Key facts
- The US House of Representatives passed a $1.5 trillion defense budget bill.
- The bill includes a provision to permanently integrate US and Israeli military technology.
- This integration aims to transition Israel from a foreign aid recipient to a full-scale partner.
- The provision, Section 219 in the House version, passed by a vote of 216-212.
- Critics, including some lawmakers, have called the provision a "betrayal of our sovereignty."
- The Senate has a similar provision, Section 1217, which includes consultation with the Israeli minister of defense.
The US House of Representatives has narrowly passed a $1.5 trillion budget for the Department of War, which includes a controversial provision, Section 219, designed to permanently integrate US and Israeli military technology. This move, championed by Texas Republican Congressman Ronny Jackson, aims to transform Israel from a recipient of US foreign aid into a full-scale defense technology partner, shielding such collaboration from annual congressional budgeting.
The legislation, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), is essential for funding Pentagon operations. However, the provision has faced significant opposition. A bipartisan amendment proposed by Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna and Republican Congressman Thomas Massie to remove Section 219 failed, though it garnered over 100 Democratic votes, signaling growing dissent among liberals regarding US-Israel relations.
Critics, including former National Counterterrorism Center head Joe Kent and former State Department official Josh Paul, have voiced strong objections. Kent described it as a "betrayal of our sovereignty" and a merger of sensitive defense and intelligence elements with a foreign government. Paul noted that while the US has cooperated with allies like the UK and Australia, a congressional mandate for such deep integration with Israel is unprecedented and represents a political decision rather than a necessity.
The provision mandates the Secretary of War to formalize integration in key areas like counter-drone systems, missile defense, AI, and cyber warfare. It also establishes the "United States–Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative" to identify and integrate Israeli technologies into US systems and protect sensitive technology through collaborative research. Some view this as a win-win, allowing Israel to secure its needs without direct aid requests while the US uses Israel as a testing ground for weaponry and shares intelligence.
The Senate has its own version of the NDAA, with a similar provision labeled Section 1217, introduced by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Ted Budd. This version goes further by requiring ongoing consultation with the Israeli minister of defense. Discrepancies between the House and Senate versions will need to be reconciled, likely in November or December, before the bill can be finalized. Some senators, like Republican Bernie Moreno, have expressed reservations about integrating the US military with any foreign nation, while others, like Ted Cruz, have dismissed criticisms as conspiracy theories.