US House panel rejects bid to block deeper military cooperation with Israel

A House Armed Services Committee amendment aimed at removing a defence-budget provision that would deepen US-Israel military cooperation has failed in Washington. The vote allows the measure, known as Section 224 of the National Defense Authorization Act, to continue advancing through the House process. The committee rejected the attempt on Thursday in a voice vote, rather than a recorded roll call.

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The amendment was introduced by Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna. He argued that the provision would reward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and increase cooperation at a time when he said the United States should be asserting more control over its own policy. Khanna also pointed to reports that President Donald Trump is angry with Netanyahu over Israel's escalation in Lebanon.

Section 224 would require the Pentagon chief to designate an executive agent responsible for synchronising cooperative efforts between the United States and Israel. According to the bill text cited in the debate, that role would cover bilateral defence technology research, development, testing, evaluation, integration and industrial cooperation. Critics have said the provision could make US military aid to Israel less transparent by folding it into a broader cooperation framework.

The committee's decision matters because it keeps alive a proposal that would formalise and expand military coordination between the two countries. That has implications for defence policy, congressional oversight and the way assistance to Israel is structured and reported. It also comes amid heightened political scrutiny of US support for Israel and debate over how much latitude Congress should give the Pentagon in managing such cooperation.

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The issue sits within the wider annual defence authorisation process, through which Congress sets policy for the Pentagon. The National Defense Authorization Act is one of the main vehicles for US military legislation, and provisions attached to it can shape long-term defence relationships. In this case, the measure would create a more organised mechanism for joint work on technology and industrial cooperation, which supporters see as strengthening ties and critics view as reducing transparency.

Khanna's failed amendment means the committee has not blocked the provision at this stage, but the proposal still faces further legislative steps before becoming law. It is not yet clear how the full House will handle Section 224 or whether opponents will try again to remove it. What to watch next is whether the measure remains intact as the defence bill moves forward and whether lawmakers seek a recorded vote on the issue.

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