Aug 03, 2021, 21:53 pm
The annual vote on US Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Funding Bill, is usually a partisan affair with representatives voting with their party. Along with the three Democrats that voted against the bill, two Republican lawmakers also voted to abstain.
Approval of Israel's $3.3 billion aid is a small part of the bill. The legislation funds US diplomatic, development and foreign policy agencies and programs, including the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, and the US Mission to the United Nations. It ensures US support for displaced and vulnerable communities, programs to rebuild public health infrastructure and initiatives to confront climate change as well as advances women's rights.
Funds have also been allocated to the UN Human Rights Council with the stipulation the world body is taking significant steps to remove Israel from its "permanent agenda", referring to the Council's agenda item 7 which discusses "Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories".
This bill has also taken aim at the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel. Describing BDS as an "international effort to stigmatize and isolate Israel", the bill has demanded an annual report to Congress on the BDS campaign, which would include a list of companies, international organizations and countries that partake in it.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/202108...to-israel/
Approval of Israel's $3.3 billion aid is a small part of the bill. The legislation funds US diplomatic, development and foreign policy agencies and programs, including the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, and the US Mission to the United Nations. It ensures US support for displaced and vulnerable communities, programs to rebuild public health infrastructure and initiatives to confront climate change as well as advances women's rights.
Funds have also been allocated to the UN Human Rights Council with the stipulation the world body is taking significant steps to remove Israel from its "permanent agenda", referring to the Council's agenda item 7 which discusses "Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories".
This bill has also taken aim at the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel. Describing BDS as an "international effort to stigmatize and isolate Israel", the bill has demanded an annual report to Congress on the BDS campaign, which would include a list of companies, international organizations and countries that partake in it.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/202108...to-israel/