since the House passed a continuing resolution for 2010 budget levels as a stopgap funding measure so government didn’t shut down, after Congress failed to pass a FY2011 spending bill through the normal process.

Other expenditures for Israel, including more than $200m. for the Arrow long-range missile defense system and the medium-range David’s Sling, will also keep the same amounts as their 2010 levels.

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http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=198665

[tekisui]

1. We always have money for fucking war!

[Warren Stupidity]

2. paid for with a tax cut for billionaires. nt

[DCKit]

3. And borrowed money. nt

[ProSense]

4. Roll call

Roll call

Most of the Progressive Caucus supported the bill. The Democrats voting against the bill were blue dogs who often vote with Republicans.

Adler (NJ)
Arcuri
Baird
Boccieri
Boren
Bright
Childers
Costa
Costello
Courtney
Driehaus
Farr
Giffords
Kratovil
Kucinich
Lipinski
Maffei
Marshall
Matheson
McIntyre
McMahon
Melancon
Michaud
Minnick
Perriello
Peters
Peterson
Rahall
Ross
Salazar
Schrader
Shuler
Taylor

[Joanne98]

5. We just gave them 3 billion to NOT build settlements in the West Bank!

Which they're STILL DOING! What are they broke or somethng?

[Synicus Maximus]

6. I thought we still controled the house.