The House of Representatives passed the foreign aid bill Thursday, which includes $2.22 billion in security aid to Israel.
The 2010 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill was approved by a vote of 318-106, with 97 of the no votes coming from Republicans (more than half of the GOP caucus.)
When the $2.22 billion in Israel aid is combined with $555 million that was passed in an earlier supplemental funding bill, that makes a total of $2.775 billion in military aid for Israel, in line with the second year of the 10-year, $30 billion memorandum of understanding between the United States and the Jewish state.
The bill also provides $500.4 million to the Palestinian Authority, which includes $400.4 million in economic assistance to the West Bank and Gaza and$100 million to help train Palesitnian security forces.
Aid for Egypt and Jordan stayed at the same level as the previous year. Egypt received $1.3 billion in defense assistance and $250 million for its economy; Jordan gets $300 million in defense assistance as well as $363 million in economic assistance. The bill also would keep the U.S. Import-Expert bank from guaranteeing companies that have significant stakes in Iran's energy sector.
"AIPAC strongly applauds the House for passing the annual foreign aid bill," said AIPAC President David Victor. "U.S. aid to Israel is critical to keeping our democratic ally, Israel, safe and strong and reaffirms our nation's deep commitment to our friends in Israel."
"This year's package holds heightened significance with the United States, the region and Israel facing renewed challenges from Iran's drive to dominate the Middle East, acquire nuclear weapons and its support for Islamic terrorist movements, including Hizballah and Hamas," Victor said. "Congress' support for this year's aid package sends the strong, unambiguous, message that the United States stands firmly behind Israel, and underscores the strength of the U.S.-Israel bond."
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