Increasing US military aid to Israel is usually one of the safest votes
in Congress. This week’s plan to pass such a resolution could be stalled
indefinitely, however, because of the government shutdown.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is planning to push a procedural vote on Tuesday that would keep the Senate from considering any bills until they vote on a House-passed bill to end the government shutdown.
This vote is intended to put pressure on the administration to resolve
the shutdown, and is likely the answer to President Trump saying last
week that the shutdown could last months or even years.
The bill itself is intended to authorize $3.3 billion in US military aid
to Israel, and extend the US War Reserve Stockpile in Israel by five
years, adding another $1 billion to the stockpile, and urging the
president to focus on munitions Israel would want to use in a war
against Hezbollah.
Bid to Boost Aid to Israel Could Be Stalled by Govt Shutdown
Sen. Schumer plans to block votes until shutdown ends
Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.
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