This evening, the House passed its annual defense appropriations bill with more than $700 million for U.S.-Israel defense programs.
The bill includes the full $500 million for lifesaving missile defense systems like Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow, which continue to protect Israel's skies from threats on multiple fronts.
In addition to missile defense funding, the bill includes more than $200 million in other key programs that will help keep Israelis and Americans safer:
$75 million for U.S.-Israel counter-drone and directed energy development, a $20 million increase over last year.
$80 million for U.S.-Israel anti-tunnel cooperation, a $32.5 million increase over last year.
$47.5 million for U.S.-Israel emerging technology cooperation, a $27.5 million increase over last year.
We expect the Senate to take up this important funding bill next week.
None of these achievements is a given, or happens automatically. It is a byproduct of the work you make possible through AIPAC, ensuring we can work closely with Democrats and Republicans to strengthen and expand the U.S.-Israel relationship.
I will keep you informed as more key funding moves through the legislative process.
Today, President Trump reiterated that the United States is prepared for military action against the Iranian regime. "We have a lot of ships on their way to Iran. We have an aircraft carrier heading there too. We'll see what happens. We have a big force on its way over there. I don't want anything to happen, but we'll have to see what happens."
Additionally, a squadron of U.S. F-15s arrived in the Middle East yesterday, the same squadron that shot down Iranian drones during the 12-day war last summer.
Meanwhile, the Iranian regime continues its brutal repression of the protesters. Today, the internet and communications blackout reached the two-week mark, and witnesses are now reporting that the regime's security forces have shot at bystanders not directly involved in protests. A 22-year-old Iranian art student was
gunned down by regime forces when he and a friend momentarily stopped to watch a protest in Tehran.
TAKE 30 SECONDS: Urge your members of Congress to speak out in support of the brave Iranian protesters and condemn the brutal regime for violently suppressing them.
In Davos, U.S. unveils 10-year plan to transform Gaza
White House envoy Jared Kushner unveiled a $25 billion, 10-year plan to transform Gaza into an economic hub during today's Board of Peace signing at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The plan includes six phases, with phases 1 and 2 focusing on development in Rafah and the expansion of Khan Younis.
The interior of the Strip will be zoned for residential neighborhoods and industrial complexes, intended to host advanced manufacturing facilities and data centers.
The plan also includes transportation infrastructure, including a trilateral crossing with Israel and Egypt, an airport, a seaport, a main highway, an urban ring road to connect neighborhoods to city centers, and a railway to facilitate trade.
Kushner emphasized that the entire plan hinges on Hamas disarming, as agreed to in the Gaza peace plan. "If Hamas does not disarm, we will not be able to move forward [with rebuilding Gaza]."
President Trump also underscored the need for Hamas to disarm: "They have to give up their weapons. And if they don't do that, it's going to be the end of them," he said.
Herzog exposes hypocrisy of anti-Israel activists who are silent on Iran
Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, urging more nations to join the Abraham Accords and calling out the hypocrisy of anti-Israel activists who have yet to speak about the atrocities in Iran.
"The Iranian people live under a very oppressive regime, which has mowed thousands of its citizens, trying to crush the natural demand of human beings for a better life and for freedom... All of those [Western protesters] who attacked us for defending ourselves, where are they? Where are all these people? Why don't we see them demonstrating in front of the Iranian embassies or demonstrating in the streets?"
"The Abraham Accords... have shown immense sustainability throughout this storm that we've seen in the Middle East, throughout very difficult years, [they] have shown immense impact, and immense strength and resilience, and we want to see more nations [join] the Abraham Accords."
IDF strikes Hezbollah at Lebanon-Syria border, eliminated key weapons smuggler
The IDF carried out a series of strikes against four Lebanon-Syria border crossings that Hezbollah used to smuggle weapons. Additionally, the military eliminated a key Hezbollah weapons smuggler, Muhammad Awasha.
"Awasha played a central role in advancing weapons smuggling to Hezbollah, using a front company that ordered and transferred prohibited goods from countries such as Iraq, Syria, and the Gulf states, while operating smuggling networks moving weapons from Iraq into Syria and Lebanon," the military said.
The United States must continue to increase the pressure on Lebanon to fulfill its stated commitment to fully disarm Hezbollah.
The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
