Following House passage of the appropriations bill, Democratic Majority for Israel President Mark Mellman made the following statement:
“We applaud House Democrats for approving critical funding for Israel’s security as codified in the Obama-Biden Memorandum of Understanding. The House measure also includes funding for several vital programs that we hope will lay the groundwork for cooperation and peace in the region while strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship:
- $3.3 billion in security assistance for Israel
- $50 million for the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act, supporting people-to-people economic opportunities for Israelis and Palestinians
- $2 million for U.S.-Israel development cooperation on water, agriculture, and energy
- $6 million for research between Israeli and Arab scientists
- Important steps towards greater transparency in UNRWA textbooks, which have featured incitement and antisemitism
“In addition, this bill:
- Supports the world’s most vulnerable with humanitarian assistance to meet urgent needs
- Rebuilds the global public health infrastructure with increased funding
- Combats climate change with funding for global efforts to reduce emissions
- Advances women’s rights by increasing funding for family planning and repealing restrictions on safe and legal abortion
“It’s hard for those who vote against every dollar in assistance to Israel to call themselves ‘pro-Israel’ — yet every single House Republican voted against this vital legislation. Just three Democrats joined House Republicans. Every other Democrat voted yes on this critical bill, demonstrating once again that the vast majority of Congressional Democrats remain proudly pro-Israel.”