US House approves bill anchoring defense aid to Israel

The US House of Representatives approved a budget bill Tuesday night that anchors defense aid to Israel in law and promises to fund a series of programs aimed at promoting peace in the region.

The bill was the subject of a major dispute in Congress, but eventually most Democrat representatives voted in favor of it, while the Republicans voted against.

According to the bill, the US will provide Israel with $3.3 billion dollars in defense aid annually, as per an agreement former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached with the Obama administration in 2016.

In addition, the bill approves $50 million to support economic “opportunities” between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as $2 million for US-Israel co-development projects involving water, agriculture, and energy. Another $6 million has been approved to fund joint research between Israeli and Arab scientists.

Read More: Israel Hayom