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In the wake of Hamas' surprise attack on Oct. 7, U.S. leaders reaffirmed the long-standing strategic and military alliance with Israel — but political disagreements have delayed a new security assistance package.
Driving the news: President Biden requested at least $14.3 billion in additional assistance to Israel, which would include money for air and missile defense systems, including the Iron Dome.
State of play on Biden's funding request
- The dominant dispute within Congress is whether to fulfill Biden's request to tie aid to Israel to additional security assistance for Ukraine, as well as border security funding.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.) is attempting to match Biden's Israeli aid request, but without pairing it with Ukraine aid. He also wants to strip an equal amount in IRS funding from the Inflation Reduction Act.
- That approach is opposed by many Democrats, some Republicans and Biden, who has said he will veto any stand-alone Israel-funding bill.
✓ Note: Complicating the situation further is the fact the U.S. is heading toward yet another government funding deadline after just narrowly averting a shutdown in September.
75 years of support
Though the timing of a new security package remains unclear, the U.S. is by far the biggest supplier of military aid to Israel, contributing around $130 billion since its founding.
- With the U.S.' help, Israel has formed one of the most formidable and technologically advanced militaries in the Middle East.
- Both Republican and Democratic administrations and bipartisan leaders in Congress have approved aid to Israel over several decades.
- In return, the U.S. has cultivated a strategic military ally in the Middle East.
- As part of an agreement reached under the Obama administration, Israel receives $3.8 billion annually for its military and missile defense systems.
- Israel is the largest recipient of U.S. foreign military financing, which has represented around 15% of the country's defense budget in recent years.
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