Senate

Senators pass pro-Israel budget amendment

by Jordain Carney - 03/25/15 7:26 PM ET

Senators unanimously agreed Wednesday to include a pro-Israel amendment in the budget.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), who offered the amendment, said it reaffirms the U.S. commitment to the U.S.-Israeli relationship.

{mosads}The amendment establishes a deficit-neutral reserve fund, a budgetary placeholder, to prevent the United Nations or another international agency from taking “discriminatory action” against Israel.

“For decades this Congress has provided bipartisan support to the U.S.-Israel alliance,” he said. “Unfortunately, for almost just as long the United Nations has singled out Israel.”

Cotton said that he hoped “we never need this mechanism,” but said it was “critical” that Congress reaffirms its support for Israel.

Cotton said Tuesday that the amendment “lays the groundwork for a rescission of funding to the United Nations should it take unfair or discriminatory action against Israel.”

The amendment follows a speech by the Arkansas Republican last week, during which he slammed President Obama’s handling of the U.S.-Israeli relationship.

Tensions between the two countries have been on the rise since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepted an invitation to speak before Congress. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) invited the Israeli official without coordination from the White House.

Tags Boehner John Boehner Tom Cotton